About Us
Founded in 1966 with a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, the ACGK has continuously evolved with the changing needs of artists and arts organizations in our community. We offer a wide variety of programming and support to the artistic community, including opportunities to perform, to partner, to collaborate, to receive funding, and to grow in our creative expression.
Vision
The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo exists to infuse arts and culture into the commercial, educational, and creative economies of our region.
Mission
The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo
- is dedicated both to enriching and engaging our community through artistic and cultural experiences through a roster of programs and services that serve the needs of our community (4.2.a)
- provides a connecting point for artists, artistic and cultural organizations, and the publics we serve with the express goal of providing opportunities for both organizational and member-focused advancement (4.3.b)
- provides access to a broad range of artistic and cultural opportunities through grants, promotion, advocacy, and free programming to the seven county region which we serve. This would be achieved through attaining a nimble internal culture that values equity, diversity and access (5.4.d) and fostering a broader understanding of biases and barriers to access within the arts (4.3.c)
Core Values
Access: the freedom or ability to obtain or make use of something remains at the heart of what we do and why we do it. By cultivating broad points of access, arts and culture participation in Greater Kalamazoo can advance …
Inspiration: the action or power of moving the intellect or emotions. Since we serve a community that expects arts and culture experiences of all kinds, our appreciation for inspiration in all shapes, styles, and forms involves …
Dialogue: the exchange of ideas and opinions in order to continually push Greater Kalamazoo to engage arts and culture activities to create opportunities, address challenges, and celebrate points of pride. Open and inclusive exchanges of this importance require …
Empathy: the genuine appreciation for, awareness of, or sensitivity to the feelings, thoughts, and experiences of another person. To maintain these values over time mandates …
Sustainability: the method(s) used to ensure that resources, fiscal and otherwise, are not depleted or permanently damaged by our efforts.
Strategic Plan
Click to read our five–year plan.
Mailing List
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Additional Information
Office Hours: The ACGK Office is open Tuesday through Friday, 8 am to 6 pm. Virtual meetings are also available. Please feel free to also reach us at: (269) 342-5059 or info@kalamazooarts.org.
