The Scarab Club in Detroit's Cultural Center
Frequently Asked Questions about the Scarab Club in Detroit
The Scarab Club is an art center where music, poetry and the visual arts come together. Our beautiful clubhouse, on 217 Farnsworth, in Deroit's Cultural Center, is a common ground for the exchange of ideas.
We are a group of people, banded together to preserve the free expression of art, be it traditional, experimental, academic or popular; formal or funky. We are also commited to the preservation of this historic site and the cultural heritage which it has fostered.
The Scarab Club had its beginnings as an artist's colony in Detroit in 1910. The founders intended the Club to be a place where artists and art lovers could gather, share food and drink. It was felt that fellowship and mutual support by artists in different disciplines with those who love the arts and humanities would result in the execution of better art projects. And it was true, some of the most distinguished works of arts, letters and architecture have in Michigan have been produced by members of the Scarab Club.
The Clubhouse, built in 1928, is in the National Register of Historic Places as "a site of historical and architectural significance." People, who represent every facet of creative interest, come to these attractive facilities.
Though the original members who made up the club were painters, the club embraces all of art. Over the last year the club has supported and showcased work in many artistic venues: video production (documentaries; music videos; and animation); poetry and performance art; theater; dance (from classical 18th century court dancing, through modern interpretive dance, all the way to hip hop material fresh off the streets), a full spectrum of music (including chamber music, jazz, swing, the blues, jazz-rock fusion, operetta music, folk and folk inspired alternative music, techno, and cutting edge world bop). The Club's interests include the fields of literary journalism, fashion design, computer art, and the graphic arts. It is the venue of choice if an artist wants to introduce a sculpture, a poem, or a web site.
Just this season, the Scarab Club became host to The Writer's Voice in Detroit. This famous group, part of the national YMCA, has been a backbone of the literary community in south east Michigan. We are proud to welcome M.L. Liebler and the Writer's Voice to the Scarab Club.
These are typical events at the club:
- Annual Shows for watercolors; photography; sculpture; advertizing art; the multi media Gold Medal and Silver Medal shows. We also have an annual art auction.
- We have a sketch clsss with live models; also we have classes on screen writing, fiction and creative non-fiction.
- We have performances of classical music, world music, blues, jazz, fold, rock and roll, hip hop, electronica, and performance art.
- We are hosts to a number of other art oriented activities in Detroit. These include: the University Cultural Center Bureau sponsoring the Annual Festival of the Arts; the Girl Scouts of Greater Detroit Summer Art Camp; The Book Club of Detroit; the Walk and Squwak Youth Theater; The Madam Cadillac Dance Theater, the Detroit Bloomfest; the Detroit Black Writer's Guild; and the Writer's Voice of the YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit and much more.
We seek to preserve the old while supporting and giving exposure to the new artist who is working at the cutting edge. You may not like all you see at the Scarab, but we think you will love at least some of it and that you will also fall in love with the club and it's clubhouse. It is without a doubt the finest intimate performance venue in Michigan.
Visitors and new members are always welcome to attend our functions. For further information and schedule of events, please call the Scarab office at 313/831-1250.
Anyone with an interest in the arts and humanities is welcome to join the Scarab Club. Though the organization is internationally famous as a fellowship of painters, members of the club include art enthusiasts who are not painters. The current club membership includes: sculptors; musicians; dancers; poets; film makers; journalists; horticulturists; chefs; singers; architects; authors; and performance artists. It also includes members who are not artists themselves, but, who love and wish to support the arts. Members come from all segments of society. This includes art students and beginning artists, to older successful artists who are known around the world. They meet, relax, and network at their club, The Scarab Club.
At the Scarab Club there might be a sketch class in the basement, on the first floor gallery a watercolor show, in the second floor lounge a photography exhibit, a screenwriting class, and on the third floor private artists studios.
Sometimes people who would love to join the Scarab Club are a bit intimidated by the beauty if the clubhouse. They are afraid that the club is exclusive and that they could never be allowed to be a member. They sometimes say, "I did not know that I could join the Scarab Club." Well, you can. Of course you can.
There are two levels of general membership. There is a Friends of the Scarab Club, with dues of $75 per year; there are Active memberships at $260 per year; and other types of memberships including Corporate and Institutional memberships.
Contact the club manager, Greg Stephens, (313)831-1250 for details.
Come to one of our popular public events. Look the club over. Talk with members. Feel free to apply for membership.
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Some of our Favorite Web Sites
Detroit Y.M.C.A. - The Writer's Voice
The Detroit Institute of the Arts
The Detroit Black Writer's Guild
Robert Maniscalco - The Maniscalco Art Gallery
Detroit City Search
M.L. Liebler and the Magic Poetry Band
Mike Madias - The Detroit HARDBALL!!
George Booth's Scarab Club Web Page
Mike Farrell - Art House Tours Web Site
Tyree Guyton - The Heidelberg Project Web Site
GONZO Detroit - Writer's Voice Project Web Site
