Student Creative Work
The Arts Initiative is dedicated to providing a platform for University of Michigan students to share their artistic voice and creativity!
These programs showcase a wide range of student creative work.
Student Competitions & Exhibitions
Arts Initiative believes there is an artist inside each of us. These competitions are your opportunity to share your artistic genius, exhibit your work for the University community and win some prizes! Competitions will be held periodically throughout the year, with calls for art using different themes and mediums. Submissions are narrowed down by staff, and then the finalists are voted on by the public in the Unions and by the U-M Community online. Winners get great prizes, so be sure you’re signed up for Arts Info, our weekly email, so you’ll hear about our future contests and opportunities.
Student Arts Org Highlights
Spectrum Center Programming Board
Special Recognition Award for a Student Organization Demonstrating the Power of the Arts
The Spectrum Center Programming Board is a student organization with around 10 active members committed to creating meaningful and engaging programming for students and faculty on campus. They aim to uphold the pillars of the Spectrum Center with each event they host, focusing on community building and engagement, education and awareness, mental health and wellbeing, as well as tackling issues of equity within the LGBTQIA2S+ community. They organize around 4-5 unique events that are open to all each semester, with their recurring signature events being Pride Prom, Crafting Community, and since last year, the Queer Art Showcase. The organization successfully held their second Queer Art Showcase, a student-led initiative focused on increasing the visibility of LGBTQIA2S+ artists on campus. They aim to foster community-building and engagement with the arts through this event, while spotlighting queer narratives in art. They are also mindful of including unique intersectional experiences when reviewing artist submissions, such as those of QTBIPOC and disabled queer folk. This time, they added a discussion and Q&A session with a panel of student artists, as well as a 2-week exhibit of all the artwork in the Union post-showcase.
Events
Arts Info
Arts Info is your weekly guide for arts events around Ann Arbor, student arts opportunities, information about and resources for student arts organizations, and student creative work!
Art Around Town
Ann Arbor and U-M have a vibrant art scene with a constant array of arts events. Find weekly recommendations and resources on how to find and attend events.
Arts Initiative
The U-M Arts Initiative seeks to illuminate and expand human connections, inspire collaborative creativity, and build a more just and equitable world through the arts.
