NW MI Arts & Culture Summit
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.
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.
Thank you to these 2024 Summit sponsors who helped make this event possible!
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