Hamtramck Arts & Culture Commission

About

Mission -
To foster, encourage, and amplify the artistic and cultural communities of the City of Hamtramck. Through artistic and cultural initiatives that educate, engage, and unify our diverse community, we aim to create a better quality of life for all Hamtramck residents.
Vision -
A Hamtramck where all people flourish with universal access to and participation in the arts. We strive to bring our diverse populations better understanding of each other’s cultures and to work toward our shared goals for a strong community.
Values -
Community – To serve as a bridge between the disparate arts and cultural initiatives and organizations in the City to better connect us to each other and our shared goals.Accessibility – We will provide safe, usable, and inclusive spaces for the entire population of Hamtramck; including those with disabilities, and members of racialized communities; regardless of their age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, religion, nationality, ethno-linguistic, and/or soci-economic status.Aesthetics – Recognition of all art forms and artistic and cultural traditions that enable full and meaningful creative expression.Autonomy with Accountability – Responsible generation and allocation of resources through grant writing and fundraising.Relevance – To strive to offer broad influence and bold leadership. To acknowledge our past, emerging developments and needs of the future, while serving as a liaison between the arts and businesses, government, schools, and existing cultural institutes.Equity – Acknowledge and address past and present racial injustice, representation, and visibility of all groups. We will encourage impactful programming which will (confront/address) Hamtramck’s racist history and how it affects our present.Sustainability –This is a working board. All members are dedicated to being present and accountable for the work of the Arts and Culture Commission as per the rules of participation. Arts and Culture Commission
From the Code of Ordinances:§ 32.043 OBJECTIVESThe objectives of the Arts and Culture Commission are as follows:(A) To enrich the city’s civic and cultural heritage, the Arts and Culture Commission is established to provide a level of expertise and objectivity to recommend to the City Council works of art to become the property of or for display upon property owned by the city;(B) To promote a rich, diverse and stimulating cultural environment in order to enrich the lives of the city’s residents, business owners, employees and visitors and to enhance the city’s image both nationally and internationally;(C) To establish an environment where differing points of view are fostered, expected and celebrated by providing the opportunity for the expression through the display of public art;(D) To promote, sponsor and organize festivals, events, activities, and materials that celebrate the cultural diversity and traditions of the various peoples of the city in order to enrich the lives of the city’s residents, business owners, employees, and visitors and to enhance the city’s image both nationally and internationally;(E) To offer assistance to promoters, event organizers, business owners engaged in the arts in the city; and(F) To seek grants and funding from all available sources in order to enrich the lives of the city’s residents, business owners, employees, and visitors and to enhance the city’s image both nationally and internationally.(Ord. 515, passed 6-13-2005)Current Members
Timothy Price (expires 12/31/2026)
Chair
Lynn Blasey (expires 12/31/2024)
Vice-Chair
Dustin Conley (expires 12/31/2026)
Treasurer
Maria Vujic (expires 12/31/2025)
Secretary
Jetshri Bhadviya (expires 12/31/2025)
Jessica Donnelly (expires 12/31/2024)Advisory Members
Dwydell Garrett
Josh Gardner
George ElkindGet in touch!

Contact

We are always happy to help! Here are some of the ways to get in touch with us.

3401 Evaline
Hamtramck, Mi. 48212(313) 800-5233
artsandculture4hamtramck@gmail.com

The Hamtramck Arts&Culture Commission shall officially commemorate Hamtramck Pride for the month of June 2021, not only this year but henceforth each June in future years in conjunction with global Pride Month celebrations. In recognition of the experiences of LGBTQ+ residents, visitors, and queer communities across the globe, the City will fly the 11-color Progress Pride flag at Zussman Park throughout the month of June with a celebratory commemoration to take place on Saturday, 19.June at 9am. This iteration of the Pride flag, created in 2018 by designer and artist Daniel Quasar, includes black, brown, light-blue, pink, and white stripes to represent the experiences of queer people of all races and gender identities.As a community whose residents reflect a diverse range of ethnic, religious, cultural, and experiential backgrounds, honoring the experience of queer people in Hamtramck is a natural extension of the City’s ongoing work to make Hamtramck a more open, welcoming, and equitable environment for all. While physical events will be limited this year, the Hamtramck Arts&Culture Commission is pleased to have the support of City of Hamtramck, Detroit City Football Club’s Northern Guard, GM PLUS, General Motors’ LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group, Hamtramck High Schools GSA and the City’s own, DDA, Human Rights Commissions and spearheaded by the Arts and Culture Commission as partners in the celebration and promotion of this year’s Hamtramck Pride. These partners will help to celebrate queer experience and visibility throughout the month of June--both at DCFC games and in businesses throughout the city, as well as through the distribution and display of leaflets, flags, and banners around the city.Since June 28, 1970--and following the Stonewall Uprising of 1968--Pride marches and events have served to promote awareness and equality for queer people both in the United States and across the globe. Highlighting both the richness and ongoing struggles of queer communities--which include those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex--is a key part in promoting equal justice, visibility, and nondiscrimination both within Hamtramck and worldwide for people of all gender identities and orientations.As the scope and awareness of Hamtramck Pride grows in future years, we hope to enjoy the support of an even broader range of both programming and community partners, and--while acknowledging that this declaration is long overdue--we happily anticipate this year’s celebration being the first of many in Hamtramck to commemorate and honor queer communities across the world.

Local & National LGBTQ+ Resources
HACC has created an online, LGBTQ Resource Center, serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning individuals.
While there are far too many local and national LGBTQ advocacy groups and organizations doing great work to list them all,
these are a few that we're big fans of.Whether it's June, or any other time of the year, there are plenty of opportunities to support local and national nonprofits protecting
LGBTQ rights and serving the community.

THANK YOU
City of Hamtramck, GM PLUS, General Motors’ LGBTQ+ Employee Resource Group, Detroit City Football Club’s Northern Guard, Hamtramck High Schools GSA and the City’s own, DDA, Human Rights Commissions and spearheaded by the Arts and Culture Commission as partners in the celebration and promotion of this year’s Hamtramck Pride