Past Arts Advocates Projects

School Year 2007 - 2008
• Arts Jam 2008

Arts Jam 2008 was held Sunday, Feb. 24 at St. Cecilia Music Center from 2 to 5 p.m. The seventh annual benefit raised money for Grand Rapids Public Schools music and art programs.

School Year 2006 - 2007
• Arts Jam 2007

Mlive: "Sunday, March 04, 2007
Arts Jam 2007 raised more than $16,000 for Grand Rapids Public Schools music and art programs. The seventh-annual event, sponsored by the GRPS Arts Advocates and held at St. Cecilia Music Center, featured live music by the Schubert Male Chorus, La Famiglia, Nobody's Darlin' and others. Grand Rapids Symphony musical director David Lockington hosted the event, to which 400 tickets were sold. Arts Jam also featured a silent auction of decorative benches and end tables created by students, teachers and local artists. Money raised from the event goes toward sheet music, instrument repair, art supplies and other material. "

School Year 2005 - 2006
• Arts Jam 2006

The fifth annual Arts Jam fundraiser, benefiting Grand Rapids Public Schools' music and art programs, generated record numbers Sunday afternoon at St. Cecilia Music Society. A sellout crowd of 600 helped raise over $18,000. The money came from ticket and auction sales, as well as individual and corporate contributions. About $6,000 was from sponsor donations, according to Janelle Mahlmann, program coordinator for Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids. The previous high tally was in 2004, with $17,000 donated. Last year's event raised $14,000.

School Year 2004 - 2005
• Arts Jam 2005
The fourth annual Arts Jam was another artistic and financial success! More than $14,000 was raised for the art and music programs of Grand Rapids Public Schools. More than 400 people attended the Feb. 20 event at St. Cecilia Music Society.
School Year 2003 - 2004
• Arts Jam 2004
The 2004 Arts Jam and Floorcloth Auction was a huge success! Nearly $17,000 was raised for the support of art and music programs in the GRPS. The 2004 event generated much more in corporate and individual support, as well as media publicity.
School Year 2002 - 2003
• Arts Jam 2003
The 2003 Arts Jam and Chair Fair was a wonderful day for the arts in GRPS!
The Feb. 23 event raised close to $9,000 for art and music programs, as well
as an incalculable amount of goodwill. The music was beautiful,
the artwork delightful and the vibes most excellent.
School Year 2001 - 2002
• Arts Jam 2002
"Arts Jam" was a groundbreaking musical benefit for music and the arts in Grand Rapids Public Schools! "Arts Jam" was held on Sunday, Feb. 10, 2002,
at the Wealthy Theatre. Featuring some of West Michigan's top musicians,
the concert benefited the music programs of Grand Rapids Public Schools,
and showcased the needs and achievements of GRPS music students.

 Click here to read the Grand Rapids Press review of "Arts Jam".

Photos from "Arts Jam 2002" - click on photo to view larger image.


School Year 2000 - 2001:
• Something Fishy!
In the Spring of 2000, as part of the Art Works public art exhibit known as "Something Fishy", The Grand Rapids Public Schools created over 130 "mini-fish" to commemorate the city's sesquicentennial. Students throughout the GRPS district showed off their artistic talent by creating wonderfully decorated wooden fish, that were placed on display in downtown Grand Rapids.