Deb Polich

The Ann Arbor Downtown Development Authority thinks our streetscapes can be much more fun and have asked artists to help us reimagine our downtown spaces.  Deb and David talk with Natsume Ono, a member of the Studio Kaleidoscape team, who recently pained a streetscape at South State Street and North University as part of the ReVIVE All Zones project.  Hear their conversation on "creative:impact" here.

After a summer hiatus, David Fair and Deb Polich reunite on the air for this edition of "creative: impact."  They catch up on the state of the arts six months into the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of gaining the attention of and funding from local decision makers right here in Washtenaw County.  Listen here to the conversation on this edition of "creative:impact."

Bev Willis grew up in Washington, D.C., literally in the epicenter of the Civil Rights Movement because of her parents and grandparents.  Deb Polich and David Fair talk with Bev about how those experiences led to her becoming a graphic designer, active in her community, and encouraging everyone to use their talents to document defining historical moments.  Hear the conversation on this edition of "creative:impact."  Listen here.

Having waited weeks for an all-clear, even it is cautionary, the rules governing the reopening for arts and creative businesses are not exactly clear.  It might not even be their most important concern as national attention is directed toward equity and justice amid protests of the police brutality and the law enforcement killings of black people.  The music industry declared June 2 “Blackout Tuesday” to urge artists and venues to shut down all programming and content.  Hear Deb Polich and David Fair discuss these topics on this edition of "creative:impact."  Listen here.

Fulbright Scholar Susan Badger-Booth, EMU professor of Arts Management & Entertainment, felt well-prepared for her teaching assignment that would take her to the Hongik University in Seoul, South Korea for the winter semester.  She and her husband Bill considered all the contingencies....or so they had thought.  No sooner did they arrive when the COVID-19 virus struck.  Deb Polich and David Fair connect with Susan in Seoul to find out what happened next on this edition of "creative:impact."  Listen here.

After 23 years of performing, producing concerts, renting studio space, and volunteering at the Kerrytown Concert House, Monica Swartout-Bebow was prepared and excited to take on a new role as executive director last summer.  Still, she expected a slight learning curve.  What she got instead was the full onslaught of COVID-19.  Monica gets on the line with "creative:impact" co-hosts Deb Polich and David Fair to talk about how, instead of you going to the Kerrytown Concert House, it’s coming to your house.  Listen here.

Today is #GivingTuesdayNow, a global day of giving and unity as an emergency response to the unprecedented need caused by COVID-19.  Join Arts Alliance’s Deb Polich and WEMU’s David Fair as they consider the model of scarcity: when society under-invests in services and programs needed, and valued, by its people.  Already high, COVID-19 has increased demands for certain services and programs while depleting the banks of shuttered nonprofits.  #GivingTuesdayNow brings awareness to the plight of all nonprofits, including WEMU and The Arts Alliance’s Creative Washtenaw Aid.  Hear it all on this week’s edition of "creative:impact."

Replacing lost revenues is critical to the survival of artists and the sustainability of creative businesses lost due to the COVID-19 shutdown.  The Arts Alliance is soon to launch the Creative Washtenaw Marketplace, an online sales site for local artisans, creatives, performers, cultural organizations, and businesses to sell products, performances, programs, and services.  Join The Arts Alliance’s Deb Polich and WEMU’s David Fair to hear more about it on this week’s edition of "creative:impact."

Theaters may still be closed, but the movie world is still open to you!  In this week's "Cinema Chat," WEMU's David Fair talks with Michigan Theater director Russ Collins about the newest films and special screenings offered through the magic of your very own televisions and computers. 

Hospital art programs are known to offer healing benefits to patients, such as shorter hospital stays, better pain management, and less medication.  Elaine Sims, director of Gifts of Art Program at Michigan Medicine, tells "creative:impact" co-hosts Deb Polich and David Fair how hospital art programs here and across the nation are helping medical staff on the front lines of the COVID-19 pandemic find respite, comfort, and diversion.  Listen here.

Alan S. Brown, a former director of the Ann Arbor Summer Festival, is now a leading researcher and expert on the nonprofit arts. He is also a trusted advisor to many of the nation’s leading arts and cultural funders. Alan tells "creative:impact" co-hosts Deb Polich and David Fair the course of action he has recommended philanthropists take to ensure the arts have a future post-COVID-19. Listen here.

Never someone to sit idly when a call to action is raised, John Gutoskey, local artist, printmaker, and costume designer, has redirected his talents to making much-needed face masks for our local medical facilities.  On this week’s edition of "creative:impact," he joins co-hosts Deb Polich and David Fair how local medical teams are responding to polka-dot, ladybug, and other whimsical masks that can literally save their lives while fighting the COVID-19 pandemic.

For 58 years, the Ann Arbor Film Festival has traditionally invited people to pack into Ann Arbor film houses to watch and discuss films made by filmmakers from all over the world.  The 2020 version of the festival was anything but traditional, due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.  Leslie Raymond, director of the festival, joins Deb Polich and David Fair to give her first-person account of the 2020 festival experience on this week’s edition of "creative:impact."

The upheaval of COVID-19 is felt by everyone.  Everything is shifting moment by moment, from a benign format change for "creative:impact" to a devastating life change for an artist who may become homeless.  What doesn’t change is the compunction for artists to create and for art to connect, calm, and keep us human.  Join The Arts Alliance’s Deb Polich and WEMU’s David Fair as they explore these topics week’s edition of "creative:impact."

To help slow the spread of the virus, arts venues were first to cancel events and send artists home.  The ripple effect is devastating for the people and organizations in Washtenaw County that don’t have or qualify for emergency economic relief packages.  The Arts Alliance’s Deb Polich and WEMU’s David Fair discuss the need for creative aid on this week’s "creative:impact."

Jill Stefani-Wagner, a master pastel artist from Saline, travels around the world painting “en plein air,” or outdoors to create landscapes and cityscapes.  She tells The Arts Alliance’s Deb Polich and WEMU’s David Fair about her award-winning adventures on this edition of “creative.impact.”

Change is constant, especially in retail.  After more than 30 years, Hollander’s, known for its beautiful paper, gifts, and paper and bookmaking workshops, is moving to an online format in June when it closes its Kerrytown shop.  Cindy and Tom Hollander join The Arts Alliance’s Deb Polich and WEMU’s David Fair to talk about the next page in the book of Hollander’s on this edition of “creative.impact.”

Ann Arbor native and EMU grad Andrew Cohn loves his hometown so much, he named his company Seven34 Films.  He is bringing a bunch of Hollywood folks who star in his film “The Last Shift” to town, when it screens at the Michigan Theater.  He tells The Arts Alliance’s Deb Polich and WEMU’s David Fair why he knows they’ll love his town as much as he does on this week’s “creative:impact.”

It’s been one year since Paul Hickman made the difficult decision to close his creative business Urban Ashes.  As he did on "creative:impact" a year ago, Paul opens up to The Arts Alliance’s Deb Polich and WEMU’s David Fair about his experiences this last year: his unexpected loss of identity and his journey of retooling and rediscovering himself as an artist and designer.  

The Harold Haugh Light Opera International Vocal Competition does duo duty.  It attracts singers from across the country, and it introduces them to the charm of light and comic opera.  The Comic Opera Guild’s Tom Petiet and John Guidinger co-produce the competition.  They sit down with The Arts Alliance’s Deb Polich and WEMU’s David Fair to talk about managing a competition and the resulting educational impact on this week’s edition of "creative:impact."

Ann Arbor artist Margaret Parker grew up in a home awash in art and creativity.  She tells Arts Alliance CEO Deb Polich and WEMU's David Fair what is was like to be encouraged and inspired by her mother, artist and quilt-maker Pauline Parker, whose exhibition opens at the Milwaukee Art Museum in March.  Hear all about it on this edition of "creative.impact."

The report isn’t even out, but the data is collected.  Deb Polich shares some of the highlights of The Arts Alliance’s Creative Washtenaw Counts Nonprofit report with David Fair on this week’s edition of "creative:impact."  Listen here to find out how many, hold old, and the economic impact of this larger-than-you-expected nonprofit arts + creative sector.

After years as development director at the Yankee Air Museum, Elisa Guyton is charged with taking the Riverside Arts Center in Ypsilanti to new heights.  Guyton began work as the center's executive director on December 2nd of last year and is becoming fully ingrained in the center’s offerings and its potential for the future.  She talks community, engagement, art, and passion in this "creative:impact" conversation with WEMU’s David Fair and Deb Polich of The Arts Alliance.

Deb and David don’t have New Year’s resolutions themselves, but they can get behind The Arts Alliance’s 2020 project goals.  In addition to ongoing programs and services, Deb gives David the highlights on a few projects for the year, including Creative Washtenaw Counts, an Arts + Creative Advocacy Training program, and a Board Matching initiative on this week’s edition of "creative:impact."

The impact of arts and culture can truly be felt during the holiday season, but it can also lead to isolation for those are visiting for a far-away land.  International House Ann Arbor (IHAA) was formed to make such visitors feel more at home in the U.S., and it gives them a chance to spread their own holiday celebrations.  The house's executive director, Lauren Zinn, and one of its current residents, Raju Ahmmed, talk about IHAA's accomplishments for this week's "creative:impact" with WEMU's David Fair and Arts Alliance president/CEO Deb Polich.

A holiday favorite, The Nutcracker Ballet, fills the stage with boys and men dancing in roles as familiar as the music by Tchaikovsky.  What is it like to be a male dancer in the ballet?  On this week’s edition of "creative:impact," David Fair and Deb Polich find out when they chat with dancer and actor Michael Wecht, who is appearing in Ballet Chelsea’s production of The Nutcracker, presented with the Jackson Symphony Orchestra this weekend at the Potter Center in Jackson.

Better yet, let Steve Daut tell you a story about storytelling.  Steve is a member of the Ann Arbor Storytellers Guild.  He knows that there are stories inside of everyone waiting to be told and people always eager to listen.  David Fair and Deb Polich are all ears on this week’s edition of "creative:impact."

Are you someone who claims to do the Sunday crossword puzzle in ink?  That’s impressive, but how about constructing it in the first place?  Meet Peter Collins, a crossword constructor who has had more than 200 crosswords published – 100 in the New York Times.  He joins David Fair and Deb Polich to talk about the creative art of puzzle making on this week’s edition of "creative:impact."

As the owner and artistic director of Motawi Tileworks, Nawal Motawi has been playing with clay and fire for decades.  To this day, Motawi art tiles are still handcrafted.  Hear how she started her business in her garage and sold her tiles at the Ann Arbor Farmer’s Market and now sells in more than 300 locations across the country and Canada when Nawal joins David Fair and Deb Polich on this week’s edition of "creative:impact."

All was on track to find the next executive director to succeed Mary Steffek Blaske who, after 25 years leading Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra (AASO), was retiring at the end of 2019. Then, unexpectedly, the AASO found itself in search of a music director, too.  Mary tells David Fair and Deb Polich how the AASO has adapted to manage two major leadership changes simultaneously on this week’s edition of "creative:impact."