Program/Grant: GIG Fund

Frozen River Film Festival will host a professional filmmaker to offer filmmaking residencies in underserved Winona area secondary schools to supplement arts programming, and to offer a public filmmaking workshop.

For Black History Month 2025, The GhostLight Theatre would like to bring our friend and professional actor, Ernie Hudson, back to his hometown of Benton Harbor, MI to perform in Lynn Nottage's "Clyde's." If Ernie is unavailable, we will hire another professional, African-American actor.

In a time when “good enough” seems to be the norm, Global Girls trumpets the belief that originality blended with creative discipline is our superpower. Community members in Chicago’s southside and Kalamazoo’s northside will explore and participate in the creative process in workshops and performances led by and featuring internationally renown pianist and composer Miguel De La Cerna.

The Great Lakes Chamber Orchestra is thrilled to bring internationally renowned violinist and educator Dmitri Berlinsky to our northern Michigan community. This collaboration will provide a world-class artistic experience for our audiences and inspiring opportunity for our musicians, while advancing GLCO's mission and contributing to a more thriving and culturally enriched community.

Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) Mini Tour will host DCDC for three performances, two talk backs, and a minimum of two workshops November 12- 15, 2024. Performances include a Detroit Public School Community District school-based performance with talkback and workshops, youth performance for community youth, and an evening performance open to the general public.

In celebration of what would have been the 100th birthday of James Baldwin, the Hyde Park Jazz Festival will collaborate with the Hyde Park Art Center (HPAC) and Chicago poet laureate avery r young to create a jazz and spoken word performance in connection with the HPAC's exhibition of Chicago artist Robert Earl Paige. The performance will be part of the 2024 Hyde Park Jazz Festival on Sept. 28th.

Indianapolis Jazz Foundation (IJF) will feature jazz trumpeter Pharez Whitted as guest artist with the Indianapolis Jazz Collective, a resident jazz ensemble, in a public concert celebrating the legacy of the legendary Hampton Family. Whitted will also perform and provide a workshop at the Freddie Hubbard Memorial Jazz Band Fest, a showcase event for area high school jazz students.

Indy Shakes presents trans artist Will Wilhelm performing their one-person show GENDER PLAY OR WHAT YOU WILL by Will Wilhelm and Erin Murray. Will and Erin passionately take the play to states that passed legislation harmful to the LGBTQ+ community. To inform patrons, we will incorporate post-show discussions moderated by local organizations that provide support to the LGBTQ+ community.

Kanopy presents "Polaris+Revelations" starring Colombian born guest artist Daniel Fetecua Soto- former soloist with the Limón Dance Company who performs a theatrical masked dance, “Wolf: A Transformation”,choreographed by and gifted to him by Rosalie Jones, founder of the first indigenous modern dance company in the U.S. The show aims to meaningfully connect audiences with Native American culture.

Lakota Youth Development plans a transformative storytelling workshop, for youth and adults to preserve our rich Lakota cultural heritage. Guided by Lakota Authors and storytellers, participants immerse themselves in profound narratives that define our identity. Together, we ensure that the timeless wisdom, values, and traditions of our ancestors continue to shape and inspire future generations