LIVING ARTS BLOG
Here's How We're Responding to COVID-19
Hi Living Arts supporters -
In the last few days, so many of you have reached out to me and Living Arts' staff and board members with your concern and well wishes. Your messages and conversations have been a great source of encouragement as we navigate new challenges together.
Our response to the COVID-19 crisis has been moving quickly and I want to update you on some of the ways we are responding to the needs of our youth, Teaching Artists, and staff.
Program Closure through April 5
In light of Govornor Gretchen Whitmer's announcement to close all K-12 schools, all Living Arts programs will be closed through April 5th in order to contribute to keeping our communities well.
We are monitoring the COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation via local, national, and international public health authorities and will send updates regarding our programs as the situation changes.
Artists Strengthen and Heal Money Relationships
Work of Art is an annual event that addresses the real labor of working as an artist or creative in today's world. Living Arts invited Detroit-area teaching artists and 1099 contractors to attend the event.
An Arts Retreat for Early Learning Professionals
On Saturday, February 22, Artists Kimberli Boyd and Alesha Brown designed and facilitated a relaxing staff retreat for early learning professionals working in the Brightmoor neighborhood of Detroit.
"Living Arts Honored by Crain's Detroit
Living Arts was awarded Best-Managed Nonprofit 2019 from Crain’s Business Detroit! This morning, our Executive Director, Alissa Novoselick, was presented with the award at the Newsmaker of the Year luncheon.
Living Arts Joins the Detroit School of Arts Pathways Initiative
Living Arts is proud to be an arts partner with the DPSCD Detroit School of Arts (DSA) Pathways Initiative! “DSA Pathways is what collaboration in the arts can and should be…”
Southwest Holiday Fest Returns
The 7th Annual Southwest Holiday Fest was held on December 14. Living Arts is proud to once again participate in the event.
Our Youth Dance Ensemble 2 (YDE2, the junior dance company) had their second performance as a group this year at Southwest Holiday Fest and did a great job!
Celebrating Early Childhood Initiatives with Hope Starts Here
On November 22, 2019, Living Arts' artists and staff joined hundreds of educators, parents, funders, and other change-makers for the 3rd Annual Hope Starts Here Celebration. Hope Starts Here is a movement initiated in 2016 stewarded by the W.K.Kellogg Foundation and the Kresge Foundation to:
create a vision for what early childhood can look like in Detroit
develop a framework for that vision and
inspire folks from all over the city to get involved and help bring that vision to life.
5 Minute Mindfulness - Reflection
As a Teaching Artist in multiple programs within Living Arts, I never know which adventure I’ll be faced with next. It’s exhilarating! Who will be sitting in front of me for today’s class? What tricks will I pull out of my sleeve in the heat of the moment? What objective will organically present itself as an intruder to my lesson plan? And what unexpected inexplicable joy will be evoked by the authentic experience of showing up as my true self to a room full of strangers that I get to serve through my gift?
Dispatches from the National Guild for Community Arts Education Conference
Every year, Living Arts sends a team to the annual conference of the National Guild for Community Arts Education. This event brings together artists, administrators, educators, and changemakers to share their work and models and build collaboratively on a national scale. The conference is an opportunity for all members of our team (staff, Teaching Artists, and students) to learn from peers and leadership in the field. Previously held in Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, and Baltimore, this year’s conference was held in Austin, Texas from October 30-November 2.
Updates from In-School Arts Residencies
It’s been a busy summer and start of the school year for our In-School Arts team. Here are just some of the amazing highlights!