Midland Center For The Arts hosts Empty Bowls on Nov 2 to help fight food scarcity

On a day-to-day basis, many families throughout the Midland community are struggling with food insecurities. However, the organizers of the Empty Bowls program at the Midland Center for the Arts hope to be part of the solution.

Empty Bowls is part of a worldwide grassroots movement by potters to help raise money for those facing food scarcity. Potters from throughout Midland have gathered together to create more than 200 bowls that will be donated for the event, with proceeds going to the Midland County Food Assistance Network.

“This event is personal for me because in the past I needed food support as well,” says Beth Nova, Fine Arts Program Supervisor at Midland Center. “I think a lot of people might not understand the need in the community or the city itself. You might think a person is doing just fine. But they might need some extra support.”

The Empty Bowls event will be held at the Midland Center For The Arts on Nov. 2 from noon to 2 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m. Tickets are $30 and come with soup and bread donated from local businesses, along with the choice of a handcrafted bowl by local artisans. 

The event will be held within the Brick Lobby at the Midland Center for the Arts. Tables and chairs will be provided for guests to enjoy the music and food.

“The bowls are fire glazed and food safe,” Nova says. “These are made the traditional way of pottery, with clay formed on a wheel or from hand-built slabs of clay. They are fired, glazed and fired again. It comes out as a beautiful handmade bowl. All of the money then goes to feed those in need in our area.” 

In 2023, the Midland Center for the Arts held a similar program called Build-A-Bowl. It was a successful event, with proceeds also going to the Midland County Food Assistance Network. With this year’s event, the hope is to build on the tradition and increase support. Last year around 200 bowls were donated for the program. This year, that number has already been exceeded.

“The goal is that when they take home the bowls, they will constantly be reminded of the goal to help erase food scarcity in Midland,” Nova says. “We hope this just leads to more conversations so that people will remember what’s going on in their community.” 

Bowls were created by artists from Midland Center's Studio School, Creative 360, Space Studios, Midland Public Schools, Windover High School, and Studio 23. Soup is being donated by Midland Country Club, Café Zinc, Aster, One Eighteen, Emily Mai's Pho & More, The ReGrow Together Program, Brinstar, Proper Taco, and others.

“Tickets are selling fast,” Nova says. “I think we have about 40 tickets left in the 2 to 4 p.m. slot. So they have to get the tickets fast if they want them. I hope we have support and this can become an annual thing.”