Midland Center for the Arts launches NEXTGEN Pass for young adults to mingle

In an effort to expand the typical Midland Center for the Arts (MCFTA) patron to include young professionals, MCFTA is launching a new program. 

The NEXTGEN Pass will give young people a specially curated lineup of five different performing arts events, networking opportunities, and behind-the-scenes events throughout the calendar year. 

Josh Holliday, communications and public relations manager at Midland Center for the Arts, is excited about the launch of this program. Amidst the pandemic, Holliday says virtual and outdoor programs allowed MCFTA to connect with people — their main mission.

“NEXTGEN Pass is for people in their 20s, 30s and 40s looking to build a stronger relationship with others that live in the area.”“Now as we’re going into the fall of 2021, we’re really excited to see the return of performing arts events on our stages — a full season of memorable, artistic, thought-provoking, entertaining experiences to the stage that people can enjoy from all around the Great Lakes Bay Region,” says Holliday.

The Center celebrates the return of its busy season, complete with the Broadway & Beyond series, Center Stage Theatre community shows, Midland Symphony Orchestra concerts, and museum events and activities. Holliday says they’re also looking at how to cultivate new audiences in the Great Lakes Bay Region, and so MCFTA is launching NEXTGEN Pass. The goal is to get young people excited about attending arts events. 

Pass holders will have the opportunity to meet with the artists before the show.“NEXTGEN Pass is for people in their 20s, 30s and 40s looking to build a stronger relationship with others that live in the area,” he says. “The NEXTGEN Pass is the perfect date night for the entire year. It’s the perfect opportunity to make new friends. [It’s a] great opportunity to meet other young people with structured networking opportunities and then go see a show with those people at the same time.”

The $158 series pass includes tickets to a curated lineup of five events throughout the year, giving patrons a taste of all the diverse programming the Center offers. Before the shows, pass holders can gain special access to behind-the-scenes events, Holliday says. 

“Oftentimes, they’ll get to meet the people behind-the-scenes who are making things possible, whether that is one of the touring artists, a comedian, or educators doing great work in the schools. People will be able to get a glimpse into the workings happening at the Center, become more engaged in our work, and get more excited about all of our upcoming events and activities.”

The $158 series pass includes tickets to a curated lineup of five events throughout the year, giving patrons a taste of all the diverse programming the Center offers.The program also includes networking opportunities, where pass holders can mix and mingle with their peers, hopefully making friends along the way. 

“The NEXTGEN Pass is a great opportunity for companies and young professionals that are just settling in the Great Lakes Bay Region to truly meet other people,” Holliday says. “It’s like other networking events but finding like-minded, arts and culturally-minded folks in a really structured format, and also going to see a show you might not want to go to by yourself.”

For more information and to purchase the NEXTGEN pass, visit the Midland Center for the Arts website. The first show is on Saturday, Nov. 13.