News & Views

RECAP: 2024 Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Summit:
The Power In Our Partnerships

What a wonderful day—and record turnout—for the 2024 Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Summit on Tuesday, May 7 at Interlochen Center for the Arts. It really was a day for the books:

  • 180 registrants in person and by Zoom,
  • 30+ speakers,
  • 3 panels sessions,
  • 3 talks,
  • 6 breakouts
  • Performances by Interlochen classical voice students from Edmonia
  • Readings from the Michigan Writers project Transformational.

What a long way we've come since 40 people gathered in the middle of a February 2017 blizzard for the very first Summit to start planning what a Network might look like. Thanks to all of you, this year we recognized more than 85 organizational members across northern Michigan as well as hundreds of individual artists and culture bearers. Bravo! YOU are the Network ... and the Power in Our Partnerships.

Morning panels explored The Power in Our Partnerships focusing on building cross-sector collaborations, strategies and champions to further the arts throughout Northern Michigan. Breakout sessions will share hands-on tools with tracks for individual artists as well as organizations.

Speakers include more than 20 regional artists, arts and cultural leaders, community project directors and creative sector advocates, in addition to state leaders from Michigan Arts & Culture Council, Americans for the Arts, Northern Michigan Chamber Alliance, Interlochen Public Radio and Interlochen Center for the Arts.

The Summit Digital Toolbox

There were so many great discussions, presentations and resources shared at the Summit. Here's the link to the day's digital tool box of hand-outs, presentations, guidelines and references. We are probably still missing some - so do check back as we continue to add more (we'll give you a heads up in the e-news!). And - do let us know if you'd like to learn more about a topic or resource referenced in a breakout or talk.

Download the 2024 Summit Toolbox

Thank you to these 2024 Summit sponsors who helped make this event possible!

 

Interlochen Center for the Arts
  

Allegra Marketing Print Mail • Create for Community • Flight Path Creative • Grand Traverse Regional Community Foundation • Michigan Creative Coast / Traverse Connect • Munson Healthcare • Short's Brewing Company

2024 Speakers and Panelists

Warren Call, Traverse Connect

Jamie Gallagher, Faber Castell USA (retired), For the Win

Tracie Muscat Lareau, Bellaire DDA, College for Creative Studies

Chad Lindsey, City Opera House

Sue Roll, Upper Peninsula Arts & Culture Alliance

Alison Watson, Michigan Arts & Culture Council

Trey Devey, Facilitator, Interlochen Center for the Arts

Daniel Stewart & Anne-Marie Oomen, Michigan Writers, Transformational: Stories of NoMI Arts & Culture

Peter Payette, Interlochen Public Radio, Fresh Coast Creatives and Stories That Heal

Katie Jones, Garden Theater, Stories That Heal

Deb Jackson, Old Town Playhouse, At the Corner of Arts & Culture

Mary Bevans Gillett, Facilitator, Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Network

2024 Breakout Sessions

The Art of Business for Creatives - Business Basics

Nicholas James Thomasma, Michigan Music Alliance

Fundraising Group Exchange

Cindy McSurely, The Benedict Group

All Things Data

Sam Charnes, Interlochen Center for the Arts

Amy Gillard, Harbor Springs Festival of the Book

Sue Roll, Upper Peninsula Arts & Culture Alliance

Working Well With Others: Build Creative, Impactful Partnerships

Brian Beauchamp, TART Trails

Michelle Boyer, Good Hart Artist Residency

Helen Raica-Klotz, Antrim Writers

Jamie Gallagher, Faber Castell USA (ret) & For the Win

Carrie Tebeau, Facilitator, Good Hart Artist Residency

A Sense of Place: Sharing Cultures, Traditions, Stories

Laura Quackenbush, Great Lake History & Interpretation, Cultural Resource Management

Mark Smith, Northern Michigan Historian

Minnie Wabanimkee, Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa & Chippewa Indians

Creative Presentations: How to Think on Your Feet & Out of Thin Air

Nikki Devitt, President, Petoskey Regional Chamber of Commerce

 

The Summit is northern Michigan’s annual gathering for all who share a common belief in the value of art & culture in building vibrant communities. Over 100 attendees—state & local leaders, artists, administrators, culture bearers and entrepreneurs—meet for a robust day of panels, workshops, speakers and collaborative discussion.