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NORWEST GALLERY OF ART

Providing contemporary arts and culture to Detroit's underserved neighborhoods.

$10,340
pledged of$30,000 goal
6
0Days Left

Project Description

 

Our Mission

  • Based in the Historic Detroit Neighborhood of Rosedale Park, NORWEST GALLERY OF ART is dedicated to providing Contemporary African and African American art and culture to Detroit’s underserved Northwest communities. As one of Detroit's leading arts and culture centers, we are committed to proving a platform for black and brown artistic creation, giving access to contemporary arts and culture from around the globe to the people of the neighborhood. Norwest Gallery of Art is a cultural gathering place to build connections between the contemporary art world and the local creative community. We provide the arts by hosting exhibitions, free art classes, artist talks, cultural lectures, BIPOC artists residencies, independent film screenings, and guided tours for our guests. The gallery is built on servicing the local community with unique cultural activations that bring the growing global contemporary art movement home to Detroit residents.

Market Size Opportunity

  • Arts and culture is an $800 billion industry that draws a diverse crowd of attendees. We’ve increased foot traffic in the neighborhood by having over 3600 people attend our events in a year. We’ve brought world wide attention to Northwest Detroit by hosting international art exhibitions and our recognition grows every year. Continuing our work will only aid in the growth of economy in the community we serve.

Solving The Problem

  • Even though arts and culture is such a huge industry, sadly there is hardly any representation for black and brown artists. At Norwest Gallery of Art we provide artistic opportunities to our people by putting BIPOC artists on the stage. Making sure they have the mentorship, job opportunities, and encouragement to be all they can be in the arts. Our mission also exposes BIPOC neighborhoods to arts and culture giving residents the opportunity to share in the city’s economic resurgence.

Why Are We Seeking Funding?

  • Our organization and business has grown every year but we still need funding to scale or business and keep going. We are now educating the community on the importance of supporting the arts and buying art to continue our artists legacy. But we haven’t reached the point where this action is automated for them. Nor do they have the disposable income to purchase art. With your help we can continue this education by providing free and affordable arts programs for the community, reaching a larger audience through marketing and promotions, and paying for annual fees for artists residencies in the community.

Our Team Members and Support

We have the support of the City of Detroit, Co.act Detroit, Grandmont Rosedale Development Corporation, Detroit Entertainment Commission, and the community at large.

Team Members

Asia Hamilton / Artist, Founder and Director of Norwest Gallery of Art

Detroit native, photographer, fine artist and gallery owner, Asia Hamilton has firmly situated herself within the contemporary arts’ rich tradition. As a contemporary version of a long line of owners and artists, including Felle of The Felle Gallery, Simone DeSousa of Simone DeSousa Gallery, and George N’Namdi of N’Namdi Center for Contemporary Art, since 2018, Hamilton has owned and curated events and exhibits for Norwest Gallery of Art. Masterfully being able to engage her community through exhibits while honoring their visual relevance in her work, Hamilton located her gallery and studio space in the same community as she resides, the Grandmont /Rosedale area creating a visually evident hub for artistic expression and collaboration. 

As Founder and Director, Asia Hamilton chose to locate the Norwest Gallery of Art in the Grandmont Rosedale neighborhood of Detroit because the community had been overlooked in the recent revitalization efforts that focused primarily on the downtown and midtown region. Asia also lives and grew up in the neighborhood where the Gallery is, and so understands as a resident as well as a business owner the importance of having a viable, vibrant, cultural community to advance the people. The Gallery has turned the neighborhood into an international hub for contemporary art with plans to expand its efforts as a staple for creative arts and culture in the midwest. Asia serves on the City of Detroit Entertainment Commission and is an art leader in her community.

Donna Jackson / Artist, Community Liaison, and Curator

For the past 18 years, Donna has dedicated her skills as a designer and project manager to develop marketing and promotional materials for urban libraries and non-profits. She has been a graphic/web designer for Detroit Public Library and Houston Public Library systems and brand manager for Houston Public Library.  She is the founder of DMJStudio, a creative studio devoted to developing art projects and events that closes gaps between community and culture through public art, exhibits, film, and social collaboration. The studio’s desire is to make art and culture accessible everywhere and to everyone.

To ensure DMJStudio events and projects are free, Donna works and provides branding and design services to cultural and non-profit institutions and artists. Organizations such as United Way, Charles H, Wright Museum of African American History to Focus Hope, Neighborhood Service Organizations, City of Houston, and Detroit Public Schools. Her goal is to work for art institutions as a consultant while developing community-based art projects and exhibitions.

Her body of work includes Colorful Women, a collection of abstract paintings, illustrations, video, and installations narrating stories of women and her hometown of Detroit.

She has created and curated several projects and installations. These include the Door of Opportunity project, a collection of doors transformed into art by local artists, Posters on Politics (an international exhibition of posters on global politics), and Women Work, (a platform of women exhibits, projects and programs that focus on the narratives of women).

She continues to work in the neighborhoods of Detroit developing story projects and exhibitions, such as Middle Detroit, a collection of stories about Detroit’s middle class as well as In Pursuit of Hope, stories about the Detroit 1967 Rebellion.

Updates

The Campaign FAQs

If you have any questions please email us at [email protected]

 

 

 

07/19/2021
Monetary Contribution
$40
07/07/2021
Monetary Contribution
$100
Kathy Garrett
06/21/2021
Monetary Contribution
$100
Nicole Scott
06/16/2021
Monetary Contribution
$50
Katie Grace McGowan
06/16/2021
Monetary Contribution
$50
Visa
06/15/2021
Monetary Contribution
$10,000
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Just Because I Care

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