Arts for All of Northern Michigan

We aim to foster empowerment and personal growth among Northern Michigan's disability community through interactive art and cultural experiences. We are committed to offering top-tier adaptive instruction through artist training and diverse programs that range from one-time experiences to long-term skill development, culminating in a platform to showcase finished works. Through these initiatives, we aspire to be a conduit for learning and a space for celebrating artistic accomplishments.

To foster inclusivity and empowerment, we have strategized a diverse range of programs targeted at different age groups and preferences:

Art Escapes: Our flagship program offers adaptive art workshops facilitated by trained, professional artists. Tailored to meet the needs of diverse learners, these workshops are hosted in a variety of educational settings, including special education and alternative education classrooms, as well as alternative learning environments, enhancing the accessibility of quality artistic instruction.

Summer Camp: Recognizing the value of immersive experiences, we have established a summer camp dedicated to fostering artistic growth and cultural appreciation. Here, participants can explore a rich tapestry of artistic mediums in a nurturing and supportive environment, building skills and lasting friendships.

Studio Classes: To further extend our educational footprint, we continue to grow in our studio classes. This initiative aims to offer more in-depth, long-term experiences, bringing together individuals with disabilities and mentors from the professional art world. These classes envision being a springboard for budding artists, providing them with the tools and platforms necessary to showcase their creativity and potentially pave a path to a professional artistic career.

ACCESS: Bridging the gap between the disability community and the vibrant world of arts and culture, ACCESS facilitates monthly community outings. These excursions are crafted to be both enriching and entertaining, offering individuals with disabilities and their families the unique opportunity to immerse themselves in our region's rich cultural tapestry.

In addition to these core strategies, we actively engage in community outreach, hosting adaptive art activities that resonate with our mission of inclusivity and personal growth through art and culture.

Through these strategies, we aspire to create a mosaic of opportunities that cater to different preferences and learning paces, bringing art and culture within reach of all individuals in our community.

Our capacity to realize our goals has substantially expanded, marked notably by the acquisition of our own studio space, which stands as a vibrant hub for our various programs.

Our leadership brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to our endeavors. The skilled guidance is augmented by educational collaborations with Northwest Michigan Educatin, along with other local educational institutions and alternative learning environments.

We have forged fruitful partnerships with over 25 local teaching artists and several renowned arts and culture organizations, such as MI Legacy Art Park, Crooked Tree Arts Center, and Clayspace TC, among others, enhancing the richness and diversity of our programs.

Financially, we are backed by a generous network of individual donors and corporate sponsors, including noteworthy names like Real Estate One. Moreover, our initiatives are bolstered by grants from organizations such as Rotary Charities, The Optimist Club, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, MI Humanities, and the Swiat Foundation, Traverse City Elk's Lodge #323, furnishing us with the financial stability to grow and innovate.

Looking ahead, we are working on devising new programs that promise to expand our offering and create sustainable revenue streams, thereby ensuring the longevity and continued expansion of our impact.

By leveraging these assets and relationships, we are uniquely positioned to meet our goals, progressively advancing our mission to foster inclusivity and personal growth through art and culture.

Founded as a VSA chapter in 1993, we transitioned to becoming the Grand Traverse chapter of Artists Creating Together, and eventually, in 2015, we proudly established ourselves as an independent 501(c)(3) entity known as Arts for All of Northern MI. This evolution marked our dedication to enriching our local area with adaptive art and cultural initiatives.

Central to our progress has been the robust expansion of our "Art Escapes" program. This ten year initiative, guided by professionally trained artists, seeks to extend into classrooms across a five-county region, including Antrim, Kalkaska, Leelanau, Grand Traverse, and Benzie. Through this far-reaching program, we are bringing adaptive art workshops to a wider audience, nourishing creativity and fostering inclusivity in many communities.

As we advance, we remain committed to continuously improving our educational training, nurturing the existing programs, and exploring opportunities to provide enriching experiences during the summer months, ensuring a year-round engagement with the arts for students. With a persistent focus on quality, we envision a future where our efforts create ever-widening circles of impact, promoting art and culture accessibility for all.