Lubeznik Center for the Arts

For a quarter century, Michigan City’s community art center was known as the John G. Blank Center for the Arts. The center was located at 312 East 8th St. in the original neoclassical Indiana limestone structure built…in 1896 to house their new public library. After many decades the city built a new and larger library and the old structure was vacated. Fortunately, a benefactor came forward at this time and purchased the old library building in order to donate it to the community art center. The center was renamed to honor the donor, John G. Blank. In addition to providing a new home for the Community Center for the Arts, John Blank served for several years as President of its board of Directors. Although John Blank died in 1975, other members of the Blank family have remained actively involved at the Center for the Arts.

In 2002, Mrs. Shirley Lubeznik, a long-time supporter of the Art Center, donated a new building at 101 W. Second Street, and the Art Center has been re-named in honor of Jack and Shirley Lubeznik. The Lubeznik Center emerges from the fine tradition established by the 25 year history of the John G. Blank Center for the Arts. With that strong foundation, the new Lubeznik Center is becoming a driving cultural force with a greatly expanded mission of community service and creative programming. Our goal is to produce a vibrant civic presence and a regional focal point for the arts.

Expanded and improved facilities allow us to maximize the building’s potential in order to accommodate programs as never before. Dedicated classroom space, studios and enlarged galleries enable us to do more and to do it better than ever.

Phase One of the Master Plan, completed in September of 2004, consists of the half round gallery, classroom and studio space, the gift shop and an enlarged lobby with a new reception area. The entire Master Plan will be realized in phases as funds become available.

On October 16th, 2005 the Lubeznik Center for the Arts recognized the family of John G. Blank. A plaque, permanently on display off the front steps of the Art Center, offers a history of the John G. Blank Center for the Arts and the Blank family legacy. The statement on the plaque concludes:

"The tremendous debt of gratitude owed to John G. Blank and his family by this organization and the community at large will live on at the LubezniK Center.

We dedicate this plaque to his memory and to his love of the arts. May his unselfish vision inspire us all"