Creative Curation Makeover
Congratulations to New City Neighbors, the business winner for Lions and Rabbits Center for the Arts very first Creative Curation Makeover!
Creative Curation Makeover
You can say that three times in a row, and I am sure you are wondering what exactly is a Creative Curation Makeover? No worries, we are here to break it down for you. Curation means the action or process of selecting, organizing, and looking after the items in a collection or exhibition. Our mission within this project is to take a space, analyze and record how the owners want it to look and feel then collaborate with student artists to makeover the space. The two part makeover includes curation, 5-10 hanging paintings, and a feature mural wall designed by local students.
This is the very first of LRCFA’s new intergenerational programs to launch in 2022. Our executive director Hannah Berry had the idea to meld education with a hands on experience students could take into their future artistic careers. Think, Extreme makeover, arts edition. Our love for the arts, education and supporting local business and community members brought to life the Creative Curation Makeover program.
New City Neighbors, New Location
First things first, find a business in need of a makeover. We put out a call to the public in January of 2022. After several recipients applied our team took to site visits and interviewing to choose the final winner. After much deliberation New City Neighbors was chosen.
New City Neighbors recently settled into their new Creston location led by Executive Director, Ricardo Tavárez with a vision for change. This amazing organization empowers youth through their various farm focused programs. Their main goal is to provide job and life skills to high school youth within the Creston neighborhood.
Their team has been hard at work restoring an old farm house off the corner of Leonard and Plainfield while preparing for this new endeavor. They plan to open to the public in April 2022 for farm fresh produce pickups, brick oven pizza and cafe space for the general public.
The Team
LRCFA staff is leading a strong and passionate team of 5 students ages 16-26 with various art backgrounds and a collective will to learn more about careers in the arts. Our intention is to provide hands on education, teaching the students from start to finish what it takes to complete a project like this. Each student will be paired with LRCFA staff and divided into 3 teams: Public Art, Curating and Admin/Communications. Within each sub group student will learn vital communication skills, working with a client directly, design, installation and much more.
We would like to extend our gratitude to Steelcase, whose support made this program possible. Steelcase has been an incredible supporter of LRCFA and continue to lend a helping hand to important programs like this.
We are excited to congratulate New City Neighbors as the very first winner of the LRCFA Creative Curation Makeover program and show the community what it’s youth can create when given the opportunity!
How You Can Help
With this program, we are giving the opportunity to Sponsor a Student! Individuals and Businesses that are interested in sponsoring a student can pledge $1,000 to provide a student with the proper materials and compensation they deserve. By becoming a student sponsor, you will help a Grand Rapids student learn essential skills and contribute to a transformational public art project.
Please contact montana@lionsandrabbits.com if you are interested in sponsoring a student.
We want to give a huge shoutout to our primary sponsor, Steelcase! We appreciate their support for this program!
