Mission Statement:

Our vision for “Creative Roots Detroit” is to transform an 800 sq ft industrial studio space in the Russell Industrial Center into an inclusive creative community that fosters creative exploration, healing, and growth.

(Read more about us below fundraising details)

 

For Creative Roots to grow to its full potential, we need your help !!!

First, THANK YOU so much for everyone’s amazing support thus far; we’re overwhelmed by the community love and opportunities received, landing us many things to get the creative space started (including a display showcase, futon, work tables, coffee machine, mugs… many wondrous gifts thank you!!)

Please take a peek at our wishlist below and if you feel moved and able, share funds for any particular item/s (sponsor price listed beside item), we are gratefully accepting full or partial sponsors.

Also, if you’re the type of human to wander estate sales, thrift furniture stores, etc, and want to be our extended EYES searching for these items, please reach out so we can coordinate!

We will share updates as wishlist items are found, and are grateful to bring you along on this journey with us :)

Thank you so much for your support!!!

 

✨Start-up Wishlist ✨

✅ACQUIRED✅

• 4 metal lockers (minimum 15x15x15” each) - Find used (good condition) OR sponsor $200

• Mini fridge - Sponsor $165

• 2 divider shelves - Sponsor $360

• Utility sink & construction - Sponsor $250


STILL SEARCHING

• Front shoe cubby bench - Sponsor $120

• Projector - Sponsor $350

• 3 rolling chairs - Find used (good condition) OR sponsor $200

• Art supplies (easels, paints, brushes, ceramic wheel, sketch pads, etc) - Find or donate gently-used

• Rolling gallery wall - Sponsor $250

Total sponsors/fundraising goal: $1,895

 

More About Creative Roots Detroit:

We welcome emerging and established creators of all backgrounds into the Creative Roots community. We hold community safety and inclusivity at the heart of our creative vision. We encourage community members to be transparent and in open communication about personal needs and boundaries so that we can all be vulnerable and build trust with each other. We believe these are necessary foundations from which creativity can flourish. We understand that safety and inclusivity each mean different things to different people, and we want to hear and honor what these values mean and look like for everyone in our community.

As artists ourselves, we understand how important it is to have a safe space available to explore and create in, especially amongst other creators where collaborative ideas and skills can be shared and developed. Creative Roots is eager to offer a small variety of membership options to emerging and established local creators. Knowing that there is a scarcity of affordable space available for creatives to work within the city, this drives us to help our community heal that gap. A portion of our studio space will be a designated members-based lab, where members will have access to work surfaces, tools, storage space, community events and so much more.

We are also planning to host a variety of workshops focusing on a range of mediums to pique creative curiosity. These workshops will be taught by emerging and established art educators and intended to boost creative skills and confidence.

We understand that healing is a unique journey for everyone, and something we feel is vital in our local and global world. Creativity and art can be useful tools for emotional processing, healing and wellness. Inspired by these art therapy practices, we are creating spaces within Creative Roots devoted to individuals’ ongoing healing.

In our members lab, artists have the freedom to actively explore and create with various art mediums, while in our calm corner members are invited to unwind, take a break from creating, and reflect with meditative tools and guides.

As we understand individual and collective healing to be interdependent, we plan to host Vulnerability Circles in the space where participants can engage in thoughtful community conversations centered around collective healing, accountability and transformation.

We also acknowledge that staying nourished and hydrated can be crucial to maintaining inner balance and creative motivation. That’s why we are offering in our Pod Spot Café some complimentary tea, coffee, mini-fridge and microwave amenities for all our community members’ enjoyment and comfort to take care of their bodies.

Creative Roots aims to act as a web of resources to help artists grow by providing everything from platforms to refine and showcase artwork, to tools to develop business practices and skills, as well as offering opportunities to network.

We know that the creative process can be a struggle sometimes, and have in the past found it very useful to participate in group-led constructive critiques. We also know critiques can be triggering for some individuals and we are seeking to reclaim that space by hosting empowering art critiques. Our intention with these critique spaces is to empower artists to share their work and encourage them to be open to problem solving and considering approaches from multiple perspectives.

Artists will also have opportunities to submit finished work for solo and/or duo shows within Creative Roots’ gallery space, as well as submit work for sale in our shop display case. Each of these opportunities offers artists the potential to gain business experience (such as pricing, branding and promoting work) and to interact with diverse customer audiences.

Creative Roots’ networking opportunities include a variety of community events we plan to host, from art exhibitions, open mic nights and live performances, to more playful and laidback events such as game nights and movie showings. At some of these events, we plan to offer vending spots to artists and other entrepreneurs looking to sell work and make new connections.

Thank you for your time and support, stay tuned for updates! Follow us on instagram @creativeroots_detroit