Date:	April 7, 2008
	Subject:	"The Millennium Park Effect"
	Contact:	Eugene A. Jenneman, Director, (231) 995-1572 David Lawrence, Board Member, artcenter 231.649.4435 Patt Bennett, artcenter 231.941.9488 Edward Uhlir, 312-744-2053

"The Millennium Park Effect"

Traverse City: - artcenter TRAVERSE CITY, in collaboration with the Dennos Museum Center, is presenting a lecture by architect Edward K. Uhlir, FAIA, the Executive Director of Millennium Park, Inc. on Friday, April 25, 2008 at 6:30 PM in the Milliken Auditorium of the Dennos Museum Center at Northwestern Michigan College. A donation at the door is requested.

Mr. Uhlir is a noted expert in park planning and development, and consults all over the world. He has written about Millennium Park as follows, "The importance of Millennium Park to Chicago is of a much greater magnitude than anyone involved with the project ever imagined. The public response has been astonishing. Thousands of children and adults can be seen interacting with the Crown Fountain or Cloud Gate on any warm summer day. Serious art and architecture have become accessible, enjoyable and comprehensible for everyone."

"The economic benefit of Millennium Park for Chicago is staggering," says Mr. Uhlir, "The economic success of Millennium Park is largely due to the extraordinary art, architecture and landscape architecture and its continued popularity is due to the innovative and free programs that are offered all year."

"We are pleased to support this extraordinary opportunity to hear from someone involved in leading such a successful project," says Gene Jenneman, Director of the Dennos Museum Center, "As we pursue opportunities for public art for Traverse City, we can learn much from those who have made the effort, including the challenges, the processes, and the results."

"The lecture will include an opportunity for questions and an exchange of ideas," comments Dave Lawrence, Board member of the artcenter, "We hope to inform the conversation regarding the use of public spaces and the role of public art in those spaces in our community."

Edward K. Uhlir's lecture is made possible with the support of Dennos Museum Center, Tamarack Lodge, the Northwest Michigan Council of Governments/New Designs for Growth and McMillen's Instant Framer.

artcenter TRAVERSE CITY is a non profit (501.c.3) whose purpose is to "encourage and promote the art, artists and art education" presents this lecture as part of an ongoing series of its art education program.

The Dennos Museum Center is open daily 10 AM to 5 PM and Sundays 1-5 PM. Admission is $4.00 adults, $2.00 for children and free to museum members. For more information on the Museum and its programs, go to www.dennosmuseum.org or call 231-995-1055. The Dennos Museum Center is located at 1701 East Front Street, Traverse City, MI 49686, at the entrance to the campus of Northwestern Michigan College.