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 geneseefun.com website, bi-monthly newsletter, press release and our highly publicized information line (238-ARTS), GFAC is able to share this information with our community. GFAC's prominently displayed brochure rack and kiosk are also well used information sources.

The GFAC newsletter, entitled "Where's Art?" is published bi-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.

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 as needed in a variety of topics to aid arts administrators, marketers and fund raisers.

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. Some of our most memorable collaborations include the Genesee County Community Cultural Plan, The Parade of Festivals and the Out N About Flint Arts Collaborative.

In addition to keeping informed of cultural affairs and arts legislation nationwide, GFAC maintains relationships with the following organizations:

• Americans for the Arts
• 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

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. GFAC staff are active participants in the Americans for the Arts Advocacy Day in Washington DC and maintain regular communication with our representatives in Lansing, Michigan.

GFAC participates in several projects annually to assess the needs of Flint's culturally diverse community for arts programs.

GFAC steadily advocates downtown revitalization and will continue to do so. GFAC staff have also works 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.

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, WNEM-TV5, WOWE 98.9 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 events website 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 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.

MCACA Minigrant

Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs

Please click here for the 2012 Minigrant Program Guidelines
For the 2012 Minigrant Application, please click here.

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 19 local events.

Exhibitions

GFAC gives local artists and students of art an opportunity for self expression and community recognition.

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 a collaboration between a dozen businesses and 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