Michigan Arts Orgs to Support | May 5, 2025
- John Sloan III
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
The Epic Center is more than a venue, it's the heartbeat of Kalamazoo, MI's arts community.
This week we’re trying something a bit different. Instead of highlighting two separate arts organizations, our attention turns to one nonprofit doing the amazing work of supporting others. The Epic Center is more than a venue – it’s the home to 10 Arts Organizations, 2 Gallery Spaces, 2 Performance Venues, a Public Broadcasting Facility, and a restaurant. But, most importantly, it is the cultural hub of Kalamazoo.
The Epic Center | Kalamazoo, MI | epickalamazoo.org| @epic_center_kalamazoo
“In Kalamazoo, the heart of the arts is the Epic Center. What was once Jacobson’s Department Store in downtown Kalamazoo grew into the foundation and the focal point for the entire arts community here and across southwest Michigan. Opened in 2000, this 89,000 s.f. building was purchased by the Kalamazoo Cultural Center and aptly named the Epic Center.”
About:
The Kalamazoo Cultural Center’s vision is ”to provide accessible and collaborative environments for arts and cultural organizations to enrich the creative, educational, and commercial economies of Kalamazoo.
Artwork displayed around the building was permanently donated by members of the arts community here in the Greater Kalamazoo area. The public is welcome in the building during operating hours in the common areas of the Lower Level of the Epic Center and to view open galleries on the 1st and 2nd Floors.
Partners:
Among the first of its kind in the United States, the facility fosters an atmosphere of cooperation and collaboration, by offering tenants shared classrooms, building equipment, and meeting spaces, as well as discounted rental rates. Management of the Epic Center is also delivered with an appreciation for and understanding of the unique challenges and needs of arts organizations. Most of the tenants that moved into this showstopper of a building when it first opened are still tenants today.
The Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo | kalamazooarts.org
Black Arts Cultural Center | blackartskalamazoo.org
Crescendo Academy of Music | crescendoacademy.com
Fontana Chamber Arts | fontanamusic.org
Gilmore International Piano Festival | thegilmore.org
Hub Tavern + Grill | millenniumrestaurants.com
Kalamazoo Community Box Office | kalamazooarts.org/box-office/
Kalamazoo Symphone Orchestra | kalamazoosymphony.com
Stulberg International String Competition | stulberg.org
Public Media Network | publicmedianet.org
Wellspring/Cori Terry & Dancers | wellspringdance.org
Space Rental:
The Epic Center is host to many events and meetings by local and visiting groups and businesses who enjoy the aesthetics, convenience, and artistic experience of their classrooms, theaters, multi-level atria, galleries, and common spaces.
The Cori Terry Theatre, located on the second floor of the Epic Center, provides an intimate setting with options for 110-160 guests. The 4,500 square foot theater features a suspended wooden floor with optional marley covering and is an ideal intimate space to hold corporate meetings, special events, and other performances.
The Judy K. Jolliffe Theatre (formerly Epic Theatre) is a black box theatre space located on the 2nd floor of the Epic Center. With a max capacity of 150 people, the venue can accommodate events ranging from theatre performances, musical performances, corporate meetings, weddings and/or receptions, and more.
The James C. Westin Gallery is curated by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo, and exists as a premier gallery in downtown Kalamazoo, MI.
The Gail Syndor Gallery at the Black Arts & Cultural Center is a new and flexible venue. With 1,000 sq. ft of creative space for large-scale painting, writing, design, music, photography, and more.
Ways to Support:
The Epic Center offers several avenues for support. Interest parties can visit www.epickalamazoo.org/support-the-arts for more information.
GET BOOKED & BUSY!!!
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Classes, and Opportunities.
Do you work for or know of an organization that needs support? Use this link to submit them for the weekly feature.
