Summit Request for Proposals

Call for Proposals

2026 Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Summit

We’re calling on all creatives, culture-bearers, and changemakers! The Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Network invites you to submit a proposal for the 2026 Art & Culture Summit—now transforming into a dynamic, multi-venue celebration of arts, culture, and community.

Got a bold idea for a workshop, panel, presentation or hands-on activity? How about a public exhibit or experience? A collaborative performance? We want to hear it! Whether you’re an artist, performer, educator, or advocate, this is your chance to spark inspiration, and help us elevate art and culture in our region. Let’s create something unforgettable together.

Submit your proposal today!

 

Against the Current

The theme for this year's event - Against the Current. In a culture driven by profit, productivity, and conformity, the arts embody a necessary resistance. To create is to move against the current — refusing to be defined only by economics, pushing back against narrowing pressures, and opening space for what is more inclusive, equitable, and beautiful. This Summit invites artists and cultural leaders to explore how creativity carries us upstream: not only resisting what diminishes us, but shaping what comes next.

Example Categories

We’re looking for meaningful proposals that will resonate with a diverse audience of creatives, arts administrators, and community leaders. Your session or activity should align with the Summit’s goal to foster meaningful relationships through shared cultural experiences. Here are some examples of the types of experiences you could submit:

  • Educational Workshops: Share practical knowledge, professional development, or emerging trends in the arts and culture sectors.
     
  • Art Workshops: Lead hands-on sessions where participants create, learn, and explore new techniques.
     
  • Discussion Groups / Roundtables: Facilitate thoughtful conversations on relevant topics, challenges, and innovations in arts and culture.
     
  • Performances: Propose live performances in dance, music, theater, or multidisciplinary work.
     
  • Hands-on Activities: Lead or suggest interactive, creative activities that engage attendees directly.
     
  • Experiential Offerings: Curate exhibits, displays, or immersive environments that enrich the attendee experience throughout the day.
     
  • VIP & Member-Exclusive Experiences: Design unique experiences exclusively for Summit VIPs and Network members.
     
  • Collaborative Projects: Suggest or lead projects that bring together multiple disciplines or artists, fostering cross-sector collaboration.
     
  • Wellness Activities: Offer activities that promote well-being, mindfulness, or physical movement to enhance the Summit experience.
     
  • Tech Integration: Propose workshops or experiences incorporating technology into arts practice or management.

Submit Your Proposal:

  • Submission Deadline: January 31, 2026
  • Workshops and panels should be for either 60 or 90 minute sessions
  • Experiences and activities can range from momentary to ongoing throughout the day


If you have an idea but need help refining it, we encourage you to submit your concept! We are open to exploring new possibilities and working with presenters to create something unique together.
 

Submit Here