NWMI Art & Culture Summit

May 14-15, 2026

Join us for the 2026 Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Summit: Against the Current.

On May 14–15 in downtown Traverse City, creatives from across the region will gather for two days of connection, learning, and shared momentum. In a culture driven by productivity and profit, the arts move differently, traveling upstream to protect what is human, inclusive, and deeply rooted in community.

Through inspiring keynote sessions, practical workshops for arts workers, live performances, hands-on experiences, and structured opportunities to build real relationships, you will find meaningful exchange across disciplines and counties.

Early Bird Registration: $99 for a limited time.

Keynote Speaker: Juana Williams
Juana Williams is a curator and writer whose work explores the intersections of cross-border intellectual history, cultural memory, and identity formation as expressed through modern and contemporary art from Africa and its diasporas.

Williams has held curatorial and academic appointments at organizations including the Detroit Institute of Arts, Library Street Collective, Wayne State University, and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Art. Her curatorial projects have been presented at institutions across the United States and France, including the Grand Rapids Art Museum, the Muskegon Museum of Art, Palais de Tokyo (Paris), and the Westmoreland Museum of American Art. In addition, she has presented lectures at various museums and universities, and contributed to numerous exhibition catalogs. Her work has been written about in publications such as Artsy, Beaux Arts Magazine, Condé Nast Traveller, Michigan Chronicle, and Observer.

Williams holds a BA in Fine Art and an MA in Art History from Wayne State University.
Keynote Speaker: Omari Rush
Omari Rush is a statewide and national arts leader whose work is rooted in helping creative expression thrive in communities. As Executive Director of CultureSource in Detroit, he guides regional strategies that strengthen arts ecosystems, support cultural organizations, and advance equitable investment in creativity.

His civic leadership includes long-standing service on the Michigan Arts and Culture Council—appointed by three governors and twice elected chair—as well as a recent term as Board Chair of the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies, where he helped shape national policy and advocacy for the cultural sector. A lapsed clarinetist with enduring curiosity, Omari now channels much of his creative energy into riding his Rivendell Clem-L bicycle across Michigan’s streets and trails.
Keynote Speaker: Laura Zabel
Laura Zabel is a nationally recognized advocate for artists and a leading voice in reimagining how creativity strengthens communities and economies. She is the Executive Director of Springboard for the Arts, a St. Paul–based organization run by and for artists. Under her leadership, Springboard has become a field-defining force in artist-led community development, creative placemaking, and cross-sector collaboration, with programs reaching more than 20,000 artists each year and replicated in communities across the U.S. and internationally.

A frequent writer and speaker, Laura’s work has been featured by outlets including The New York Times, PBS NewsHour, Stanford Social Innovation Review, and The Guardian. Her leadership during moments of disruption has helped shape new models of support for artists, including emergency relief funds, artist-driven community response initiatives, and one of the nation’s early guaranteed income programs focused on artists.

Highlight reel produced by OB & Co. Media

Event Details

Dates:

Thursday, May 14 - Friday, May 15 · 2026

Location:

Downtown Traverse City with sessions at multiple venues, including City Opera House and Hotel Indigo

Audience:

Anyone who considers yourself part of our creative community, including; artists, nonprofit administrators, crafters, musicians, community leaders, poets, philosophers, makers, dreamers

What to Expect

Inspiration:

Keynotes and performances from inspiring voices in the arts and culture community

Discovery & Dialogue:

Interactive workshops, panels, roundtable discussions, exhibit tours, and hands-on activities

Relationships:

Real connection with your peers and meeting kindred spirits

Headshots by Michael Poehlman

New for 2026:

Professional Headshots with Michael Poehlman

We are very lucky to have Michael Poehlman, one of the region's premier portrait photographers joining us at the Summit this year. Upgrade your professional presence with a high-quality headshot in-between workshops on Thursday!

Sessions are available Thursday only.
Availability is limited.
Add your $50 time slot during registration checkout.

Registration & Headshot Reservations

EVENT SCHEDULE

THURSDAY · May 14

Early Registration

Hotel Indigo

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM

Welcome check-in & credential pickup.

Welcome & Remarks

Hotel Indigo

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

We'll start our day together with all attendees in the large ballroom at Hotel Indigo for a Welcome Session.

Workshops & More

Hotel Indigo

1:30 PM - 5:00 PM

Workshops
Panels
Artist Talks
Headshot Portraits by Michael Poehlman

One-on-One Mentor Sessions (sign up in registration checkout)

Mentor List

-------- Thursday Evening --------

Registration & Mingle

City Opera House

5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Check in at registration for your credentials then grab a drink in the Towsley Lobby and enjoy some time getting to know other kindred spirits from the arts and culture community.

Evening Keynote with Omari Rush: CultureSource

City Opera House

6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Expect inspiring performances from all across our creative region! Omari Rush will deliver a keynote talk.

EVENT SCHEDULE

FRIDAY · May 15

Registration, Coffee & Connection

City Opera House

8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Start the day right with a cup of coffee and a visit with new friends. Enjoy complimentary coffee and mingling at the Opera House lobby prior to our first keynote session.

Registration is open for those not yet checked in.