Every potential homeowner needs to know the benefits and unique features of a community, so I thought I’d share one in Bloomfield Hills that’s internationally-renowned. Cranbrook’s campus includes an academy of Art, and Art museum, Pre-K-12 college prep schools, the Cranbrook Institute of Science, and a House & Gardens section.
In 1904, Cranbrook was founded by two philanthropists, George and Ellen Booth. Cranbrook School opened in 1927, and in 1973 the three parts of the Cranbrook Educational Community were established: the Schools, the Academy of Art and the Institute of Science. (source) Cranbrook was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1989.
A destination for traveling exhibits, speakers and field trips, the Institute of Science gets over 200,000 visitors a year. (source) The Institute describes is mission as fostering among visitors “a passion for understanding the world around them and a lifelong love of learning”. The Institute offers a wide and ever-changing array of programs for such exploration, including: summer camps, lecture series, seasonal and holiday events, planetarium programs and the bat zone.
The Academy of Art accepts graduate students and has 2-D Design, 3-D Design, Architecture, Ceramics, Fiber, Metalsmithing, Painting, Photography, Print Media, and Sculpture programs, and hosts exhibits at its gallery. The Academy also features celebrated artists-in-residence for each discipline, and “Dozens of internationally acclaimed artists, critics, curators, and gallerists visit each semester to supplement the individualized instruction, critiques, and mentoring by the Artists-in-Residence and Critical Studies Fellow.” (source)
Whether you’re a resident, a home buyer, or a visitor, Cranbrook is definitely worth a visit. It’s a one-of-a-kind destination in a truly unique city.
