Lowell Area Arts Councils Inc

Arts Alive Everyday

aka LowellArts   |   Lowell, MI   |  http://www.lowellartsmi.org

Mission

LowellArts connecting artists and audiences through the visual and performing arts.

Ruling year info

1979

Executive Director

Lorain Smalligan

Main address

PO Box 53

Lowell, MI 49331 USA

Show more contact info

EIN

38-2226024

NTEE code info

Arts, Cultural Organizations - Multipurpose (A20)

IRS filing requirement

This organization is required to file an IRS Form 990 or 990-EZ.

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Communication

Programs and results

What we aim to solve

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

LowellArts mission is to Connect Artists and Audiences through the Visual and Performing Arts. LowellArts is located in a small rural community between Grand Rapids and Lansing Michigan. LowellArts is the main source of arts programming and events for this community making access to the arts available for residents. In addition, LowellArts is an outlet for artists in central and west Michigan to showcase their art and also generate revenue through artwork sales, performing and teaching classes.

Our programs

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?

Art Gallery Exhibitions

LowellArts offers opportunities for artists locally and statewide to exhibit and sell their art in a professional gallery setting. Our rotating gallery exhibitions are free and open to the public.

Population(s) Served
Adults
Children and youth

Where we work

Our Sustainable Development Goals

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.

Goals & Strategy

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.

Charting impact

Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.

1.) To make the arts available to all who wish to engage with the arts and artists (visual and performing)
2.) To support artists by providing venues to showcase and sell their art and perform.
3.) To provide opportunities for youth to create art

1.) Providing a variety of arts programs that meet the needs of both professional artists and people who are new to creating art.
2.) To make the arts programming affordable for those who wish to access it.

LowellArts has been part of the greater Lowell community and West Michigan for over 40 years. In 2017 LowellArts purchased and moved into a new, larger facility in the heart of historic downtown Lowell. With ownership of the facility LowellArts is able to customize its programming to fit the needs outlined in the LowellArts Strategic Plan.

With our move in 2017 LowellArts has expanded its programming . LowellArts Annual Report showcases these statistics:
73 Art Exhibitions, Performances (theater and music), Classes and Festivals
794 Artists Served
$78,603 Paid to Artists
72,654 People Served (all ages)
6,176 Volunteer Hours to support LowellArts

How we listen

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.

done We demonstrated a willingness to learn more by reviewing resources about feedback practice.
done We shared information about our current feedback practices.

  • Who are the people you serve with your mission?

    Through evaluation and strategic planning, LowellArts provides quality arts programming to artists and audiences within the context of its unique location and specific community needs, taking into account travel, age, and abilities of participants and visitors.

  • How is your organization collecting feedback from the people you serve?

    Electronic surveys (by email, tablet, etc.), Suggestion box/email,

  • How is your organization using feedback from the people you serve?

    To identify and remedy poor client service experiences, To identify bright spots and enhance positive service experiences, To make fundamental changes to our programs and/or operations, To inform the development of new programs/projects, To strengthen relationships with the people we serve, To understand people's needs and how we can help them achieve their goals,

  • What significant change resulted from feedback?

    N/A

  • With whom is the organization sharing feedback?

    Our staff, Our board,

  • How has asking for feedback from the people you serve changed your relationship?

    N/A

  • Which of the following feedback practices does your organization routinely carry out?

    We collect feedback from the people we serve at least annually, We aim to collect feedback from as many people we serve as possible, We engage the people who provide feedback in looking for ways we can improve in response, We act on the feedback we receive,

  • What challenges does the organization face when collecting feedback?

    It is difficult to get the people we serve to respond to requests for feedback, It is difficult to get honest feedback from the people we serve,

Financials

Lowell Area Arts Councils Inc
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Operations

The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.

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Connect with nonprofit leaders

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Build relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.

  • Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
  • Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
  • Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations

Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.

Lowell Area Arts Councils Inc

Board of directors
as of 4/29/2022
SOURCE: Self-reported by organization
Board chair

Todd Drenth

Todd Drenth

Julie DeVoe

Chimera Design

Gary Eldridge

Graphic Designer

Barb Pierce

Liz Ripley

Mary Tobin

Graphic Designer

John Wenger

Clear Sky Technologies

Sue Clements

Jennifer Helner

Laurie Kuna

Board leadership practices

SOURCE: Self-reported by organization

GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.

  • Board orientation and education
    Does the board conduct a formal orientation for new board members and require all board members to sign a written agreement regarding their roles, responsibilities, and expectations? Yes
  • CEO oversight
    Has the board conducted a formal, written assessment of the chief executive within the past year ? Yes
  • Ethics and transparency
    Have the board and senior staff reviewed the conflict-of-interest policy and completed and signed disclosure statements in the past year? Yes
  • Board composition
    Does the board ensure an inclusive board member recruitment process that results in diversity of thought and leadership? Yes
  • Board performance
    Has the board conducted a formal, written self-assessment of its performance within the past three years? Not applicable

Organizational demographics

SOURCE: Self-reported; last updated 04/29/2022

Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.

Leadership

The organization's leader identifies as:

Race & ethnicity
White/Caucasian/European
Gender identity
Female, Not transgender (cisgender)
Sexual orientation
Heterosexual or Straight
Disability status
Person without a disability

Race & ethnicity

Gender identity

 

Sexual orientation

Disability

We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.

Equity strategies

Last updated: 04/29/2022

GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more

Data
  • We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
  • We ask team members to identify racial disparities in their programs and / or portfolios.
  • We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
  • We have long-term strategic plans and measurable goals for creating a culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.
Policies and processes
  • We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
  • We engage everyone, from the board to staff levels of the organization, in race equity work and ensure that individuals understand their roles in creating culture such that one’s race identity has no influence on how they fare within the organization.