Ann Arbor Art Association

TO BE A CONTEMPORARY FORUM FOR THE VISUAL ARTS THROUGH EDUCATION, EXPLORATION, COLLABORATION AND EXHIBITION, AND TO ENGAGE MINDS,EXPAND PERSPECTIVES AND INSPIRE GROWTH.

ART EDUCATION: OUR PORTFOLIO OF EDUCATION PROGRAMS ENCOMPASSES ACTIVITIES FOR PEOPLE OF ALL AGES, BACKGROUNDS, AND SKILL LEVELS. OUR INSTRUCTORS DRIVE THE QUALITY OF OUR CLASSES. SOME INSTRUCTORS ARE UNIVERSITY OR PRE PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM FACULTY WHO ENJOY TEACHING AT COMMUNITY ARTS CENTERS; MOST INSTRUCTORS HAVE MFA, BFA, OR ART EDUCATION DEGREES. A2AC STAFF, AS EDUCATORS AND ARTISTS, SUPPORT INSTRUCTORS THROUGH COACHING TO IMPROVE PERFORMANCE IN REAL TIME. CLASS OPTIONS INCLUDE INTRODUCTION TO WATERCOLOR, CREATIVE COLLAGE, BOTANICAL ILLUSTRATION, DATE NIGHT PAINTED BOWLS, BLOCK PRINTING, GRAPHIC NOVEL ACADEMY, AND MANY OTHERS. AT THE START OF 2021, STUDENTS BEGAN TO EXPRESS INTEREST IN RETURNING TO IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING, AS WELL AS PARENTS INQUIRING ABOUT IN-PERSON SUMMER ART CAMP. OUR TEAM IDENTIFIED BEST PRACTICES TO MITIGATE COVID EXPOSURE AND RISK, AND PLANNED SEVEN CONSECUTIVE WEEKS OF SUMMER ART CAMP,

ART PRESENTATION: OUR ART EXHIBITION PROGRAM IS DESIGNED TO ELEVATE, CHALLENGE, AND INSPIRE OUR COMMUNITY. THE SELECTION OF ARTISTS, CURATORS, AND JURORS FOR EXHIBITIONS BROADENS OUR REACH AND PROVIDES VALUABLE TIME AND SPACE FOR THE CREATIVE COMMUNITY TO EXPAND THEIR PRACTICE IN EXCITING NEW WAYS AT EVERY STAGE OF THEIR CREATIVE JOURNEY. GOVERNED BY A TALENTED AND CREATIVE ARTIST COMMITTEE, THE A2AC HOSTS FOUR DISTINCT GALLERIES FOR ARTISTS TO SHOWCASE THEIR ART: THE A2AC GALLERY, THE AQUARIUM GALLERY, THE A2AC SPOTLIGHT GALLERY, AND THE RETAIL A2AC SHOP. ARTISTS ARE SELECTED VIA INVITATION FROM THE EXHIBITION COMMITTEE OR THROUGH INDIVIDUAL APPLICATION THROUGH OUR WEBSITE. OVER THE PAST 24 MONTHS THE 117 GALLERY HOSTED 10 EXHIBITIONS; 3 JURIED (ART NOW: PHOTOGRAPHY WAS VIRTUAL), 5 CURATED, AND 2 COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIP EXHIBITIONS.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH: IN ADDITION TO FORMAL INSTRUCTION AND INDOOR GALLERIES, THE A2AC OFFERS A VARIETY OF HANDS-ON, OFF-SITE, AND ACCESSIBLE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITIES SUCH AS OUR ONLINE ART RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES (CREATED IN RESPONSE TO THE SHELTER-IN-PLACE ORDER IN APRIL 2020), AND MLK DAY 2021. NEW INITIATIVES LAUNCHED DURING THE SUMMER OF 2020 IN RESPONSE TO THE GLOBAL PANDEMIC INCLUDE: OUR ART IN PUBLIC PROGRAM (AIP) LAUNCHED A2AC MURALS 2020 WHICH REPRESENTS CULMINATION OF PAIRING DOWNTOWN BUILDING AND BUSINESS OWNERS WITH LOCAL, REGIONAL, AND NATIONAL ARTISTS WHO TRANSFORMED THE BUILDING WALLS INTO SPECTACULAR EXPRESSIONS OF THEIR SKILL-PROVIDING THE COMMUNITY AND VISITORS THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE AND ENJOY THESE LARGE, VIBRANT WORKS OF PUBLIC ART. WE WERE OVERWHELMED BY THE COMMUNITY'S EXPRESSION OF JOY BY HAVING THIS OPPORTUNITY TO EMERGE FROM THEIR HOMES, WALK AROUND DOWNTOWN, AND WHILE SAFELY SOCIALLY DISTANCED, EXPLORE AND ENJOY THE NEW MURALS. ARTBOX: OUTREACH, ANOTHER BRAND-NEW INITIATIVE LAUNCHED DURING THE PANDEMIC, WAS DESIGNED SPECIFICALLY TO REACH UNDERSERVED POPULATIONS THROUGHOUT SE MICHIGAN, HELPING, HEALING, AND ENABLING YOUTH TO BE INSPIRED BY CREATIVE WORKS OF ART WITH SUPPLIES THEY MAY NOT HAVE ACCESS TO WHILE OUT OF SCHOOL. SINCE APRIL 2020, THE A2AC HAS PARTNERED WITH OVER 35 ORGANIZATIONS THROUGHOUT SE MICHIGAN TO DISTRIBUTE ARTBOXES TO OVER 4,000 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES.