Our Mission

The Greater Flint Arts Council (GFAC) is a non-profit organization whose purpose is "to be a catalyst of, and advocate for, increased artstic and cultural enrichment in our ethnically diverse community." The Council strives to promote and celebrate the arts-building new partnerships and to lay foundations of cultural growth for all the arts in our community. Our primary service area is Genesee County. We also serve communities adjacent to Genesee County that are part of the greater Flint region.

Located in the heart of downtown Flint, GFAC is a regional regranting agency for Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs, currently regranting in Genesee and Lapeer Counties. We provide many other services for the arts, from arts information services through newsletters, to providing new artists with both rehearsal space and a community voice heard by everyone up through the national government. GFAC is also a presenter of the arts, producing annually many exhibitions, concerts, festivals and events.

The Greater Flint Arts Council has a long history of offering quality art and cultural programs to the greater Flint community. Through assessment and evaluation, these programs are tailored to the needs of local artists, arts and cultural agencies, educational institutions and members of the community who want to be involved in arts and cultural programs. With the involvement of concerned citizens for the arts in greater Flint, local artists, arts and cultural agencies, educational institutions, a committed Board of Trustees and competent staff, the Greater Flint Arts Council will continue to provide necessary programs and services to our community.

GFAC Membership

Membership offers a newsletter of art-related events, festive opening receptions, Special Events, Discounts on original works of art; and for Artist/Members, a listing in the Artist's Directory, client referrals and exhibition opportunities.

GFAC Members ARE the organization. We welcome you to join be active and prosper. We cannot accept cash payments online. Please print this form and send it along with your check to the Greater Flint Arts Council, 816 S. Saginaw Street, Flint MI 48502.

MEMBERSHIP UPDATE
Welcome our *newest members and thank you to our renewing members!
Benefactor

Corporate

Non-Profit

Patron
Victor Pytko
Clara Jane Walworth

Family

Individual
Ryan Bellows
Marion Davidek Selesky
Lenora Hartway
Mary Lorenz
Barbara Porter
Pam Terbush

Senior/ Student

2008 Board of Trustees

Greg Fiedler, President and CEO

Greg Fiedler lived a double life before his employment at Greater Flint Arts Council (GFAC). He was both a business executive (general management and personnel management) for 19 years and a performing artist (musical theatre) for 20 years. He dreamed of the day when he could combine his knowledge of the fine arts with his experience in business administration. One day, having lunch with a friend, he discovered an open position at GFAC, applied, and his life was magically transformed (like when an artist creates a new work).

Under his administration, the GFAC K-12 arts education program (ARTSHARE) has grown to serve more than 9,000 students annually, the exhibiting artists series has grown to 40 exhibits annually at multiple locations, the GFAC Empty Bowls project to aid in the fight against hunger and homelessness has grown to include more than 24 partnerships with more than 1,000 volunteer artists and students participating, an international program, Quilters Dream Weekend, was established, GFAC founded the Tunes at Noon Festival, GFAC founded the Flint Film Festival, GFAC founded the Parade of Festivals collaborative, GFAC founded the Out N About Flint collaborative, GFAC has become the owners of their first piece of real estate, and the Greater Flint Arts Council endowment was established.

As a performing artist Greg has appeared in many leading roles in the greater Flint area including Judas in Jesus Christ Superstar, Japheth in Two by Two, Woody in Finian’s Rainbow, Nathan Detroit in Guys and Dolls, Mr. Mushnik in Little Shop of Horrors, Emile DeBeque in South Pacific, Miles Gloriosus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Frank Butler in Annie Get Your Gun and William Cartwright in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, just to name a few.

2007 Sponsors

Without support from many sources, there would be no Greater Flint Arts Council! Thank you to the following sponsors & partners:

Arcus Foundation Gay and Lesbian Fund, Arthur G. Bishop Charitable Trust, Bishop International Airport, Comcast Cable Communications, Inc, Community Foundation of Greater Flint, Flint Area Convention and Visitors Bureau, Flint City Council, The Flint Journal, Gazall, Lewis & Associates, General Motors Corporation, General RV of Birch Run, Genesee County Board of Commissioners, HealthPlus of Michigan, William G. and Katherine S. Huber Fund, T.S. Jenkins & Associates, Kettering University, Stella & Frederick Loeb Charitable Trust, Merrill Lynch, Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, Charles Stewart Mott Foundation, Ruth Mott Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Whiting Foundation, Cumulus Broadcasting, Financial Plus Federal Credit Union, Fandangles', University of Michigan-Flint, Mott Community College, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, HealthPlus of Michigan, Economy Print & Graphics, United Auto Workers Region 1C, James A. Welch Foundation and our hundreds of Private & Public members.

Volunteers at the Greater Flint Arts Council

Thanks to our great volunteers, each year we are able to produce five outstanding festivals during the summer months and 12 wonderful gallery Artwalk openings during the 2nd Friday Artwalk. Yet, to keep from wearing out our volunteers, we are always in need of those who are interested in lending a hand. Whether you are in a group or organization, or an individual with a few hours to spare, we’d like to hear from you. Are you interested in becoming a volunteer group leader to help us in organizing any of the volunteer programs or would you like to volunteer for a specific task? Would you like to meet new people and share skills? Would you like to learn Event Planning? We have forms at the Arts Council that you can fill out to let us know your preferences or you can email Cathy E. Johnson, Director of Programs, at cathy@greaterflintartscouncil.org. Find out about the opportunities that are available to you. Call 810.238.6875 for more information.

Arts Council 101

Greg's monthly newsletter ARCHIVE feature is here!
Click HERE for this month's issue May'08
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APRIL'08
MARCH'08

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Community Cultural Planning

We convened committees of stakeholders--local arts agency representatives, funders, business and community people-- to create a plan to create, increase and sustain arts and cultural activities and entities. The planning portion of this project is finished and we are now in the implementation phase. The Community Cultural Plan has generated new funding for small arts agencies and arts projects through a mini grant program and will help develop wider audiences for area arts and culture events through an interactive web site. This website will help increase awareness of arts and culture events in the area, make it easier for people to purchase tickets and will link arts and culture events with area businesses such as hotels and restaurants.