Over Five Decades
of Metropolis Civilization

1969 - 2020

In 1969, Alexander Calder's sculpture "La Grande Vitesse" was installed in forepart of Urban center Hall in downtown Grand Rapids. The National Endowment for the Arts chose Grand Rapids every bit the first recipient of their public art works initiative nearly l years ago with Alexander Calder'due south work.

History of Festival

"La Grande Vittesse" translated "The Thousand Swiftness, Rapids" identified Thousand Rapids and the country of Michigan every bit community that valued the arts for everyone to bask.  The 43-foot-alpine vibrant red stabile, which became known as "The Calder" inspired a commemoration of the arts – one that has grown to encompass much of downtown Grand Rapids.

Festival of the Arts began on what's known as "Calder Plaza" with just a few fine art displays, two stages and a few food booths.  Over the years, Festival'southward popularity grew, eventually encompassing near all of downtown with several stages of continuous performances, a Regional Art Exhibition featuring some of the best artists in West Michigan, dozens of nutrient booths all run past nonprofit organizations, and artistic activities for children and adults to enjoy!

Festival of the Arts draws hundreds of thousands of people downtown each twelvemonth to celebrate the arts.  The three solar day result serves equally the kick-off to summertime in Westward Michigan.

Learn more about the history of La Grande Vittesse.

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Art, Music and Functioning

Various stages popular up across downtown Grand Rapids with artists performing music, verse, theatre, dance and art.  And all for free.

Highlighting Culture with Food

The scents and flavors of food from Greek, Polish, Asian, Latin, and many other cultures add together to the "art of cultural food".  What's more than unique is that these booths are staffed with volunteers and the proceeds from the nutrient booths are shared with each not-turn a profit.

Fun for Kids and Parents Alike

Complimentary art activities like the popular Paint-In and Mucilage-In offer "Parent Free Zones" where kids can exist creative and express themselves through art.

Strategic Plan

Festival of the Arts believes arts are for everyone.

Our vision is to offer a premier arts experience that is complimentary, accessible, and welcoming to all, not just by providing an opportunity to see art, music or dance, just by offering an authentic, immersive experience that touches everyone in the growing diverse community of West Michigan.

And then that we tin broaden Festival of the Arts to truly serve our customs, we've launched a strategic plan to pursue greater diversity, equity and inclusion in every aspect of the event, from the art that can be seen, the music that can be heard, and the food that tin can be tasted, to the leadership and volunteers working backside the scenes who make Festival happen.

Recently, nosotros've reached out to more than 50 leaders representing our increasingly multicultural customs for guidance and council. Together, we've identified five focus areas, each with 1-yr and 5-year goals.

In the days and years ahead, nosotros'll work to:

  • Augment our community engagement past recruiting and supporting artists, performers, leaders and volunteers from distinctly dissimilar backgrounds and varying abilities and experiences.
  • Attract and retain high-value artists and performers past seeking out those who all-time represent the wider community we alive in, by offer hospitality and support, and by paying for key performers or supplying monetary rewards.
  • Reinvigorate our food scene through strategic partnerships with cultural culinary professionals and by edifice relationships with local restaurants.
  • Innovate our sources of acquirement through new and creative recognition for sponsors and unique opportunities for attendees which may include a membership program and diverse VIP events.
  • Remain engaged with the community throughout the twelvemonth through virtual gallery shows and performances, establish a twelvemonth-round Festival store, and build relationships with customs groups and social media influencers.


For more than 50 years, Festival of the Arts has been a cultural leader in Due west Michigan. Our goal is to be intentional and purposeful as we overstate our horizons to serve an e'er-wider community.

Skot Welch, Grand.Yard.
 Founder & Primary Bridgebuilder
 Global Bridgebuilders

Skot is the Chief/Founder of Global Bridgebuilders (GBB) A firm focusing on Organizational Development, Cultural Transformation and Inclusion.

Skot Global Bridgebuilders is an international team providing services to enterprises across the globe. GBB bases its work in the core belief that inclusion is a business subject field and that it should be leveraged across all that the enterprise does. To gain this leverage, the firm applies a continuous improvement model, anchored in metrics.

Prior to the launch of Global Bridgebuilders, Skot served every bit Vice President of Business organisation Development and Benchmarking Services for DiversityInc magazine in New Jersey, where he worked with many of the Fortune 500'due south biggest global brands across a broad range of industries.

Steve Frazee
 Marketing Consultant | 1 Bold Footstep

Steve is a systems thinker and lifelong entrepreneur.  In his career, he has founded and sold two software companies, and acted equally an executive business consultant primarily focusing on strategy, culture development and reorganizations.

In his role as 1 Bold Footstep's Senior Marketing Consultant, Steve wears many hats from helping clients generate positive R.O.I. from their marketing efforts to designing and implementing marketing strategies. Steve is also the mastermind that brought TEDxGrandRapids to the area.

Board of Directors

Festival of the Arts prides itself on the dedicated leadership that serves our customs.  Each fellow member of our Board of Directors invests time, free energy and financial contribution towards a sustainable Festival of the Arts.  Learn more about our leadership.

Vice Chairperson
Courtney Failer

Strategic Planning
Warner Norcross + Judd LLP

Board Chairperson
Baird Hawkins

Interfuse Upper-case letter

Secretary
Jeff Kaczmarczyk

Freelance Writer and Community Arts Activist

Vice Chairperson
Eddie Tadlock

Board Governance & Nominating

Treasurer
Jack Woller

id3 Creative

Mark Azkoul

Azkoul Productions

Adrienne Brown-Reasner

SYNERGi Media
Grade of 2021

Melissa "Missy" Bush

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Glenn Del Vecchio

Thou Rapids Ballet

Alynn Guerra

Artist Red Hydrant Press

Ken Knight

Valley Truck Parts
Class of 2022

Doug Matthews

City of Grand Rapids

Amber Oudsema

Frederick Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park

Tom Vitale

Smith Haughey Rice & Roegge

We believe…

in the value of the arts in our community; Festival provides many different arts experiences and cultural opportunities that promote excellence, cross-cultural agreement and strong community. Nosotros encourage volunteers, participants and visitors to make the arts cardinal to the lives of everyone in our community. We strive for inclusiveness and diversity by welcoming all to take office in and bask the customs spirit within Festival of the Arts. Special effort is made to aid people with disabilities throughout the Festival grounds. Nosotros recognize and appreciate the value of the personal and professional expertise of volunteers, whose efforts year-round encourage and develop arts experiences at Festival.

We present a multifariousness of arts experiences, which back up surface area arts organizations, and encourage new artists and performers. Nosotros treasure the tradition and sense of customs ownership of Festival. Nosotros strive to empower new and culling forms of artistic expression by including new activities and performers and seek new volunteers to ensure the future of Festival. Nosotros adhere to the Festival Bylaws and governance policies.

In everything we do, we believe in showcasing the arts for all.  We break institutional barriers offer a gratuitous platform for everyone to witness, engage and participate in an annual showcase.  We encourage creativity, invite with intention, curate professionally, present with excellence, and host with grateful hospitality.

Nosotros are Festival of the Arts.

The following four goals have remained unchanged since beingness adopted every bit the primary goals of Festival in 1970:

To support the arts and provide an opportunity for artists and arts organizations to showcase their talents to a wide public audience through a costless-admission event.

To build a public appreciation for the "quality of life" provided to the greater Grand Rapids surface area by our local cultural organizations, artists and performers.

To affirm the commitment of the arts to 1000 Rapids and West Michigan past holding Festival in downtown Grand Rapids.

To retain the original concept of a not-profit community upshot past utilizing the skills of volunteers.

Well Design Studio – Pattern Argument

Festival of the Arts worked with Well Blueprint Studio to create the branding and design for the 50th Ceremony, and will proceed to work with them for the upcoming 51st year of Festival. Well is a community-minded design studio out of Thousand Rapids, MI that focuses on supporting the efforts of non-profits and municipalities through beautiful communications pieces.

"The 2019 Festival of the Arts pattern drew on the work of Alexander Calder, the designer of the Festival logo and 'La Grande Vitesse', to bring new energy and life into the 50th Ceremony. Calder's work is total of energy, from the bright master colors to the motion of his mobiles in the air; it reminds usa of what Festival means to our community. Festival of the Arts brings people of all unlike backgrounds, nutrient histories, musical tastes and arts styles together. Information technology continues to bring energy to Grand Rapids, even after over l years. Our design work for the 50th Anniversary of Festival of the Arts looked to the similarities we plant in Calder's work. His utilise of organic shapes and main colors convey feelings of familiarity, energy, and life. This is who nosotros are equally a community; diverse, willing to share and learn. This celebration is a reflection of our community and that is what has always drawn us to Festival of the Arts."