Lowell Area Arts Councils Inc
Connecting Artists and Audiences Through Visual and Performing Arts
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Travel and economic status can be major hurdles for individuals that do not have easy access to the arts in other communities. LowellArts serves as a resource for people in this region – especially for youth, families, seniors, and emerging artists who do not have the financial means or transportation to participate in programs offered in Grand Rapids or the more affluent suburbs. There is no connection to the Grand Rapids bus line to residents of the Lowell area.
Our programs
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.
Music Performances
Our gallery concert series features local and regional musicians. We also bring excellent talent to the riverfront stage in downtown Lowell. The free, family-friendly, outdoor Lowell Showboat Sizzlin’ Summer Concerts are on the Riverwalk Plaza each Thursday, all summer long.
Theatre Performances
Our community theatre group presents several productions each year, including theatre plays, a playwright festival, and a children’s play.
Art Festival
Fallasburg Arts Festival. This 2-day festival is held in picturesque Fallasburg Park, located approximately 20 miles east of Grand Rapids in Lowell, MI. The free event features over 100 unique fine art and fine craft booths, food booths, children’s craft area, craft demonstrations, and music performed on an outdoor stage.
Art Classes
We offer classes and workshops in visual art, theater, and more for youth, teens, and adults.
Where we work
External reviews

Photos
Our Sustainable Development Goals
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Goals & Strategy
Reports and documents
Download strategic planLearn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
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
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
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.
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
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.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
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. For example, when arts classes were launched in the new space – offered primarily for non-professional artists and youth – careful consideration was put into keeping the cost for these classes affordable. On-line research is done on a regular basis to ensure that LowellArts classes were less expensive than classes offered in neighboring, affluent communities.
How we listen
Seeking feedback from people served makes programs more responsive and effective. Here’s how this organization is listening.
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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
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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
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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
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild 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 directorsas of 08/01/2023
Todd Drenth
Todd Drenth
Julie DeVoe
Chimera Design
Liz Ripley
Mary Tobin
Graphic Designer
John Wenger
Clear Sky Technologies
Sue Clements
Jennifer Helner
Laurie Kuna
Rob Freund
Sharon Oleniczak
Board leadership practices
GuideStar worked with BoardSource, the national leader in nonprofit board leadership and governance, to create this section.
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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
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? Candid partnered with CHANGE Philanthropy on this demographic section.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
Race & ethnicity
Gender identity
Sexual orientation
Disability
We do not display disability information for organizations with fewer than 15 staff.
Equity strategies
Last updated: 04/29/2022GuideStar 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
- 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.
- 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.