The department confirmed the downtown gallery space today. We won. Now we wait to see the first show go up.
March 25, 2014
EMU Art Department: promote emerging artists with a gallery in downtown Ypsilanti!
Final supporters
This petition is primarily fueled by current deficiencies with existing gallery programming. Due to current gallery programming, exit-level MFA, MA, and BFA exhibitions are limited to Ford Gallery for short durations of time (often 1-week or less). Ford gallery, unfortunately, offers its exhibitors little exposure to the campus community at-large. In addition, the short duration of exhibitions allow little time for the general public and any potential press/media outlets to view and review any exhibition of student work. This unfortunately creates a perception among students that their work is not highly valued by the institution.The creation of an additional gallery space dedicated to the exhibition of student work within the Ypsilanti community would afford the time needed to hold longer exhibitions of student work as well as celebrate the student work with an increased visibility of the program.
As the numbers of new art students, both undergraduate and graduate, are declining, the university should recognize that in promoting its art students, it is promoting its art department. The on-campus galleries do a good job serving the campus community; that said, they do not draw much attention from the general public. A storefront space would serve as great promotional/marketing material for the department.
Lastly, by locating a gallery space within downtown Ypsilanti, it would be the hopes that further connections between the city and community could be established. Such a space could serve as a catalyst to further enrich the already budding art scene, form connections with local businesses, and attract others to Ypsilanti.
Through this gallery, Eastern Michigan University will strengthen its relationship with the city, promote visual art and emerging artists, and advertise its art department to an ever-increasing number of young artists living in Ypsilanti. Please sign to show your support for this idea!
Updates
February 6, 2014
The stories shared in the comments prove how badly our department needs more visibility. I am currently reaching out to local business owners to scout potential storefronts.
Reached 100 supporters
February 6, 2014
45 Comments
Connect with Art Incubator and the RAC as well. Don't isolate from existing ventures. We need to connect people in this little fragmented city of ours!
Amazing idea, it'd be great to help get students feeling comfortable showing in a place more public than the campus, real networking and sales opportunities would be possible also.
Ypsi can be a real art center--a new gallery would complement Riverside and EMU's gallery, and create a critical mass of art spaces to visit.
I think this is a fabulous idea. I think there needs to be a deeper connection between EMU and Ypsi, in general. I would also like to see more outlets for art to be accessible to the public. Non-EMU students/staff are unlikely to come to campus, unless knowing the artists personally; mainly due to convenience/parking/$$. It would be great to have the students' art promoted downtown or in another public city-space.
Eastern's art program is good enough to compete with UM, it just needs to be promoted in that way. More benefits for artists will make EMU more attractive to incoming students.
gallery should also show faculty work.
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The department confirmed the downtown gallery space today. We won. Now we wait to see the first show go up.
March 25, 2014
EMU Art Department: promote emerging artists with a gallery in downtown Ypsilanti!
Final supporters
This petition is primarily fueled by current deficiencies with existing gallery programming. Due to current gallery programming, exit-level MFA, MA, and BFA exhibitions are limited to Ford Gallery for short durations of time (often 1-week or less). Ford gallery, unfortunately, offers its exhibitors little exposure to the campus community at-large. In addition, the short duration of exhibitions allow little time for the general public and any potential press/media outlets to view and review any exhibition of student work. This unfortunately creates a perception among students that their work is not highly valued by the institution.The creation of an additional gallery space dedicated to the exhibition of student work within the Ypsilanti community would afford the time needed to hold longer exhibitions of student work as well as celebrate the student work with an increased visibility of the program.
As the numbers of new art students, both undergraduate and graduate, are declining, the university should recognize that in promoting its art students, it is promoting its art department. The on-campus galleries do a good job serving the campus community; that said, they do not draw much attention from the general public. A storefront space would serve as great promotional/marketing material for the department.
Lastly, by locating a gallery space within downtown Ypsilanti, it would be the hopes that further connections between the city and community could be established. Such a space could serve as a catalyst to further enrich the already budding art scene, form connections with local businesses, and attract others to Ypsilanti.
Through this gallery, Eastern Michigan University will strengthen its relationship with the city, promote visual art and emerging artists, and advertise its art department to an ever-increasing number of young artists living in Ypsilanti. Please sign to show your support for this idea!
Updates
February 6, 2014
The stories shared in the comments prove how badly our department needs more visibility. I am currently reaching out to local business owners to scout potential storefronts.
Reached 100 supporters
February 6, 2014
45 Comments
A huge number of EMU art grads stay in Ypsilanti after graduation and set up studios. Its a great way to promote your program!
Connect with Art Incubator and the RAC as well. Don't isolate from existing ventures. We need to connect people in this little fragmented city of ours!
Amazing idea, it'd be great to help get students feeling comfortable showing in a place more public than the campus, real networking and sales opportunities would be possible also.
Ypsi can be a real art center--a new gallery would complement Riverside and EMU's gallery, and create a critical mass of art spaces to visit.
I think this is a fabulous idea. I think there needs to be a deeper connection between EMU and Ypsi, in general. I would also like to see more outlets for art to be accessible to the public. Non-EMU students/staff are unlikely to come to campus, unless knowing the artists personally; mainly due to convenience/parking/$$. It would be great to have the students' art promoted downtown or in another public city-space.
Eastern's art program is good enough to compete with UM, it just needs to be promoted in that way. More benefits for artists will make EMU more attractive to incoming students.
gallery should also show faculty work.
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A huge number of EMU art grads stay in Ypsilanti after graduation and set up studios. Its a great way to promote your program!