The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA), Launches Major Creative Commons Transformation

Photo courtesy of KIA | Photo is graphic renders depicting intended completion of each space.

An investment in the next generation of creativity, learning, and community at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. For additional information visit our Creative Commons page.

As the KIA continues to grow, this project will expand opportunities for people of all ages to gather, create, learn, and connect through the arts. From improved air quality to flexible community spaces and a revitalized courtyard, every improvement has been designed to better serve students, artists, educators, families, and visitors.

“The Creative Commons transformation is about much more than adding or improving physical space,” said Michelle Hargrave, Executive Director of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. “It is an investment in how people experience the KIA and in what will be possible here in the future for our community for decades to come. As we think about the KIA’s next century, we are asking how our campus can better support the people who use it every day.”

The project scope and construction timeline includes the following:

School Commons Expansion: Beginning August 3, 2026

New four-season gathering and learning space allowing additional opportunities for classes, camps, lectures, exhibitions, events, community programs and rentals.

Kirk Newman Art School Improvements: August 2026–December 2026

Studio upgrades across ceramics, kiln room, sculpture, painting, fiber arts, fused glass, and other areas featuring improved storage, ergonomics, and accessibility.

Courtyard Revitalization: March–May 2027

New lighting, sculpture, seating, and permanent place-based features in a welcoming outdoor environment that enhances and compliments the Creative Commons.

HVAC Modernization: August–October 2026

Replacement of two original 1961 air handler units to improve air quality, ventilation, temperature control, and system reliability as well as increase energy efficiency and sustainability.

Contributors and Project Partners

The Creative Commons Project has been made possible through the generous support of:

Michigan Economic Development Corporation, Kirk and Georgia Newman Family, Tyler-Little Family Foundation, Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, Frankenthaler Climate Initiative, Suzanne U.D. Parish Foundation, Jim Gilmore Jr. Foundation, Michigan Arts & Culture Council.

Thank you to our project partners, TowerPinkster, and general contractor AVB.

Additional philanthropic support will help complete this transformational investment and ensure that future generations have access to outstanding arts education, inspiring creative spaces, and meaningful community experiences at the KIA. To learn more about how to contribute and stay updated visit the Creative Commons webpage.

*All photos are graphic renders depicting intended completion of each space.

About the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts

Founded in 1924, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA) is a nationally accredited art museum and community art school that brings people together through creativity, learning, and shared experience. Each year, more than 100,000 visitors explore 10–15 rotating exhibitions across the museum’s 10 galleries, drawn from a permanent collection of nearly 5,000 works spanning American, European, Asian, and contemporary art.

Beyond the galleries, the KIA is a place where art is not only viewed but made. The Kirk Newman Art School (KNAS) welcomes more than 3,400 enrollments annually, offering hands-on instruction in ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, drawing and painting, printmaking, fiber, photography, glass fusing, and enrichment programs for all ages. Students learn directly from professional artists and educators in a dynamic, studio-based environment.

The museum campus also includes a multi-media auditorium, a publicly accessible art library, an interactive children’s gallery, and the KIA Gallery Shop featuring work by local, regional, and international artists.

Through exhibitions, education, and community partnerships, the KIA serves as a cultural anchor for Southwest Michigan — a place where art sparks curiosity, strengthens connection, and inspires new ways of seeing. Learn more at kiarts.org.