{"id":539,"date":"2026-07-24T12:36:26","date_gmt":"2026-07-24T16:36:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cms.web.umflint.edu\/research\/clusters\/ac\/"},"modified":"2026-07-31T03:51:16","modified_gmt":"2026-07-31T07:51:16","slug":"ac","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/research\/clusters\/ac\/","title":{"rendered":"Arts &amp; Culture Research Cluster"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover fb-cover-text-box wp-duotone-black-and-white\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-right:0;padding-bottom:0;padding-left:0;min-height:100%;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"555\" height=\"370\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-523\" alt=\"\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/07\/art1.jpg\" style=\"object-position:50% 50%\" data-object-fit=\"cover\" data-object-position=\"50% 50%\" 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s0.484,1.08,1.08,1.08c0.596,0,1.08-0.484,1.08-1.08S17.401,6.116,16.804,6.116z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">Instagram<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li style=\"color:#00274c\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-linkedin has-brand-blue-color wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/university-of-michigan-flint-office-of-research\/\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor plausible-event-name=Social+Clicked plausible-event-service=LinkedIn\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M19.7,3H4.3C3.582,3,3,3.582,3,4.3v15.4C3,20.418,3.582,21,4.3,21h15.4c0.718,0,1.3-0.582,1.3-1.3V4.3 C21,3.582,20.418,3,19.7,3z M8.339,18.338H5.667v-8.59h2.672V18.338z M7.004,8.574c-0.857,0-1.549-0.694-1.549-1.548 c0-0.855,0.691-1.548,1.549-1.548c0.854,0,1.547,0.694,1.547,1.548C8.551,7.881,7.858,8.574,7.004,8.574z M18.339,18.338h-2.669 v-4.177c0-0.996-0.017-2.278-1.387-2.278c-1.389,0-1.601,1.086-1.601,2.206v4.249h-2.667v-8.59h2.559v1.174h0.037 c0.356-0.675,1.227-1.387,2.526-1.387c2.703,0,3.203,1.779,3.203,4.092V18.338z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">LinkedIn<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n\n<li style=\"color:#00274c\" class=\"wp-social-link wp-social-link-youtube has-brand-blue-color wp-block-social-link\"><a rel=\"noopener nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/umflintresearch\" class=\"wp-block-social-link-anchor plausible-event-name=Social+Clicked plausible-event-service=YouTube\"><svg width=\"24\" height=\"24\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.1\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" aria-hidden=\"true\" focusable=\"false\"><path d=\"M21.8,8.001c0,0-0.195-1.378-0.795-1.985c-0.76-0.797-1.613-0.801-2.004-0.847c-2.799-0.202-6.997-0.202-6.997-0.202 h-0.009c0,0-4.198,0-6.997,0.202C4.608,5.216,3.756,5.22,2.995,6.016C2.395,6.623,2.2,8.001,2.2,8.001S2,9.62,2,11.238v1.517 c0,1.618,0.2,3.237,0.2,3.237s0.195,1.378,0.795,1.985c0.761,0.797,1.76,0.771,2.205,0.855c1.6,0.153,6.8,0.201,6.8,0.201 s4.203-0.006,7.001-0.209c0.391-0.047,1.243-0.051,2.004-0.847c0.6-0.607,0.795-1.985,0.795-1.985s0.2-1.618,0.2-3.237v-1.517 C22,9.62,21.8,8.001,21.8,8.001z M9.935,14.594l-0.001-5.62l5.404,2.82L9.935,14.594z\"><\/path><\/svg><span class=\"wp-block-social-link-label screen-reader-text\">YouTube<\/span><\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:75%\">\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Arts and Culture (A+C) Research Cluster was created out of a desire to bring researchers, students, regional cultural institutions, and community organizations together in collaborative partnership with the goal of advancing the intellectual and cultural vibrancy of Flint, Michigan and making an impact on the national cultural landscape. A+C aims to bridge existing gaps in coordination and cultivate new and diverse audiences for the arts, primarily through <a href=\"https:\/\/riverbankarts.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Riverbank Arts<\/a>, our community-centered space for creatives, community members, and academics to develop and find support for artistic and cultural production in Flint. A+C seeks collaborative program funding and opportunities, shares information, and promotes artistic and cultural collaborations, elevating the arts and culture of the city of Flint. Those with questions or with interest in joining this research cluster should contact group leader Ben Gaydos at <a href=\"mailto:gaydos@umich.edu\">gaydos@umich.edu<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Research Objectives<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As a research collaborative, the Arts &amp; Culture Research Cluster team will focus on three main areas:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Interdisciplinary Dialogue <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Collectively engage in conversation with colleagues around shared interests and initiatives.<\/li> <li>Outwardly engage in dialogue beyond our campus.<\/li> <\/ul><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Local Impact through Civic Engagement <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Publicly engage in creative practice + scholarship as a means to create a positive social impact.<\/li> <li>Strengthening relationships with community partners and institutions.<\/li> <\/ul><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Collaborative Opportunities + Initiatives <ul class=\"wp-block-list\"> <li>Develop public programming and events.<\/li> <li>Develop community-based collaborative spaces.<\/li> <li>Pursue larger grant opportunities.<\/li> <\/ul><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1xdlYWLyqk5eWvCftxtI1c0OigCwG7Umj\/view?usp=sharing\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read our 2022 Progress Report<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Current Research &amp; Activities<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are laying the groundwork for the Flint Cultural Network, a multi-faceted community arts and culture network. Working with institutional and community partners, the Flint Cultural Network revolves around three initiatives:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Development of an Arts + Culture Asset Map and Community Resource<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Programming of Arts + Culture Events with Community Partners<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Establishment of a Local Artist\/Research Residency Program<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Riverbank Arts<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In January 2022, the Arts+Culture Research Cluster launched <a data-id=\"https:\/\/riverbankarts.org\/\" data-type=\"URL\" href=\"https:\/\/riverbankarts.org\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Riverbank Arts:<\/a> a community space for the arts located on the first floor of the Northbank Center on 400 N. Saginaw Street in Flint, Michigan. Riverbank Arts is a community-centered space for creatives, community members, and academics to develop and find support for artistic and cultural production in Flint. Not only do we see this space as a way to connect with the Flint community, but we also view Riverbank as a way to connect our students and faculty from various disciplines and backgrounds within the University of Michigan-Flint. For this reason, we do not limit ourselves to act as a space for solely the visual arts, but <em>all <\/em>types of media involved with the arts. Overall, we hope Riverbank Arts can connect several spheres, including Flint\u2019s downtown community, commerce, and UM-Flint community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"800\" height=\"780\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/07\/riverbank-arts-logo.png\" alt=\"Riverbank Arts logo.\" class=\"wp-image-529\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/07\/riverbank-arts-logo.png 800w, https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/07\/riverbank-arts-logo-300x293.png 300w, https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/07\/riverbank-arts-logo-768x749.png 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Riverbank Arts has a full and successful exhibition schedule for 2022 and will cultivate that same success for exhibitions planned in 2023. These past and future exhibitions include a work from the Beirut design collective Studio Safar, a work from the Juvenile Justice Center (and a proposed interdisciplinary curriculum pending funding from The Arts Initiative), and a Common Read exhibition, among others. The Cluster will also support guest artists, lectures, and performances proposed by A+C faculty in Theater, Music, and English.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We have received continuous support from our own<a href=\"\/research\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> Office of Research and Economic Development<\/a> here at UM-Flint, as well as support from external organizations such as the University Musical Society in Ann Arbor in hand with the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation by means of funding for our <a href=\"https:\/\/riverbankarts.org\/UMS-UMF-Artist-in-Residence\">University Musical Society \/UM-Flint Artist in Residency<\/a>, along with financial support from the Community Foundation of Greater Flint for our<a href=\"https:\/\/riverbankarts.org\/Emerging-Artist-Fellowship\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\"> Emerging Artist Fellowship<\/a> program in collaboration with Buckham Fine Arts Project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Emerging Artist Fellowship<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"410\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/07\/keyon-lovett.png\" alt=\"Announcement graphic: 2024 Flint Emerging Artist Keyon Lovett, black-and-white portrait wearing a backwards cap and glasses.\" class=\"wp-image-535\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/07\/keyon-lovett.png 410w, https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/07\/keyon-lovett-240x300.png 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 410px) 100vw, 410px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">(2024) Keyon Lovett<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">University of Michigan-Flint Arts + Culture Research Cluster with Buckham Fine Arts Project announces Keyon Lovett as the 2024 Emerging Artist Fellowship recipient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Keyon works with multiple mediums, including painting, graphic design, and illustration. His art fuses fine art with street graffiti, and he uses it to tell a story and start a dialogue about historical events in the past as well as the present.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c<em>I am thrilled to be accepted. This is my launching point, from here marks the new beginning for the ArtSchool Dropout<\/em>,<em>\u201d said Keyon Lovett, the 2024 Emerging Artist Fellowship recipient.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cKeyon is a courageous and emerging artist who has been navigating the Michigan arts scene for quite awhile and hopes that this fellowship will give him some space and time to develop a new body of work that is inspired by Flint and other Flint based artists.\u201d said Shelby Newport, Professor of Theatre | Department of Fine and Performing Arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Emerging Artist Fellowship collaboration between the Arts + Culture Research Cluster at the University of Michigan-Flint and Buckham Fine Arts Project provides a nourishing space for artists to grow and acquire essential professional development opportunities to succeed as they enter the art world. This collaboration and Fellowship were established in 2021. Submissions to the Fellowship were reviewed by a committee of UM-Flint faculty, students, community members, as well as Buckham artists and leadership. The review committee interviewed a short list of the applicants and ultimately, Keyon Lovett was selected for the fellowship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cThe Flint Emerging Artist Fellowship is a catalyst for artistic growth in Flint. It provides crucial support and mentorship to artists ready to take their next big leap. The multifaceted approach that we\u2019ve developed with Buckham Fine Arts Project, not only addresses immediate artistic needs but also enriches local culture, and supports a thriving and sustainable arts scene in Flint<\/em>,<em>\u201d said Benjamin Gaydos, Associate Professor of Design and Chair, Arts + Culture Research Cluster.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/C2aDPlZuwvD\/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&amp;igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==\"><strong>Read more about Keyon Lovett and the Emerging Artist Fellowship here.<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/07\/steven-banks.png\" alt=\"Announcement graphic: 2022-2023 Flint Emerging Artist Steven Banks, black-and-white photo wearing a Detroit Rugby Football Club shirt.\" class=\"wp-image-532\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/07\/steven-banks.png 512w, https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/07\/steven-banks-300x200.png 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">(2022-23): Steven Banks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">University of Michigan-Flint Arts + Culture Research Cluster with Buckham Fine Arts Project announces Steven Banks as the 2022-23 Emerging Artist Fellowship recipient.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><em>\u201cMy art is meant to have no limits or boundaries. I create because it\u2019s good for the soul and it doesn\u2019t matter how others feel about it. To live your life in full creation. Every moment is a story, and my art looks to shine bright on the everyday lives we live,\u201d said Steven Banks, the 2022 \u2013 2023 Emerging Artist Fellowship recipient.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Emerging Artist Fellowship collaboration between the Arts + Culture Research Cluster at UM-Flint and Buckham Fine Arts Project provides a nourishing space for artists to grow and acquire essential professional development opportunities to succeed as they enter the art world. This collaboration and Fellowship were established in 2021. A committee of UM-Flint faculty, students, community members, Buckham artists, and leadership reviewed submissions to the Fellowship. The review committee interviewed a short list of applicants, and ultimately, Steven Banks was selected for the fellowship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/riverbankarts.org\/Emerging-Artist-Fellowship\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Read more about Steven Banks and the Emerging Artist Fellowship here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">University Musical Society \/UM-Flint Artist in Residence<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image aligncenter size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"512\" height=\"341\" src=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/07\/ash-arder-ac.jpeg\" alt=\"Ash Arder, 2021-2023 UMS\/UM-Flint Artist in Residence.\" class=\"wp-image-531\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/07\/ash-arder-ac.jpeg 512w, https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/research\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/141\/2026\/07\/ash-arder-ac-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 512px) 100vw, 512px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading has-large-font-size\">(2021-23): Ash Arder<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The <a href=\"https:\/\/ums.org\/education\/university-programs\/flint-artist-in-residence-program\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">University Musical Society<\/a> and the <a href=\"\/research\/clusters\/ac\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Arts + Culture Research Cluster<\/a> at UM-Flint are delighted to announce <a href=\"http:\/\/asharder.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Ash Arder<\/a>, Flint native and transdisciplinary artist, as the selected 2021-23 Flint-area artist in residence.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Arder\u2019s artistry and research interrogate viewers\u2019 own proximity to and participation in social and climate justice issues. Through highlighting moments of tension where she finds ruptures in empathy between living entities and the objects and space surrounding them, she hopes to shed insight into the conditions causing these \u201crelational glitches.\u201d Her work exposes, deconstructs, manipulates, or reconfigures physical and conceptual systems while intimately examining the relationship between humans and more-than-humans through sound, sculpture, installation, literary and moving-image works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Ash Arder will develop a new body of work incorporating sound and sculpture, which explores relationships between music, storytelling, and place. As the artist in residence, Arder will engage with UM-Flint campus and community for the duration of the academic year, facilitating and leading on-campus workshops, artist talks, and community engagement activities while collaborating and mentoring emerging artists.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/ums.org\/2021\/11\/02\/introducing-ash-arder\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Read an interview with Ash about their work here<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity\"\/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-x-large-font-size\">Art + Culture Cluster Members<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Ben Gaydos<br><\/strong>Benjamin Gaydos is a Detroit-based designer and educator. Ben has conducted research in design and anthropology at Virginia Commonwealth University, where he received an MFA in Visual Communication\/Design. He has presented his work at Rhode Island School of Design, Harvard University, and MIT\u2019s Media Lab, among other institutions. Ben is the co-founder and principal of<a href=\"http:\/\/www.goodgoodland.com\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"http:\/\/www.goodgoodland.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> goodgood<\/a>, a social impact design studio with offices in Boston and Detroit. He is the founding editor and creative director at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.flintmagazine.org\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"http:\/\/www.flintmagazine.org\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Flint Magazine<\/a>, a producer and designer for Sensate Journal at Harvard University, and the director of the Community Design Studio in Flint. Ben is Chair of the Department of Art &amp; Art History and Associate Professor of Design at UM-Flint where he is a faculty fellow at the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/uireej\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Urban Institute for Racial, Economic, &amp; Environmental Justice<\/a>.<br><br><strong>Audrey Banks<br><\/strong>Audrey Banks is a multidisciplinary artist and arts administrator specializing in photography, graphic design, and community-centered programming. She currently serves as the Cross Campus Arts Advocate and Project Coordinator for the University of Michigan Arts Initiative, fostering collaboration across the Ann Arbor, Flint, Dearborn, and Detroit campuses.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At Riverbank Arts, Audrey supports select exhibitions as a Project-Based Curatorial &amp; Programming Assistant, contributing to programming, curatorial planning, and installation logistics. She holds a BFA with a concentration in Media &amp; Design and a minor in Graphic Design, as well as a Master\u2019s in Arts Administration from the University of Michigan\u2013Flint. Her work is rooted in accessibility, creative equity, and amplifying underrepresented voices through the arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Jacob Blumner<br><\/strong>Jacob Blumner is the director of the<a href=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/writingcenter\/\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/www.umflint.edu\/writingcenter\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"> Marian E. Wright<\/a> Writing Center and Professor of English at UM-Flint. His professional interests beyond writing centers include writing across the curriculum, writing theory, and haiku. His scholarship has appeared in writing-across-the-curriculum journals, and he is the co-editor of two essay collections. He has also presented his scholarship at the International Writing Centers Association Conference, the International Writing Across the Curriculum Conference, and other national and regional conferences. His creative work has appeared in Qua, Wales Haiku Journal, The Zen Space, and others. Jacob holds a Ph.D. in rhetoric and composition from the University of Nevada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Emma Davis<br><\/strong>Emma Davis is a Collegiate Lecturer of Theatre and Dance as well as Arts Administration and the Honors Program. Her PhD in Dance dissertation research seeks to expand the notion of community dance practices as a method of community organizing for social change. Her practice reflects this interest as she leads many community-based initiatives and creative activity. She has facilitated three different projects working with incarcerated youth and UM-Flint students to develop a visual art exhibit, the production of a poetry anthology, and the creation of an original dance choreography. She has also worked with Vista Center for people with disabilities and UM-Flint students to develop an original dance about the Flint Water Crisis, another about Trust and Healing, and a third about Inner Harmony. She has supported guest artists adrienne maree brown, Tunde Olaniran, and Sofa Stories Detroit into her classroom curriculum, and she has co-directed the community dance festivals Dancing in the Streets and Flint Dances.<br><br><strong>Nalani Duarte<br><\/strong>Nalani is an alumna of the University of Michigan-Flint, where she earned a BFA in 2021 and an MA in 2023. Since 2022, she has worked with the Arts+Culture Research Cluster, supporting arts programming and community engagement at UM-Flint\u2019s storefront gallery space, Riverbank Arts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Christian Gerstheimer<\/strong><br>Christian Gerstheimer is an artist, curator, and educator based in Michigan. He lived in El Paso from 2003 to 2019 and was a curator at the El Paso Museum of Art for fourteen years. He has taught drawing and art history classes at the University of Texas at El Paso, and currently teaches art history at UM-Flint.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">His artwork has been exhibited in Berlin, New York, Chicago, Flint, Detroit and El Paso, TX, and is often presented as public interventions because site, context and social engagement are important factors. His practice seeks to raise awareness about the struggle of immigrants and immigration laws through interventions; performances and sculptural installations. His on-going November Project has become more oriented toward social justice and precarity since 2012 as well as increasingly utilizing new, digital media. Whether kinetic, video or assemblage Gerstheimer\u2019s practice speaks the truth to power for the exploited in the US, Mexico and beyond. Gerstheimer earned a B.A. degree in Humanities Interdisciplinary, and an M.A. degree in Art History from Michigan State University, a BFA from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, and an MFA in Creative Practice from the Transart Institute with Plymouth University.<br><br><strong>Guluma Gemeda<br><\/strong>Guluma Gemeda earned his BA and MA degrees from Addis Ababa University, Ethiopia, and his Ph.D. from Michigan State University. Before joining UM-Flint, Gemeda taught at Addis Ababa and Northern Michigan Universities. At UM-Flint, he teaches African and African American history. In his scholarship, he specializes in the social and economic history of Northeast Africa, particularly on land and farming communities in Ethiopia. He has conducted research in Ethiopia and at national archives in the United Kingdom and the United States. Recently, he has also been researching the Sea Islands of South Carolina, in the United States. Gemeda has published several articles and book chapters. His recent publications include: \u2018The Rise of Coffee and the Demise Imperial Autonomy: The Oromo Kingdom of Jimma and Political Centralization in Ethiopia,\u2019 in Contested Terrain, ed. by Ezekiel Gebissa (Trenton, Red Sea Press, 2009) and \u2018Land, Agriculture and Social Class Formation in the Gibe Region, From the mid-nineteenth century to 1936\u2019, in State, Land,<em> and Society in the History of Sudanic Africa<\/em>, ed. by Donald Crummey (Trenton, NJ., Red Sea Press, 2005). Currently, he is completing a manuscript on the history of coffee in Ethiopia.<br><br><strong>MaKenna Hatherill<br><\/strong>MaKenna Hatherill is a BFA Design student at the University of Michigan\u2013Flint, concentrating in Graphic Design. She currently works as a research assistant at Riverbank Arts, where she supports creative initiatives and community-based projects. Passionate about all things creative, her interests include illustration, branding, and visual storytelling. She\u2019s dedicated to using art and design as a tool for expression, impact, and connection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Thomas Henthorn<br><\/strong>Thomas Henthorn serves as the Wyatt Endowed Professor of Public History in the Department of History. His research explores the intersection of urban and public history, specifically focusing on Flint, Michigan. Dr Henthorn leads efforts in his department in civic engagement and has developed partnerships with organizations in Flint and across the state. His current projects include an exploration of local cemeteries and an examination of heritage and urban development in Flint in the mid-twentieth century.<br><br><strong>Gabriela Hristova, DMA <\/strong><br>Gabriela Hristova is Associate Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities at UM-Flint Department of Music. She conducts the University Chorale and Chamber Singers, and teaches courses in choral and instrumental conducting and music performance. Hristova is the director and conducting faculty of the Department of Music\u2019s Summer Vocal Academy of Music \u2013 a summer day camp for middle and high school students widely-recognized for its high level of vocal music instruction. Hristova is a passionate performer, educator, adjudicator, and guest clinician of choral events throughout the Midwest. She has worked with choirs of all ages, both professional and amateur. Her research focuses at UM-Flint on Bulgaria\u2019s Choral Traditions and Choral Music. She has also collaborated as an editor of the first Bulgarian Art Song Anthology published in the United States. Additionally, she connects her classroom teaching with research on repertoire planning and concert programming, and conducting gestures for effective non-verbal communication in rehearsal and performance. Hristova earned the Master of Music in Conducting and Doctor of Musical Arts in Choral Conducting degrees from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor. She received the Bachelor\u2019s degree in Music Education and Choral Conducting from the State Academy of Music in her native country of Bulgaria.<br><br><strong>Callum Carr-Marquis<\/strong> <br>Callum is the Archivist for the Genesee Historical Collections Center. They regularly contribute to the Genesee Historical Society\u2019s publications and they sit on the Whaley Historic House Museum board. Their research interests center around labor history, archives as the locus of shared community memory, and audio\/video digitization. Today, they live in the College Cultural Neighborhood with two kids, husband, two cats, dog, and a growing number of unread books.<br><br><strong>Shelby Newport<\/strong><br>Shelby Newport is professor of theatre at the University of Michigan-Flint and currently the chair of the Department of Fine &amp; Performing Arts. She received her M.F.A. from Purdue University and completed her undergraduate studies at Cornell College. She designs costumes regionally at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tippingpointtheatre.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Tipping Point Theatre<\/a>, Kickshaw Theatre, <a href=\"https:\/\/www.detroitpublictheatre.org\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Detroit Public Theatre<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/thefim.org\/flintrep\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Flint Repertory Theatre<\/a>, and is a Resident Artist at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.purplerosetheatre.org\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Purple Rose Theatre Company<\/a>. Her designs have been seen internationally in London and Margate, England. Shelby is also a certified professional coach for creatives, finding their way to their most productive and creative selves. You can see more of Shelby\u2019s work at <a href=\"http:\/\/www.shelbynewport.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Shelby Newport<\/a>.<br><br><strong>Rebecca Zeiss<\/strong><br>Rebecca Zeiss, MFA, currently teaches design, photography, and printmaking at the University of Michigan-Flint. Frequently, Ms. Zeiss uses a large format camera with antiquarian processes such as wet plate collodion, tintypes and ambrotypes, cyanotypes, gum bichromate, platinum palladium and photopolymer gravure. Her work ranges from oversized elongated translucent vertical images printed two sided on Kozo and silk materials to small intimate images often referencing dreamlike visions. Many of her images suggest ideas of domestic space and reconsider the child experience. Her work has recently been exhibited at FotoNostrum in Barcelona, The Halide Project in Philadelphia, PA. and Buckham Gallery Flint, MI. Featured in Christina Z. Anderson\u2019s book of Ron Reeder\u2019s QuadToneRIP process, you can view some of Ms. Zeiss\u2019 platinum-palladium work and research. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.zeissworks.com\">View Rebecca Zeiss\u2019s work<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/www.zeissworks.com\/\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\" target=\"_blank\">.<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Arts and Culture (A+C) Research Cluster was created out of a desire to bring researchers, students, regional cultural institutions, and community organizations together in collaborative partnership with the goal of advancing the intellectual and cultural vibrancy of Flint, Michigan and making an impact on the national cultural landscape. 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