The KCAC (Kalamazoo Collective Arts Center) has announced an afternoon event to explain what the hopes and goals of the organization are! More importantly, this meeting hopes to collect information from the community about just what exactly you would like out of the arts center itself.
Since acquiring a space and keeping afloat is a big endeavor, the KCAC board is being cautious and thoughtful when it comes to the creation of this endeavor. That’s why it’s vital to get community input, so that the efforts will go to what people really hope to get out of a local art/community center.
If you have absolutely any thoughts on the matter, come to 511 w Vine (the Vine Neighborhood Association) between 2-4 to ask any questions and to verbalize/write down your perspective. The KCAC hopes to have more open to the public meetings such as this, so help start this off on a good note!
If you visit this site, you know Kalamazoo is a place for music. It’s not a place the big touring acts come to, it’s not a place with large venues and expensive tickets. But it is a place that fosters excellent and variable local acts, and brings small and up-and-coming touring acts from all over the world (yes, world).
And if you know this, you may also know the options as far as venues go – bars and basements. Though Kalamazoo has put together something wonderful using these spaces, the both come with their drawbacks and risks.
Something Kalamazoo has not had in many years, but does need and would use is a collective space. An all ages space run by the participants and not by business. A non profit space where people work to put on events, bring art to this small city, and make in accessible to everyone. In a town dictated by the college atmosphere, the bars are inaccessible to the younger residents of this city. And the basements are only accessible by word of mouth, and are risky endeavors that could easily disappear.
THE KALAMAZOO COLLECTIVE ARTS CENTER (or THE KCAC) is in line to add itself to the already excelling arts and music community. since 2008 many folks have come and gone on establishing this project. A new board has taken over to refresh, and they are showing tons of progress on making this idea a distinct reality.
Currently, The KCAC is in the fundraising stages of the project. you can check out their fundraising campaign here:
Maybe if you were in Kalamazoo in 2008, you went to Rocketstar Cafe. Primarily a coffee shop, sometimes also hosting all ages shows of a variety of genres. Maybe at that time you, like me, saw Ghost Mice and Eric Ayotte play a lovely and energetic folk show.
Photo by Jes Kramer
And if you’re familiar with Kalamazoo, you’ll also know that accessible venues have had a hell of a time remaining open. Shortly after this, Rocketstar ceased to be. Other spots have come and gone through the years, and many houses have picked up the slack – though not in a particularly legal or accessible way either.
Around the time of this Ghost Mice show, there was talk of creating the Kalamazoo Collective Arts Center. Tons of work was done on creating bylaws for this all ages art space, but when nailing down a location became exceedingly difficult, the project fizzled out. But now it’s back! A new group of people are picking up where the originators left off, and are looking to create an affordable, accessible space for all art and all ages.
And also through this all, the Kalamazoo Peace Center has offered a space on campus for music, radical discussion, workshops and speakers. This sort of activity goes hand in hand with the not-for-profit, DIY ethic that is entrenched in the Kalamazoo music scene.
The KCAC and Peace Center are looking for your support, and have thrown together a nostalgic show for the purpose! Featuring:
THE ALMANAC SHOUTERS – Formed in 2009, the Almanac Shouters are a local band, playing their first (and only planned) show in almost 2 years. They’re a loud folk band with reflective and metaphoric lyrics you can scream and dance to. The line up for this show features Axel Quinlan, Fiona Dickinson, Nola Wiersma, and Rory Svekric.
GHOST MICE – A band synonymous with Plan-It-X Records, a DIY label known for the slogan “If It Ain’t Cheap, It Ain’t Punk” and putting out some of the best of folk and pop punk over the last 20 years. Ghost Mice are straightfoward and honest songwriters whose earnest dedication to their words is compelling.
THE MINOR KIND– Eric Ayotte, folk song writer and short film enthusiast, has a new project and this is it. It’s a country band, it’s sweet, you’ll like it.
This show also features a ROOT BEER KEG for all who donate. Please be excellent to eachother and respect the house! The show is likely to be packed, so make sure to take care of those around you.
9:00 PM start time. Putting the punc back in punctual. Email ditkalamazoo@gmail.com for the address.
hopes to collect information from the community about just what exactly you would like out of the arts center itself.
DITKalamazoo 
