Arts & Culture

Coverage of visual arts, performing arts, cultural events, and artistic entrepreneurs

Students formed five-person teams, each tasked with identifying a “wicked problem”—a complex issue with no easy solution.

West Michigan teens tackle ‘wicked’ problems at the Wege High School Collaborative Studio

West Michigan high school students tackle complex global issues at the Wege High School Collaborative Studio. The two-week program showcases the power of youth-driven sustainable design.

Latest in Arts & Culture
Amy Nichols, campus coordinator for the Region IV Area Agency on Aging, at the Campus for Creative Aging's booth in the South Haven Art Fair. She shows an example of the Window to Our World art project for care partners.
Campus for Creative Aging helps Southwest Michigan seniors find purpose after retirement

Since 2017, the Campus for Creative Aging has been offering a variety of innovative opportunities for older adults in Berrien, Van Buren, and Cass counties – and helping younger residents understand and respect their older neighbors.

KCAD grads Justin Beitzel and Fernando Ramirez head up Common Object, which helps organizations take steps toward sustainability.
Take a journey into regenerative design with Common Object

KCAD grads Justin Beitzel and Fernando Ramirez share their philosophy of regenerative design in their firm Common Object, which helps organizations take steps toward sustainability.

How KCAD student collaborations are building community

Since 2016, a group of graduate students in KCAD's Master of Architecture program have had an opportunity to offer a solution to an architecture issue in Grand Rapids. The projects have included designing a greenhouse, wayfinding project, and visioning new uses for a historic building. 

Students from the Wege High School Collaborative Studio tour Padnos Recycling.
Designing a better world: Wege High School Collaborative Studio builds skills and networks

The Wege High School Collaborative Studio is a summer program that gives West Michigan high school students hands-on experience in sustainable design and problem-solving. Applications for 2024 are open.

Symphony of Brotherhood: A narrated, spoken-word, musical extravaganza to honor MLK Sunday, Jan. 21

"I hope the Kalamazoo community takes time to celebrate the life and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., and the many others who will be highlighted in the KSO event and feel compelled to carry on the torches they left behind still lit and leading the way,”

How the Million Man March forged a friendship, inspired a play

Kalamazoo playwright Buddy Hannah was inspired by a friend's trip to the 1995 Million Man March in Washington D.C., an event that brought African American men together to empower them to improve their lives and communities. Hannah shares how that inspiration took hold and grew into "Two in a Million: Journey of a Lifetime."

Riding the gravy train to Kzoo’s Canadiana Fest: Healthy poutine? You bet!

To tempt tastebuds for Kalamazoo's upcoming Canadiana Festival and its World Champion Poutine Contest, Chef Channon Mondoux, festival organizer, and SW Second Wave Food Writer, shares her recipe for 'healthy' poutine, that French Canadian guilty pleasure of fries, cheese curds, and brown gravy.

Part of the Inside Out Project includes the natural decomposition of the photographs. The photos, especially with foot traffic, are intended to last any where from one week to three months.
Photo Essay: Kalamazoo Public Schools turn Inside Out for All-district Art Fair

Mandy Clearwaters, an art teacher at Winchell Elementary, had a vision to bring Inside Out, an international portrait project devised by French-artist JR, to Kalamazoo Public Schools. With the theme "We are Kalamazoo artists," over 1,000 black and white portraits line the inner sidewalks of Bronson Park as part of Kalamazoo Public School's All-district Art Fair Friday. Check out Fran Dwight's photo essay!

Kalamazoo Poetry Festival grows a garden of events for its 10th year

April is National Poetry Month and Kalamazoo has more than its fair share of homegrown poets – which suits this year's Kalamazoo Poetry Festival theme of "The Garden."  In celebration of its 10th anniversary, the festival takes place April 13 to 15, featuring both local and visiting poets, including Kzoo's own Pulitzer Prize-wining poet Diane Suess, Kansas Poet Laureate Traci Brimhall (WMU graduate), Hala Ayhan, and Kaveh Akbar, among others.

Our Sponsors

Gilmore Foundation

Our Media Partners

Battle Creek Community Foundation
Enna Foundation
BINDA Foundation
Southwest Journalism Media Collaborative
Southwest Michigan First
Milestone Senior Services
Consumers Energy

Common Ground Is Brewing

Support local stories and receive our signature roast straight to your door when you join at the Standard level (or above).

Drink Better, Read Local

Close the CTA

Don't miss out!

Everything Southwest Michigan, in your inbox every week.

Close the CTA

Already a subscriber? Enter your email to hide this popup in the future.