• Gilbert Family Foundation returns as an anchor partner for Design Core’s Detroit Month of Design, a citywide festival celebrating Detroit’s status as the first and only UNESCO City of Design in the United States.
  • The Foundation also announced support for ArtClvb’s Detroit Warehouse Art & Design Fair and Season Fair, Detroit’s First Contemporary Art Fair.
  • New grants reflect Gilbert Family Foundation’s commitment toward Detroit artists and the vital role of art in powering Detroit’s cultural vibrancy and economic strength.

DETROIT (Sept. 17, 2025) — Gilbert Family Foundation today announced multiple new grants aimed at strengthening Detroit’s creative economy and expanding access to resources for artists. The announcement was made during Design Core’s annual Detroit Month of Design festival, which is celebrating its 15th year and offers more than 95 events and installations featuring the work of over 1000 designers.

“Month of Design is a powerful reminder of how deeply creativity runs through Detroit and the vital role artists play in fueling Detroit’s creative economy,” said Akua Hill, Director of Arts & Culture at Gilbert Family Foundation. “These grants are more than funding—they’re about investing in the people who shape our city’s culture, helping them thrive, be recognized, and at the same time, make a living doing what they love.”

Gilbert Family Foundation returns as a sponsor of Detroit Month of Design with lead support for multiple programs including:

  • Eastern Market After Dark, a district-wide night market and open studio showcasing an array of talented artists, businesses, and musicians, as well as members of Gilbert Family Foundation’s Thriving Neighborhoods program.
  • Eight hyper-local, community-led design events happening throughout Detroit neighborhoods.
  • Designing Detroit, a month-long special exhibition at the Detroit Historical Society celebrating the 10th anniversary of Detroit’s designation as a UNESCO City of Design.

“Detroit’s design story is constantly evolving, rooted in a deep legacy but driven by experimentation, collaboration, and community,” said Kiana Wenzell, Co-Executive Director, Design Core Detroit. “This year’s Month of Design reflects the city’s creative momentum from major institutions to neighborhood-led projects, showing how Detroit’s designers are reimagining everything from public space to product design, and shaping a future that’s more connected, inclusive, and innovative.”

In addition to its sustained support for Detroit Month of Design, Gilbert Family Foundation also announced grants supporting two signature arts events designed to expand opportunities for Detroit artists.

One of these events is The ArtClvb Detroit’s Warehouse Art & Design Fair. This is a three-day event showcasing contemporary, affordable works by emerging and mid-career artists. Gilbert Family Foundation’s support will cover essential operating costs and provide artist stipends and entry fee assistance to reduce financial barriers and ensure diverse representation in the fair. The event will be held at the Boyer Campbell Building from September 19th-21st.

“At ArtClvb, our mission is to create opportunities for artists & designers to thrive and to bring collectors and art buyers to Detroit,” said Dorota Coy, co-founder, ArtClvb. “The Gilbert Family Foundation’s support ensures that artists and designers not only have a platform to showcase their work but also the resources to participate without financial barriers. This partnership allows us to build a fairer, more inclusive art ecosystem that reflects the diversity and strength of Detroit’s cultural community.”

Gilbert Family Foundation is also proud to sponsor Season Fair, Detroit’s premier contemporary art fair featuring leading galleries alongside Detroit’s most promising artists. Gilbert Family Foundation’s grant supported the inaugural edition of Detroit Presents, a curated exhibition platform that will provide 10 Detroit artists with direct exposure to international collectors, curators and galleries – amplifying their artistic visibility and expanding their reach across global markets. Season Fair will run from September 25th–28th, 2025, at Michigan Central.

“Detroit Presents is about celebrating the depth, diversity, and brilliance of Detroit’s artists on their home stage, said Amani Olu, Founder and Curatorial Director, Season Fair. “This platform puts local voices at the center of an international conversation, demonstrating that Detroit is not only a place of cultural heritage but also a hub of innovation and possibility. We’re proud to give these artists the visibility they deserve, and to introduce their work to collectors, curators, and audiences from around the world.”​

Those interested in attending the events can learn more at the following links: Detroit Month of Design, ArtClvb Detroit Warehouse Art & Design Fair and Season Fair.

Gilbert Family Foundation’s support for these programs builds on its commitment to creating career pathways for artists and designers, including the Gilbert Family Foundation Endowed Scholarship at College of Creative Studies and lead support for Pensole Lewis College Detroit, the only HBCU dedicated to design education.

All of the investments are part of Gilbert Family Foundation’s $500 million, 10-year commitment – shared with Rocket Community Fund – to build opportunity in Detroit neighborhoods. From the time the investment was announced in 2021 to the end of 2024, Gilbert Family Foundation and Rocket Community Fund have deployed or committed to approximately $232 million of the funding.

###

About Gilbert Family Foundation

Gilbert Family Foundation is a private nonprofit foundation founded by Jennifer and Dan Gilbert to accelerate a cure for neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) and build economic opportunity and equity in the city of Detroit. The Gilbert Family Foundation supports groundbreaking, cutting-edge research in hopes of eradicating NF1, a genetic disorder that causes tumors to grow on nerves anywhere in the body. Additionally, the Foundation supports the economic stability and mobility of residents in Detroit by investing in wealth-building opportunities and breaking down systemic barriers.

For more information on the Gilbert Family Foundation, please visit gilbertfamilyfoundation.org.

About Design Core Detroit

Design Core Detroit champions design-driven businesses and their role in strengthening Detroit’s economy. It offers services to strengthen, grow and attract design businesses, increase market demand for design services and tells Detroit’s design story locally and globally. Design Core is a department within the College for Creative Studies, which is a private, nonprofit art and design college in Detroit, MI.

About ArtClvb

ArtClvb connects people to the art world through community and technology.

About Season Fair

Season Fair, Detroit’s inaugural contemporary art fair, will debut September 25–28, 2025, at Michigan Central. Marking a historic moment for the city’s cultural landscape, the fair will convene 11 leading galleries from across North America, a curated platform of 10 Detroit-based artists, special artist projects, and a robust program of talks, activations, and civic engagement initiatives. With support from an extraordinary roster of partners and sponsors, Season Fair establishes Detroit as a vital hub for cultural exchange and artistic production.