ART. JOY. LIFE.
OUR MISSION...
...to create, nurture, and sustain an artistic and cultural environment
in Grand Rapids and the Otsego area which encourages
creative expression, brings the communities together
and promotes the arts.
HAPPENING CURRENTLY:
KICK-OFF PARTY TO RAPIDS 'RALLY BY THE RIVER DAYS'
CORN HOLE, LIVE MUSIC, STREET ART PAINTING BY TEETH, DUCK DROP @ 7, PIZZA & DRINKS
Congrats to 2025 Volunteer of the Year, David Fowler
Community members submitted online nominations of deserving volunteers. While there were many wonderful ONES, the award GOES to the board who chose the PERSON based on everyone's comments. It was a joy reading through the heartfelt explanations. IT'S ALWAYS HARD choosing ONLY one!
we have a new SCULPTURE GARDEN!
*****************************************************
Richard Alen (2), Kelly O’Neil, Daniel Leck, Zack McKenna, Annabell Bowen, A MOSAIC BY Gail Christofferson,
IAN DAWSON'S PHOENIX & A SCULPTURE BY HERTZFELD
Please follow him @ 'Artistic Creations by Ian'
A shout-out to Huntington Bank for always supporting
the GRAC organization in any way they can
GRAC Facebook:
(click on the icons, top left)
INSTAGRAM: GRAC_2020
2020 GRAC MURAL Commissioned & juried artist, Dave Rickerd.
Everyone was going through withdrawals during Covid 2020; Applebutter was cancelled,
so we commissioned a town mural!
After interviewing numerous artists, we narrowed it down to 4,
then voted on Dave Rickerd, from Cincinnati, originally from Deshler, Ohio.
Visit our GALLERY/FB/Instagram to see videos & pictures
CHECK OUT WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE "EVENTS TAB" ABOVE
Some of our events
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HARVEST MOON BENEFIT FOR THE ARTSList Item 2
Nazareth Hall
Sunday, November 8TH
5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
Silent Auction; Entertainmet: Varied Entertainment; GRAC Volunteer of the Year Award
-
GRAC ART CAMP
Grand Rapids
Historic Town Hall
& The Old Fire Station (OFS)
June 8-12
9-11:30 dailly; Friday program @ 10:45 Town Hall, then walk to the OFS for an art walk.
Camp limited to 45 students grade 1-6
Various Yearly Themes
-
POP-UP ART GALLERY
Stone Hall, Otsego Park
May 14, 4-8
Artists share their art at the Stone Hall, Otsego Park, while hors d'oeuvres are served, beer & wine for sale. Plein Air artists paint on sight along the river.
-
SUNSET JAZZ FESTIVAL
Towpath on the Maumee River
4-sunset
-----THIS IS A FREE EVENT-----
**Bring lawn chairs & settle along the river for an afternoon of cool jazz, great food, and scenic views. Enjoy food from the Boy Scouts as well as adult beverages, while listening to talented musicians fill the riverside.
**Keep an eye out for herons, or even a majestic eagle perched in a tree enjoying the jazz as much as the audience. It's happened 6 years in a row!
**Come spend the day with friends, family, and neighbors as music and nature come together on the banks of the Towpath.
-
RALLY BY THE RIVER DAYS
Friday, July 10
5-8
Kick-off party on the towpath
- Corn hole
- Street artist, 'Teeth'
- Wine Pull
- Doug-a-Ritas
- Live Music
- $100 Duck Drop at 7
GRAC Volunteers of the Year
2009 Chuck Thomas
2010 Lynne Long
2011 Nancy Wright
2012 Sharon Current
2013 Steve Kryder
2014 John Berry
2015 Tom Gordon
2016 Dick Keifer
2017 Bernard Scott
2018 Lisa Hatfield
2019 Deb Archambo
2020 Covid Year
2021 Joe Long
2022 Joe Schroeder
2023 Mike Bailey
2024 Patti Carter-Bisher
2025 David Fowler
Nominate someone in the Otsego area who improves our community.
There are only photos of 2022/after because I didn't come onto the committee as PR until 2020.
Nominate a volunteer online:
- Send an Email to grandrapidsartscouncil@gmail.com
- In the subject field, type GRAC Volunteer
- Type who you're nominating and why he or she is worthy
Award will be presented at GRAC’s Harvest Moon Gala in November at Nazareth Hall
