Community Calendar

Join us for a hands-on workshop designed to help artists prepare both themselves and their artwork for gallery opportunities. This session focuses on the practical foundations that support successful exhibitions and ongoing relationships with galleries.

This interactive session is ideal for artists who want to feel more confident and prepared when pursuing exhibition or sales opportunities. Attendees are encouraged to bring images or information about their work and will leave with practical tools, clearer next steps, and materials they can immediately apply to their practice.

Facilitator: Sheila Ruen
Sheila Ruen is an artist, educator, and consultant, currently teaching digital photography at NCMC in Petoskey and serving as a consultant to the Petoskey Public Art Commission.

Must register for event. Not a member - join at https://nwmiarts.org/members/become-a-member.html

Led by Marivi Bryant, founder of HOME Agency, a people-first creative and strategy firm based in Traverse City, this workshop explores how arts organizations and artists can use storytelling and social media to inspire connection and drive fundraising. With experience helping mission-driven brands grow through authentic content and community engagement, Marivi will guide participants in identifying their unique stories, translating them into meaningful online communication, and using simple strategies to turn audiences into advocates and supporters.

Audience: Who is this for?
This session is designed for:
Artists
Organizations
Anyone wanting to up their social media game

About Level Up
Level Up is a professional development series for the arts & culture sector.

Must register for event. Not a member - join at https://nwmiarts.org/members/become-a-member.html

A Tech Toolkit for the Proactive Arts Admin

For nonprofit professionals, staying organized can often feel like a full-time job in itself. This session is designed to help arts nonprofit professionals transition from "putting out fires" to proactive planning by leveraging the full power of their existing digital ecosystem.

We want to help you reclaim your creative energy by shifting from reactive tasks to proactive impact using the tools you already use every day. We’ll dive into "hidden" Google Workspace features to automate your inbox and calendar, followed by high-impact applications for AI tools like Gemini and NotebookLM to streamline grant drafting, program planning, and donor reporting. You’ll walk away with a practical "productivity toolkit" and the confidence to let technology handle the busy work so you can focus on human-centered work.

Facilitator: Sam Charnes
Sam Charnes is the Associate Vice Provost at Interlochen Center for the Arts, overseeing institutional research and educational technology. Specializing in systems implementation and operational strategy, she is dedicated to using data and technology to drive decision-making and planning.

Audience: Who is this for?
This session is designed for:

Organizations

Must register for event. Not a member - join at https://nwmiarts.org/members/become-a-member.html

Creative Wellness Monthly Gathering
Facilitators: Carol Hohle & Meridith Mulcahy

Time: 1:30 pm–3 pm

Registration Deadline: N/A

Location: Meet at the GAAC front desk, then follow the fun—we may head to locations like Pine Street Studio or Thoreson Farm Studio during the summer. (Reserve Pinestreet Classroom as permanent option)
Skill: All Skill Levels
Cost: $10 member/ $12 nonmember
Min/Max: N/A
Time to Set Up: 15 minutes
Time to Clean Up: 15 minutes

This group will gather once a month to share and learn more about the value of creativity in our daily lives. Over a warm mug of brewed tea/coffee (or ice tea/lemonade in the summer!), come connect with others, share ideas, find inspiration, and practical tips to lead a more creative and whole-hearted approach to life. Each month, in addition to checking in with one another, we will explore different practices (journaling, stitching, collaging, photography) that may pique your creative curiosity.

Each week the group will meet at the front desk of the Glen Arbor Art Center and will move to locations such as Pine Street Studio, the GAAC Classroom, the GAAC grove or Thoreson Farm.

Public art is one of the most visible expressions of a community’s identity—but the work behind it can feel surprisingly isolated. This Caffeinated Conversation brings together arts commissioners, arts councils, municipal leaders, and public art advocates for a candid exchange of ideas, challenges, and opportunities.

Facilitated by Caitlin Early, the session will explore how public art takes shape across different communities—from murals and installations to policy, partnerships, and planning. What’s working? Where are the sticking points? How do we advocate for public art as essential infrastructure?

This is a peer-driven discussion, not a presentation. Expect practical insight, honest conversation, and the chance to connect with others doing similar work across the region.

Facilitator: Caitlin Early
Caitlin Early (she/her) is the Campaign & Development Officer at TART Trails, and is the curator of their trailside public art program Art on the TART. She also serves on the Traverse City Arts Commission.

Audience: Who is this for? This session is designed for:

Art & culture professionals / administrators
Arts councils / commissions
Public art advocates

Too much to do and too little time? You are not alone! Join us for this interactive workshop to explore tools and strategies to help your organization tighten its strategy and focus on what is most important. Learn how to identify what matters most, align your Board and staff around your top priorities, and develop a strategic screen to stay on track. Explore how to reduce mission drift, increase community impact, and prevent employee burnout and turnover.

Facilitator: Colleen Masterson-Bzdok
Colleen Masterson-Bzdok has over 20 years of experience working with northern Michigan nonprofits as a staff member, board member, volunteer, funder and consultant. She is passionate about helping leaders and organizations improve their culture, align their work around what is most important and maximize their impact in the communities they serve.

Audience: Who is this for? This session is designed for:

Art & culture administrators

Must register for event. Not a member - join at https://nwmiarts.org/members/become-a-member.html

Where alchemy meets color, fantastic realities take shape. Join artist Darryl Brown as he transports us into his imaginative world. In this talk, you’ll discover the process behind his rich tapestries, deeply layered paintings, and custom tools that power his unique vision.

Image: Darryl Brown, "Mawandajai." Acrylic on canvas. Photo courtesy of the artist. 

Creative Wellness Monthly Gathering
Facilitators: Carol Hohle & Meridith Mulcahy

Time: 1:30 pm–3 pm

Registration Deadline: N/A

Location: Meet at the GAAC front desk, then follow the fun—we may head to locations like Pine Street Studio or Thoreson Farm Studio during the summer. (Reserve Pinestreet Classroom as permanent option)
Skill: All Skill Levels
Cost: $10 member/ $12 nonmember
Min/Max: N/A
Time to Set Up: 15 minutes
Time to Clean Up: 15 minutes

This group will gather once a month to share and learn more about the value of creativity in our daily lives. Over a warm mug of brewed tea/coffee (or ice tea/lemonade in the summer!), come connect with others, share ideas, find inspiration, and practical tips to lead a more creative and whole-hearted approach to life. Each month, in addition to checking in with one another, we will explore different practices (journaling, stitching, collaging, photography) that may pique your creative curiosity.

Each week the group will meet at the front desk of the Glen Arbor Art Center and will move to locations such as Pine Street Studio, the GAAC Classroom, the GAAC grove or Thoreson Farm.

Creative Wellness Monthly Gathering
Facilitators: Carol Hohle & Meridith Mulcahy

Time: 1:30 pm–3 pm

Registration Deadline: N/A

Location: Meet at the GAAC front desk, then follow the fun—we may head to locations like Pine Street Studio or Thoreson Farm Studio during the summer. (Reserve Pinestreet Classroom as permanent option)
Skill: All Skill Levels
Cost: $10 member/ $12 nonmember
Min/Max: N/A
Time to Set Up: 15 minutes
Time to Clean Up: 15 minutes

This group will gather once a month to share and learn more about the value of creativity in our daily lives. Over a warm mug of brewed tea/coffee (or ice tea/lemonade in the summer!), come connect with others, share ideas, find inspiration, and practical tips to lead a more creative and whole-hearted approach to life. Each month, in addition to checking in with one another, we will explore different practices (journaling, stitching, collaging, photography) that may pique your creative curiosity.

Each week the group will meet at the front desk of the Glen Arbor Art Center and will move to locations such as Pine Street Studio, the GAAC Classroom, the GAAC grove or Thoreson Farm.