Consulting
The Arts Council offers consulting with individuals and organizations on such topics as grant writing, marketing, and board development. We provide technical assistance as well as referrals.

Workshops
Before each grant deadline, the Arts Council holds a workshop to explain the grant’s specifications. We also offer workshops on a variety of arts administration areas, such as board development and accounting for nonprofit organizations. See the Arts Calendar for dates.

Exhibits
The Arts Council manages displays of art work at eight locations. In addition to exhibits in the Arts Council gallery at the Epic Center, there are art shows at seven area businesses: Barnabee Gallery at Powell Library, Borgess Woodbridge Hills, Copper Advertising, Kingscott, Tromblay, West Michigan Cancer Center and WMU Unified Clinics.

Commissions and Special Purchase Projects
We help local institutions commission works of art. Two of our clients are Bronson Methodist Hospital and Kalamazoo Public Library.

The Muse
Our quarterly newsletter contains timely, practical information that artists and organizations need, including grant deadlines, exhibition opportunities, job openings and other important news.

Collaborations
Kalamazoo’s arts community is known for its ability to play well together. The Arts Council likes to foster collaborations among our members. In 2000, we initiated extensive market research that involved 60 local arts organizations. In 2001, we joined other organizations on a project to improve our proficiency in database management.

Community Arts Awards
Every September the local arts community gathers to honor its special members. We bestow the Community Medal of Arts, Theodore Cooper Award for Distinguished Volunteer Service, Business Arts Award and the Young Artist Award.

Young Artist Award
For several years, we have worked with the Kalamazoo Gazette on a project to recognize the next generation of artists. In its “Young Artist of the Week” feature, the Kalamazoo Gazette writes about several young artists who have been nominated by their teachers for exemplary work in the arts. High school seniors who have been featured are eligible to apply for the Arts Council’s annual Young Artist of the Year Award, given at the Community Arts Awards gala.