With all the talk about the downsized economy, what better way to lift your spirits than with a downsized instrument?

Or so says Harvard resident Danno Sullivan, ukulele enthusiast and founder of the Ukulele Project, a new club that will be holding its first meeting at Art and Cloth Saturday, May 9.

The Ukulele Project is a new organization that welcomes ukulele enthusiasts of all ages and all skill levels. At the bi-monthly meetings, club members will be able to participate in lessons, play-alongs, and, for the brave, the occasional “open mike” opportunity. Interested observers are also welcome to attend the meetings.

Sullivan, who also teaches ukulele classes at the Cambridge Center for Adult Education, was driven to start the Ukulele Project after moving from Los Angeles to Harvard in 2007 and searching unsuccessfully for a local club. “There were no groups to be found within a 60-mile radius,” he says.

While in Los Angeles, Sullivan was a member of the Jumpin’ Fleas, a thriving 100-member club that sponsored regular classes and informal performances. The club is just one of many that have sprung up across the nation in recent years as part of a renewed appreciation for the ukulele and its versatility.

The ukulele is most frequently associated with Hawaiian music and Tiny Tim’s rendition of “Tiptoe Through the Tulips,” but, notes Sullivan, it lends itself to all styles of music, including rock, jazz, blues, and folk. Well-known musicians who have counted themselves as ukulele fans over the years include Elvis Presley, George Harrison, the Cars’ Greg Hawkes, and last year’s American Idol contestant Jason Castro. The uke’s diminutive size and simple construction make it user-friendly for musicians of all skill levels. “You can learn a song in half an hour,” says Sullivan. “It’s got four strings, and you’ve got four fingers, so it’s a perfect match.”

Better still, the ukulele is a cheap investment. “You can buy a decent ukulele for $35 and be ready to go,” says Sullivan.

Art and Cloth owner Sharon Chandler is delighted to add this aspect of the arts to her program offerings. “We’re excited about incorporating this performance component to Art and Cloth for people who enjoy music,” she says.

The first meeting of the Ukulele Project will take place Saturday, May 9, at Art and Cloth. There will be a beginners’ lesson at 6:30 p.m.and a general meeting at 7:15 p.m. Some “loaner” ukuleles will be available for those who don’t have an instrument.