Information and Referral
All the arts, cultural and educational agencies in the greater Flint area inform GFAC of the cultural programs and events they offer. This makes GFAC rich in information about arts and cultural opportunities. Also, national, state and local agencies send information to GFAC. Through our monthly newsletter, press release and our highly publicized information line (238-ARTS), GFAC is able to share this information with our community. In 2007, GFAC has received more than 8,000 requests for arts information. GFAC's prominently displayed brochure rack and kiosk are also well used information sources.
The GFAC newsletter, entitled "Where's Art?" is published monthly. This handsome publication contains listings of art events, articles about local artists, programs sponsored by GFAC, paying opportunities for local artists and opportunities for the public to become involved in the arts. The GFAC newsletter is distributed to our over 700 members, and is available by calling 810-238-ARTS.
GFAC maintains an artist directory of over 1300 listings of local artists in all disciplines, including musicians, actors, writers, storytellers, dancers and visual artists. This directory is used widely by local agencies, producers, educational institutions and major events planners. Artist referrals are available upon request. Also included in the directory are arts- and culture-related businesses and organizations. GFAC uses this service to create more opportunities for local artists, by connecting them with organizations with particular needs.
GFAC has also produced an exciting 23 minute video, "Where's Art?", created to promote the arts in the Greater Flint community. This visual creation was carefully developed to represent Flint and Genesee county as a creative environment filled with events and opportunities. This professionally crafted video is entertaining, visually attractive, and extremely informative. (Special credit and gratitude to Community Foundation of Greater Flint for their vision and funding support of this project.)
Our latest addition to GFAC communications is our interactive website, www.geneseefun.com. Visit this site for the latest in arts and cultural activities throughout Genesee County. You can list your events there too!
And since you mentioned it, hey, we think this web site is pretty nifty too!
Arts Education
Arts Education is carried out for promoting creative expression throughout the community. The GFAC ARTSHARE Program sends local artists to Schools K-12, youth service organizations, day camps and summer camps in 8 counties to give culturally diverse, hands-on arts programs. The GFAC CITY ARTS TEAM Program uses local artists in a similar way as Artshare in community centers during the summer months.
ARTSHARE
Through the GFAC ARTSHARE Program, local artists will be sent to give culturally diverse demonstrations and "hands-on" activities in their craft to students. Each program is designed to meet the needs of the participating educational institution. Evaluation interviews are held with each recipient school to insure quality programming. ARTSHARE is available to K-12 educators in Genesee, Shiawassee, Lapeer, Gratiot, Saginaw, Tuscola, Livingston and Oakland Counties.
CITY ARTS TEAM
This program is similar to Artshare, using local artists to give demonstrations and "hand-on" activities. The City Arts Team works throughout the summer months and offers programs through community centers for children and senior citizens. Evaluation interviews are held with each recipient organization to insure quality programming and help make plans for future offerings.
TECHNICAL AND CREATIVE WORKSHOPS
GFAC offers workshops in a variety of topics to aid arts administrators, marketers and fund raisers. In the summer of 2007 we produced the Summer Impact Series with guest appearances by Neeta Delaney, Mark Lakeman and the launching of www.geneseefun.com.
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
GFAC will continue to offer technical assistance in the coming year through the ARTS INCUBATOR program, TECHNICAL WORKSHOPS and COLLABORATIONS with other non-profit agencies. Our knowledgeable and talented staff are available for consultations throughout the year in all areas of arts/cultural and non-profit development.
Networking and Outreach
GFAC encourages collaborative projects between artists, agencies and educational institutions. GFAC is in a unique position to bring groups together, pooling resources to coordinate events and programs which individuals could not otherwise achieve on their own. Our most recent collaborations include the Genesee County Community Cultural Plan, The Parade of Festivals and the Out N About Flint Arts Collaborative (http:www.outnaboutflint.org).
In addition to keeping informed of cultural affairs and arts legislation nationwide, GFAC maintains relationships with the following organizations:
• Americans for the Arts
• ARTSERVE Michigan
• Great Lakes Performing Artists Association
• Kennedy Center for the Arts
• Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs
• Community Theater Association of Michigan
• The National Endowment for the Arts
• Michigan Humanities Council
• Arts Midwest
• Michigan Quilt Network
*League of Flint Theaters (LOFT)
Using information from these organizations, GFAC has been able to make our voice known to local, state, and national legislators in the past year. We will continue to do so with emphasis on funding for the arts in Michigan. In 2007 GFAC staff were active participants in the Americans for the Arts Advocacy Day in Washington DC and The ARTSERVE Michigan Advocacy Day in Lansing, Michigan.
GFAC participates in several projects annually to assess the needs of Flint's culturally diverse community for arts programs. This year we are assessing the needs for workshops, communications and a special survey to determine GFAC's emerging role in the community.
GFAC steadily advocates downtown revitalization and will continue to do so. GFAC staff have also worked closely with the Uptown Reinvestment Corporation, Downtown Development Authority and the Flint Convention and Visitors Bureau on events which draw the population downtown. GFAC has a personal interest in downtown improvement, being housed in a historic downtown building.
Community Service
We produce the EMPTY BOWLS fund raiser for food and shelter in partnership with the Flint Institute of Arts and the University of Michigan-Flint. This is a collaborative effort with hundreds of local artists, educators, and students. Hand turned ceramic bowls are made and sold with a simple meal. The proceeds are given to The Food Bank of Eastern Michigan and The Shelter of Flint to meet the basic needs of those who are less fortunate in our community. The Bowls are made at the Flint Institute of Arts education program at the DeWaters Art Center lead by Guy Adamec. They are sold at the University of Michigan-Flint in cooperation with the University Pavilion Merchants. Each year the project raises $7,000 to $10,000 to improve conditions for those who are hungry or homeless. In November 1993, Kearsley High School served as a pilot location for taking Empty Bowls into the community. The Kearsley students raised $1,200 and emoted a sense of pride throughout their district. This program continues to grow each year.
Arts Incubator
GFAC aids new artists and "grass roots" arts/cultural agencies in their development. This provides GFAC's other resources (such as marketing, publicity and funding) as well as providing space and equipment for meetings, auditions, and rehearsals. GFAC is approached continually throughout the year for information about funding sources, marketing/promotions,"links" between organizations for collaborative programs, human resources and program planning just to name a few. If a specialist is needed, we help locate an agency or individual who can provide the necessary consultancy.
The ARTS INCUBATOR program continues to grow as more artists and organizations learn about the services we provide and as we discover more ways we can serve them.
Marketing and Promotion
GFAC's marketing and promotions program is available to local artists as well as arts and cultural agencies and educational institutions, to increase participation in all their arts programs and events. GFAC has developed strong relationships with media agencies, including Comcast Cable, The Flint Journal, Advanced Newspapers, WJRT-TV, and Cumulus Broadcasting. We "network" through arts agencies, service clubs, religious and educational institutions. We also use the services of the Flint Convention and Visitors Bureau, The Genesee Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Flint Cultural Center Corporation. The GFAC press release file includes listings for media, arts agencies, government offices, service clubs and educational institutions. Our latest events website was launched in September 2007 and is inclusive of all Genesee County events at www.geneseefun.com.
Funding
GFAC helps artists and non-profit organizations secure funds for arts projects. GFAC meets the funding challenge through regional regranting programs, fundraising workshops, and information and consultancies. From its collection of national, regional, state and local contacts, GFAC has information about arts funding from a wide range of sources.
REGRANTING
GFAC is the Regional Regranting Agency representing Genesee and Lapeer Counties for the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. This program makes funding available to other non-profit agencies for arts and cultural projects.
Many local non-profit agencies are able to offer culturally diverse projects through funding provided by the MCACA regranting program.
PARADE OF FESTIVALS
GFAC is able to fund and/or promote festivals in the downtown flint area during the summer months through the Parade of Festival project made possible by funding from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. The Parade of Festivals is serving 15 local events.
Exhibitions
GFAC gives local artists and students of art an opportunity for self expression and community recognition. In the past year GFAC has sponsored more than 40 exhibits at nine locations.
GFAC will coordinate exhibits jurying all exhibiting artists by a panel of local artists. The panel changes each year to ensure the diversity of exhibitions offered. GFAC will also schedule student exhibitions. The "Young Artists Today'" regional juried high school students exhibition and the Alpha Montessori Preschool exhibition are staples with GFAC. GFAC also coordinates a photography exhibition for students of Mott Community College.
To add to the excitement of GFAC studio exhibition receptions we pay local musicians to play during these events. This gives local musicians a chance to promote themselves and further diversifies GFAC's involvement in the various art forms.
SECOND FRIDAY ARTWALK
Organized by the Greater Flint Arts Council Public Relations Committee, this program is collaboration between two art galleries, a bookstore and several cultural organizations in downtown Flint. We coordinate open house receptions, free to the public to promote the diversity of gallery offerings in our downtown. Locations vary seasonally.
Arts Brokerage
GFAC increases paying opportunities for local artists. GFAC works with artists throughout the State of Michigan to match artists with the needs of individuals, agencies, businesses and government.
Our customers include:
- McLaren Regional Health Care Corporation
- HealthPlus of Michigan
- Flint Mass Transportation Authority
- City of Flint
- Piper-McCreedie Insurance Agency
- University of Michigan, Ann Arbor
MCACA Minigrant
Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs
Please click here for the 2008 Minigrant Program Guidelines
For the 2008 Minigrant Application, please click here.
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