Culture and Art

If your passion is collecting rare china, ceramic masterpieces, antique furniture, antique hardware, original jewelry creations or aesthetically pleasing paintings, you are sure to find what you are looking for in Royal Oak. Not only are you likely to find your sought-after-purchase, you will enjoy the quest, as it leads you from one unique art gallery to another. Through various mediums of expression, more than a dozen art galleries call Royal Oak home. The Royal Oak Arts Council, Royal Oak Gallery Association, and the city of Royal Oak organize a number of events to promote art appreciation. Exhibits include the Gallery Walk, Royal Oak Clay and Glass (the downtown art show), Royal Oak Outdoor Art Fair at Memorial Park, and the Antique and Garage Sale.

Royal Oak caters to theatergoers of both film and live productions. Film lovers can view films at the Main Art Theater. Patrons of live theater enjoy performances by Stagecrafters at the Baldwin Theater. Stagecrafters is a community theater group that produces 10 stage shows each year and shows silent films. Originally founded in Clawson in 1956, Stagecrafters moved to Royal Oak in 1985 when it purchased and restored the historic Baldwin Theatre, built in 1932.

The Royal Oak Symphony Orchestra performs classical and pop concerts throughout the year for the listening pleasure of the community. The orchestra is comprised of musicians from Royal Oak and surrounding communities who have previously studied or performed concert music. Orchestra members work in a variety of professions.

Various types of music concerts and other special attractions are held throughout the year at the Royal Oak Music Theater. If you enjoy outdoor music, Royal Oak hosts a series of free summer concerts on the library lawn. The concerts are held on Wednesday evenings from mid-June through early August. With the variety of summer concerts, every music listener should find one that appeals to his or her interest.