One year after launching this innovative initiative, we reflect on the impact, lessons learned, and the path forward for Detroit’s BIPOC artists and their communities.

When the Gilbert Family Foundation and United States Artists launched Seed & Bloom: Detroit in February 2024, we envisioned a program that would help Detroit-based BIPOC artists transform their creative practices into sustainable businesses deeply rooted in Detroit neighborhoods. Shortly after launch, the Kresge Foundation joined as a funder. Now, one year into this journey, we’re witnessing how this investment is not only supporting individual artists but strengthening Detroit’s cultural fabric in profound and lasting ways.

As our Executive Director, Laura Grannemann said: “Artists are entrepreneurs and innovators. Their art not only helps us think differently about beauty, humanity and society, it also catalyzes deeper social connections across our city.”

 

The Power of Flexible Funding and Targeted Support

Seed & Bloom: Detroit is a $1.5M pilot program that provides 10 grantees – all of whom are Detroit-based artists – with $150,000 flexible grants each over three years, along with technical assistance tailored to their specific needs. This combination of financial support and capacity-building resources has proven to be transformative.

During the first year, many of the fellows focused on stabilizing their organizations by fixing immediate operational issues to better prime their artistic practices for long-term growth.

This stabilization is exactly what the program was designed to provide – a foundation from which artists can build sustainable futures for their work and their communities.

 

Artwork from Seed & Bloom fellow Tiff Massey at the DIA, as part of her exhibit, Tiff Massey: 7 Mile + Livernois.

 

Artist Voices: The Impact on the Ground

The inaugural cohort of artists has shared powerful testimonials about how Seed & Bloom has influenced their work and vision for the future.

“This opportunity has been more than just a professional milestone; it has been a transformative experience that has allowed me to grow both personally and as a member of the creative landscape,” said Amelia “Fiera” Duran, co-founder and artist at Garage Cultural who is one of the 10 artist fellows supported in our first cohort.  “The fellowship has provided me with invaluable time, resources, and support to reinvigorate my own artistic practices, which is something that often feels out of reach due to the demands of curatorial and organizational work.” With support from the fellowship, Garage Cultural has made the bold decision to take an “Intermission” from regular programming to focus on developing a physical, brick-and-mortar space for the broader community and the ability to host workshops and events – a strategic move that will ultimately create a more sustainable foundation for their work.

Another fellow, Yvette Rock, artist and Executive Director of Live Coal, shared how the grant has enabled significant growth for her practice. “The Seed & Bloom grant has been a tremendous gift to our organization. In 2024, we were able to open our children’s art museum and add to our team,” she said, adding, “I want my neighbors and the students I teach to know that art exists all around us—in murals, music, dance, storytelling, theatre, fashion, design, and everyday creativity.”

For Live Coal, the funding has supported critical strategic planning efforts, allowing the organization to fully bring their mission to life.

Garage Cultural artists paint a mural on the viaduct.

 

Building Community Through Art

At its core, Seed & Bloom recognizes that art is not a luxury but a necessity for vibrant communities. “Art is essential to the well-being of individuals, households, communities, and the world,” Rock said. “It transcends race, culture, gender, and class, connecting people across boundaries and fostering understanding. To make art more accessible, we must recognize it as an integral part of daily life and encourage others to engage with it in meaningful ways. And by teaching each other to see, wonder, create, and appreciate artistic expression, we can break down barriers and cultivate a culture where art is inclusive and transformative.”

This sentiment is echoed by Michelle D. Johnson, Senior Program Officer of the Detroit Program at the Kresge Foundation. “Arts and culture has the power to preserve and enhance identity, connectedness and opportunity… Detroit is a city that has been defined and redefined in continuing cycles of aspiration and creativity.”

Community-building was a key component of the program. One of the requirements of Seed and Bloom was to ensure that the fellows were based in Detroit neighborhoods. As Andrea Scobie, Senior Program Manager on the Gilbert Family Foundation’s Arts and Culture team explained, “Part of our mission is to ensure that every Detroit resident has access to arts and culture programs, and we know that supporting work in our neighborhoods is an integral part of making that happen.” Scobie said that the benefits of the program support both the artists and their practice: “As Seed and Bloom Fellows build their artistic practices and expand their audience reach, we are excited to see how their efforts will positively impact Detroit residents.”

Scenes from Live Coal’s art practice: (clockwise from top left: Young artist Courtney Jemison stands in front of her work; Live Coal founder and artist Yvette Rock teaches students during an art class; Artist-in-Residence Karis Gaston making art; a summer art program student shows off her work)

 

Beyond the Numbers: Measuring Success

While quantitative outcomes are important, the program recognizes that some of the most significant impacts are qualitative. Akua Hill, Director of the Arts and Culture team at the Gilbert Family Foundation identified key areas of impact including strengthening the connections between artists, since this will ultimately benefit Detroit’s creative ecosystem, as well as increasing opportunities to build sustainable artistic practices that will support their local communities. “We are excited to see what the fellows choose to focus on and direct resources to in year two – the type of work they are creating, how they are engaging with their communities and how they will continue to build capacity and sustainability in their organizations,” she said. “We are looking forward to cultivating more space and time for fellows to come together intentionally, while continuing to support their individualized pathways and technical assistance needs.”

Judilee Reed, President and CEO of United States Artists, noted that the first year of Seed and Bloom provided a stable platform for technical support that enabled the fellows to grow their respective businesses and establish a foundation for cultivating bonds with both other artists and community members.

 

Looking Ahead: Year Two and Beyond

As we move into the second year of Seed & Bloom: Detroit, we’re focusing on creating more opportunities for cohort-based learning while continuing to meet individual needs.

“In year two we will be coordinating more opportunities for the fellows to come together to deepen relationships, share victories and challenges, as well as learn and problem solve together,” said Hill.

Johnson from the Kresge Foundation adds: “A lot of preliminary work happened in year one. In year two, I’m excited to see what the creators are doing and to hear their reflections regarding how the pilot is working for them and where there are still blind spots that we need to pay attention to.”

 

A New Model for Arts Philanthropy

What makes Seed & Bloom: Detroit particularly innovative is its collaborative approach to funding. As Judilee Reed, noted, “This trisected effort goes beyond a traditional funding relationship; it’s a dynamic dialogue between national arts support and local creative ecosystems.”

By joining forces, the Gilbert Family Foundation, United States Artists, and the Kresge Foundation are creating a model that could transform how arts philanthropies operate. The program recognizes artists as working professionals deserving of stability and support, addressing a critical gap in the cultural ecosystem.

Photos from Tiff Massey’s exhibit at the DIA: Tiff Massey: 7 Mile + Livernois feature installations and wearable sculptures inspired by adornment that reads like a love letter to Detroit.

The Ripple Effect

As Seed & Bloom: Detroit continues to evolve, we’re already seeing its impact extend beyond individual artists to the communities they serve. When artists have the resources and stability they need, they can focus on what they do best: creating work that inspires, connects, and transforms.

“The fellowship has been a catalyst for expanding the potential of what we can collectively accomplish through art, pushing the boundaries of how we build stronger, more connected cultural ecosystems, said Duran. “This opportunity is a reminder of the power of community and the vital role of the arts in not only documenting our past but shaping a more inclusive and hopeful future.”

One year in, Seed & Bloom: Detroit is proving that investing in artists means investing in the future of Detroit – its neighborhoods, its cultural identity, and its community bonds. As we continue this journey, we remain committed to fostering a more equitable arts sector where creativity can flourish and benefit all Detroiters.