The RAC Monthly
September 2025
| | Illustration presented at September3rd's Ypsi Fine Arts Club | | |
Michigan’s House of Representatives has proposed eliminating all state funding for arts and culture, including completely defunding the Michigan Arts and Culture Council. This is not yet final. The Governor, Senate, and House are negotiating the budget now. The outcome will directly impact the future of arts access across our state.
This is not the moment for fear, but for focus and determination. We need to make it known that the arts are essential to Michigan’s economic vitality, community well-being, and every individual’s quality of life.
Your story matters. Legislators must be reminded that the arts are not abstract numbers in a budget. They are lived experiences that shape how we learn, heal, and build community. Riverside is collecting these stories and sharing them with Senator Jeff Irwin and Representative Jimmie Wilson Jr. during this critical time.
Add your voice by filling out the form below. You can choose to remain anonymous if you wish. Once you have shared with us, we encourage you to also send your story directly to their offices. Contact information is provided below.
Your voice carries weight that data alone cannot. Together, we can ensure Lansing understands that arts and culture are not optional. They are vital, and they are here to stay.
Riverside will continue to do our part to support equitable access to the arts. Will you do yours by sharing your story today?
| | Upcoming @ Riverside Arts Center | |
Ypsi Fine Arts Club
Join our creative community!
The next two Ypsi Fine Arts Club meetings take place September 17th, and October 1st!
On the first and third Wednesday of each month, artists and art lovers alike gather to share their work with each other. Everyone is welcome from Ypsi and beyond! Attendees are not required to present. Anyone is welcome to simply gather with our community and enjoy the incredible artwork.
Doors open at 5:00 pm and presentations start at 5:30 pm. YFAC wraps up around 6:30pm.
| | A work being presented at August 20th's Ypsi Fine Arts Club | |
Fiber Arts Drop-In Days
First Saturdays, from 10am-1pm. Studio 1.
Next drop in: October 4th.
Our new Fiber Arts Drop-In Days provide a relaxed environment for all fiber artists, novice to expert. Drop in with your quick questions, like how to thread your machine or how to sew on a button. Stick around and make with us!
Come hang out with fiber artists Lindsey Leyland and Kim DeBord every first Saturday of the month, from 10am-1pm.
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Intermediate Stained Glass Workshop - Demo
RAC is looking for interested students to participate in a 2-day Demo for Intermediate Stained Glass! In this course, students will use the copper foil method to create a larger piece utilizing skills covered in Beginner Stained Glass. There will be a few different geometric and free-form patterns to choose from that each pose different challenges in symmetry, interior curves, and visual contrast to expand each student’s skill set. Traditional Leaded solder used in this course.
Cost: Because it is in the demo phase, RAC would like to offer this course to students at a reduced cost of $150 per person! The regular price will be $210.
Date/Time: Students will need to be available for BOTH days. Demo is scheduled to run for 4 hours the first day, and 3 hours the second day.
Day 1: September 15th, 5:10 – 9:10pm
Day 2: September 16th, 5:10 – 8:10pm
| | | Exhibitions @ Riverside Arts Center | |
Abstracting the Anthropocene: An Ecological Elegy
An exhibition of work by Brittanie Bondie and Megan Major, selected from RAC’s 2024 Call for Exhibitions
Open Hours:
Fridays | 4-6pm
Saturdays | 11am – 2pm
Open now through October 5th
In an era marked by unprecedented environmental challenges, the works of two female photographers converge to explore the nuanced and deeply personal responses to our changing climate. Through their distinct yet complementary approaches, Brittanie Bondie and Megan Major offer a profound dialogue on eco-anxiety, the human relationship with nature, and the transformative power of abstraction in photography.
| | Artist Opportunities @ Riverside Arts Center | | |
Call for Art - Anything But... New Materials | 2025 - 2026 Season
Riverside Arts Center invites artists to submit work for Anything But…New Materials, the second installment in our annual “Anything But…” exhibition series.
This exhibition will highlight works made primarily from recycled, reused, or repurposed materials, encouraging artists to step away from traditional, relied-upon art supplies and experiment with new ways of making. We’re looking for inventive approaches to working with familiar objects and work that shows how creativity can transform disparate materials into masterpieces!
Both 2D and 3D works are eligible.
NOTE: Artwork must be created with at least 75% recycled, reused, or repurposed materials. A limited amount of traditional supplies (adhesives, thread, paint, wire, etc.) may be used as supporting elements
Timeline
Call closes: 11/16/2025
Artist Notification: 11/21/2025
Drop off Dates: 12/1/2025
Opening Reception: 12/5/2025
Exhibition dates: 12/5/2025 – 1/9/2026
Pick Up Dates: 1/11 & 1/12/2026
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Call for Vendors - Riverside's 2025 Holiday Art Fair!
Riverside Arts Center is now accepting vendor applications for our annual Holiday Art Fair, a vibrant indoor market celebrating handmade goods, vintage treasures, and small-batch artisan products. We’re looking for a diverse mix of artists, makers, collectors, and premade food vendors to join us for the third annual Holiday Art Fair.
We welcome applications from vendors offering:
- Handmade art and craft (prints, ceramics, jewelry, textiles, etc.)
- Vintage items (clothing, home goods, accessories, records, collectibles)
- Home & body products (candles, soaps, skincare)
- Small-batch packaged foods (baked goods, jams, teas, spice blends, etc.)
This is a non-commissioned event. Vendors pay a flat tabling fee and retain 100% of their sales.
Location: Riverside Arts Center, 76 N. Huron St. Ypsilanti, MI 48197
Timeline:
- Application Closes: October 1, 2025
- Acceptance announcements: October 15, 2025
- Holiday Art Fair Load-In: November 21, 2025, 11AM-7PM
- Holiday Art Fair: Saturday, November 22, 2025, 11AM-6PM, and Sunday, November 23, 2025, 11AM-4PM
Fees:
- Booth Fee: $125 for a 6-foot table or $90 for a 4-foot table
- Nonrefundable application Fee: $12
Space is limited! Vendor selection will be juried to ensure quality, variety, and fit with the spirit of the event. Early applications are encouraged.
Ready to be part of a festive, high-quality holiday market in a beautiful, art-filled space? Apply today!
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Call for Solo Exhibitions - Eight Walls Gallery | 2025 - 2026 Season
Riverside Arts Center is piloting our newest gallery program: Eight Walls Gallery. This gallery is located in the Off Center, utilizing our new portable gallery walls. This program is designed to serve individual artists working in 2D mediums, by providing solo exhibition space for either one to two days or four to six week periods.
Timeline:
Application Closes: November 1, 2025
Acceptance announcements: December 1, 2025
Exhibition Dates: TBD 2026
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Call for Art - Riverside's Ypsi Fine Arts Club Online Gallery | 2025 - 2026 Season
The Ypsi Fine Arts Club is launching an online-only gallery to showcase and promote the work of our talented members. This digital exhibition is designed to support artist visibility and aid in the sales of member work through our website and social media channels.
Artists may submit 1–3 works of art. All pieces will remain in the artist’s possession unless sold. When a sale occurs, Riverside Arts Center will facilitate buyer communication and coordinate pick-up or delivery with the artist and buyer.
A 20% commission will be retained by Riverside Arts Center on all sales. There is no fee to submit or participate.
Timeline:
Submission Deadline September 15, 2025
Decision By: Sep 19, 2025
Exhibition Dates: Oct 1, 2025 – Dec 31, 2025
Eligibility Criteria:
Open to current members of the Ypsi Fine Arts Club. If you’re not yet a member, please attend a YFAC meeting on the first and third Wednesdays of the month at Riverside Arts Center.
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Riverside Arts Center
76 N. Huron St. Ypsilanti, MI 48197
riversidearts.org
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