AUTUMN NEWSLETTER
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IT’S BEEN QUITE A YEAR…
My Dearest Living Arts Community,
Wow. It’s been quite the year and it’s only November?! I’m coming to you today with a direct ask, and we need your support now more than ever before.
This year, we were displaced from our home of ten years, a space that had become a hub of inspiration and growth for countless young artists. With just seven weeks to find a new location, move, and create suitable classrooms, we took on a rapid transition that came with unexpected costs and the need for major renovations to make our new space safe and our own. Out of sheer determination and a commitment to our students, we’ve invested in everything from structural updates to specialized classroom spaces—efforts only possible through community support and our mission to ensure Detroit’s youth have a space as safe, inspiring, and high-quality as they deserve.
With your support, we can go beyond meeting today’s needs and prepare for a future where Detroit’s young artists have the space and resources to thrive. We envision hiring more Detroit-based teaching artists, expanding our classes, and building a state-of-the-art facility that inspires and nurtures creativity in every corner. Our dream is to make this space a true cultural anchor for the city, where established artists, emerging creators, and young students all find a place to express themselves and connect.
Join us in transforming Detroit into a city where creativity and opportunity are within reach for everyone, especially our young artists. By giving this season, you’re not just helping a single organization—you’re investing in a future where all of Detroit has the opportunity to make art, share art, and be inspired. Be the change with us—let’s make this vision a reality together.
-Laura Scales
CEO of Living Arts
NEWS & EVENTS
Individual donors who have donated a cumulative amount of $1,000+ for the calendar year will get exclusive status and rewards! Become an Ambassador for 2025 by Dec. 31 to celebrate 25 years with Living Arts with special invites, swag, and more!
Join Laura Scales (she/her), a dedicated arts facilitator, career counselor, and the CEO of Living Arts Detroit as she and co-host Claire (she/her) chat with both experienced and emerging artistic professionals who have ignited their creativity and shaped their careers to thrive while living in the arts. LISTEN HERE!
CLASSES IN OUR NEW HOME
This fall, Living Arts Detroit is thrilled to welcome our students, families, and community members into our new home, where the intersection of art & learning thrive like never before. It’s been a journey to get here, and we couldn’t have done it without the remarkable support of our community!
After being displaced from our previous home of 10 years, we began renting our new space in March 2024 in only 7 weeks! We were ready to bring our classes under one roof but quickly realized that moving in would take more than just a few adjustments before we could host classes. With a shared goal, we came together to make it work: while renovations took place, we found a temporary space to finish out the school year!
As summer began, our renovation efforts kicked into high gear. Our team & community worked tirelessly to bring our vision to life, completely reimagining the space from floor to ceiling. We transformed empty rooms into a variety of specialized spaces, each carefully designed with our students’ needs in mind.
This accomplishment would not have been possible without the incredible support from our staff, families, and community members. It’s because of their dedication and generosity that our new building is now a space that embodies our mission to empower young artists and inspire creative expression. Each person involved in this journey played a vital role in making this vision a reality, and we are filled with gratitude for every hand and heart that helped along the way.
As we open our doors, we look forward to a year full of creativity, exploration, and joy in this newly transformed space. Here’s to a bright future in our new home at Living Arts! Thank you for being part of our journey, and stay tuned to more!
OUR COMMUNITY AT HOME
Día de los Muertos
Day of the Dead
This October 31st to November 2nd, we’re excited to celebrate Día de los Muertos, or Day of the Dead, a beautiful and deeply meaningful holiday celebrated across Latin America, especially in Mexico. Día de los Muertos honors loved ones who have passed away, inviting their spirits back to the world of the living through vibrant festivities and traditions.
One of the most recognizable aspects of Día de los Muertos is the “ofrenda,” or altar, built in homes to welcome and celebrate the spirits of family members who have passed. These altars are decorated with bright marigold flowers (known as *cempasúchil*), photos of the deceased, candles, and personal items that bring joy and remind family members of the lives they’re honoring. Ofrendas also include “pan de muerto” (bread of the dead), a lightly sweet bread topped with sugar and often decorated with bone-like shapes to represent life and death.
Sugar skulls, or Calaveras, are another traditional element, often decorated in bright colors and intricate designs. Originally made from sugar, today’s Calaveras are often crafted from chocolate or clay and are exchanged as tokens of affection.
The holiday isn’t complete without music and dancing! Many communities gather for parades and celebrations featuring skeleton costumes, face painting, and folk music. This joyful celebration serves as a reminder that death is a natural part of life, to be honored and remembered with joy rather than sorrow.
Día de los Muertos beautifully blends tradition, family, and festivity, celebrating life and memory vibrantly and profoundly and Living Arts is proud to support our community in building their connections to loved ones. We hope this glimpse into the holiday enriches your appreciation for the traditions and significance behind it, and we encourage you to join us in celebrating the legacy of those who came before us!
OUR ALTER FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR
WELCOMING ERIKA RIVERA
DANCE TEACHING ARTIST
Erika Rivera is a dancer born in Colombia. At 15, Erika joined the dance academy "Ritmo Extremo," which specializes in Latin rhythms such as salsa, bachata, samba, and tango. She participated in "Colombia’s Got Talent" and ranked seventh. After the reality show, Erika was selected to dance in South Korea as a performer and dance instructor. This opportunity allowed her to participate in the World Dance Cup in Miami, where she won first place in the women's category, and in Singapore as an instructor and performer at "Dancing with Friends," an international dance congress. Erika arrived in the United States 5 years ago and currently teaches at the "Detroit Dance Loft" studio. We are honored to have her teaching with us.
“Wish Upon a Starfish” DWT
Youth Arts Camp Brightmoor
From jellyfish in a jar to creating treasure maps, the Detroit Wolftrap (DWT) youth explored the ocean through their five senses. The camp focuses on supporting the cognitive and physical development of young children ages 0 to 6 years old. 100% of parents saw growth in their child's confidence in using movement, song, and drama, as well as an increase in their child’s ability to utilize social-emotional development skills such as sharing, interacting with others, following directions, and maintaining focus.
“The counselors and staff were really great. They were encouraging and engaging with everybody and had lots of patience.”
With the generous support of the Max M. & Marjorie S. Fisher Foundation, the Brightmoor Quality Initiative is a cohort of 100% women-owned businesses that have a goal to provide high-quality early childhood programs for families accessing state subsidies or those who cannot afford to pay, while helping sustain the private childcare slots within Brightmoor.
“The DIY Project when the kids did the beach in the jar, my daughter loved it! she couldn't stop showing it off!”
Camp Experience Leader: DWT teaching artist Emilio Rodriguez
Guest Appearances By: Shirel Jones, Audra Kubat, and Marvin Thompson.
Ester Detroit/
Living Arts Collaboration
We’re thrilled to announce our beautiful new bathroom renovation, created in collaboration with Callie Sullivan of Ester Interiors + Design! Callie, a local Detroit designer, raised over $500 to help us transform this space into a warm, welcoming area just for our dancers.
Alongside our Associate Director of Community Engagement, Bianca Cuevas, Callie put in hours of thoughtful design work, adding vibrant touches that make our students feel right at home.
We’re so grateful for Callie’s generosity and design skill—she’s truly brought our vision to life. Thank you, Ester Interiors + Design, for helping us create a space that celebrates and supports our Living Arts family!
#GIVINGTUESDAYDETROIT
Giving Tuesday is only a month away! Have you made your annual gift? Be part of a global movement this December 3rd and join our community in celebrating Giving Tuesday by giving the gift of support to Living Arts Detroit. All gifts made now through Giving Tuesday will help us continue to ignite the creativity in the lives of Detroit youth through the performing, visual, and media arts. By making a donation today, you can help us reach our $5,000 goal!
The demand for our programs is immense. Right now, each of our classes has a waitlist that’s three times the current class size, showing how many Detroit youth long for creative spaces. But our vision extends beyond simply meeting that demand. At Living Arts Detroit, we strive to be a canvas for others. Our ultimate goal is to ensure as many people in Detroit as possible—students, teaching artists, and creators of all ages—can access art and the opportunity to create.
Living Arts Detroit is bursting with potential, committed to a mission of inclusivity, and driven by the passion to serve. Every contribution you make not only supports necessary renovations but also expands access to life-changing arts education. Your generosity enables us to keep our programs accessible for families who need them most, grow our capacity to scale, and to create an environment where creativity can flourish in every corner.
