May in Holland, Mich. is best known for the Tulip Time Festival. While the beautiful spectacle of colors is a must-see, the Holland Museum is also thriving. The permanent galleries celebrate the Dutch heritage that’s contributed to the community’s sense of identity. At the same time, the museum continues to document and celebrate the city’s diverse growth over the years — while keeping things fresh with temporary exhibits that link to Holland through striking photography.

Artists have a way of presenting a physical form from concepts that are abstract and theoretical. Paint, pencil, clay and other materials take on new meaning when guided by a creative mind. It provides a bridge for us all to use a tangible object to help connect and share deeper ideas about a subject. Now add a layer to that and consider the conversation around art that involves disability.

From its thunderous opening chords to its plummeting chandelier, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera doesn’t run short on spectacle. Dazzling stage effects, sensuous costumes and an imposing score have made this the longest-running Broadway musical.

Imagine being able to just waltz into any major Grand Rapids museum, skip the front desk and wander directly into the exhibits without being stopped by security.

That is exactly what you can do on April 26, 2015.

 If you aren’t proud of West Michigan’s performing arts, Grand Rapids Ballet’s MOVEMEDIA is a darn good reason why you should be. A tradition now four years in the running, MOVEMEDIA has earned the company a standout name in the dance community and attracted choreography submissions from five different continents.

An Impressionist exhibition draws high attendance; it’s a well-known movement in art history and the general public has become very familiar with it.

Though one must remember, even the now widely popular Impressionists faced a mixed reception when first emerging in the late 19th century. Their boundary-pushing work was described as “unfinished” by conservative critics of the time.

Sisters share a unique bond. From childhood through adult years, the relationship develops as we come to a deeper appreciation of both our similarities and our differences. We can learn a lot from each other, and at times help broaden each other’s perspectives, especially when in the context of that trusted familial environment.

Audiences for I Love Lucy Live on Stage expect to enter an auditorium and watch. What they actually do is enter a time machine and join. Presenting Lucy for the first time live and in color, this special production whisks audiences back to the ‘50s, where they become the studio audience for the filming of two "I Love Lucy" episodes.

Some movies are all about the details, and Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is one of them. As charming as the storyline is, it’s the addition of luscious artwork, ingenious songwriting and intricate characters that elevates the film to a masterpiece. Just try rooting for the Beast and Belle without falling for a talking candlestick along the way. 

It’s no secret that we have a love affair with water in West Michigan. We choose to live in a state that, while the four seasons are beautiful, the winters can make less-hardy people question our sanity. But we know how much sweeter that makes the sunsets at Lake Michigan in the summer, how clear blue is the water and how soft the sand that makes zipping noises as you walk barefoot through it.