The Downriver Council for the Arts is committed to connecting art to the community. We partner with others in the region to strengthen arts and cultural relationships between groups and engage artists. Cross-sector collaborations offer exposure, accessibility and equity in the arts and cultural environment of our communities. We actively engage our community in a manner which is inclusive of the broadest range of ideas and approaches while in the pursuit and creation of arts and culture. The DCA remains committed to strengthening our understanding of equity and diversity by listening to our community’s needs, researching and providing rich and diverse artistic programming.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month so the partnership kickoff event was a “Self-Esteem” art exhibit that allowed middle and high school students to express what self-esteem means to them through art. A strong sense of self-esteem is one of the foundations we all need to build resilience as we maneuver through the ups and downs which life can bring. We contacted Downriver teachers to help facilitate the art creation with their students and offered incentives to the teachers to participate. This exhibit will be the springboard from which Hegira Health, Inc. and the DCA develop future art and mental wellness opportunities for our community. We hope you will visit the art exhibit and join us at the closing event where you’ll gather more information on future programming as well and meet some of the artists and their families.