TIMELINE
1993 – Heartside Gallery and Studio opens as a space for Heartside neighbors to express themselves at 48 South Division.
2000 – Sanctuary Folk Art opens
2002 – Free Radical Gallery begins on Wealthy Street, utilizing vacant storefronts as exhibition space for artists.
2003 – The Division Avenue Arts Collective opens at 115 South Division.
2002 – Richard Haas Mural is painted.
2003 – Dwelling Place begins investigating options to meet an increasing interest for affordable workspace for local artists.
2003 – Dwelling Place brings in a Christ Velasco, a private consultant from Creative Places in Minneapolis to evaluate the possibi
lity of renovating several South Division buildings into affordable live/work spaces.
2004 – The Ionia Street Artisans Market begins in Heartside Park.
2004 – Free Radical Gallery moves to South Division.
2004 – Martineau Apartments are the catalyst for a Cool Cities Award from the State of Michigan.
2005 – The Martineau Apartments open featuring 24 “Live/Work” spaces for
low-to-moderate income artists. The open loft style spaces feature ample natural light, access to sound proof rooms for musicians, utility sinks, and much more, 106, 120 and 122 South Division.
2005 – Avenue for the Arts Internship program begins. Internship positions are intended to provide individuals interested in art, community and building their nonprofit or communications related skills.
2005 – The name “Avenue for the Arts” is chosen as the title for the neighborhood of the South Division commercial corridor. Residents and supporters select the Avenue for the Arts logo. Residents and businesses proudly display the insignia on shop windows and websites.
2006 – A commercial space in Chaffee Apartments is renovated to be the first market rate live/work apartment on South Division Avenue.
2005 – Kelsey Apartments open featuring 12 “Live/Work” spaces for low-to-moderate income artists and 2 market rate spaces. The open loft style spaces feature ample natural light, access to sound proof rooms for musicians, utility sinks, and much more.
2006 – The Ionia Street Artisans Market is moved to the South Division corridor and renamed the Avenue for the Arts Market. Market events take place on weekends during the summer.
2006 – Arts related business classes are held for Kelsey and Martineau residents.Community partners include, the Arts Council of Greater Grand Rapids,and in 2010, Artpeers.
2006 – Awarded the Preservation Excellence Award and the Gerald R. Helmholdt Grand Prize award from the Neighborhood Business Alliance.
2006-2007 A series of 5 focus groups evaluate forms of public artwork residents would like see. Feedback from the groups helps with the introduction of 2 new murals on South Division and 12 tree guards.
2007 – Dwelling Place Inn is restructured and named Verne Barry Place Apartments which includes 116 affordable housing units and 9 commercial spaces,6 of which are live/work units.
2008 – Bill Taylor Mural is installed on the corner of South Division and Goodrich
2007 – Award: Martineau Avenue for the Arts, Michigan Historic Preservation Network, Tax Credit Project Award
2007- Spring for the Arts, which would eventually be transformed into Art.Downtown, has its last event.
2007 – Award: Dwelling Place receives The Guvvy Award, Governor’s Award for Arts and Culture Conference.
2007 – The holiday shopping event Urban Lights is created. South Division businesses opened their doors for extended hours and multitudes of local artists have goods available.
2008 – Avenue for the Arts Artists are invited to participate in a collective show at the Forest Hills Fine Arts Center.
2008 – Rockwell Republic opens at 45 South Division
2008 – The Diocese moves to the corner of South Division and Wealthy.
2008 – The first Art.Downtown event is held. This one night event features several hundred artists in dozens of galleries, businesses, and studio spaces around downtown Grand Rapids.
2009 – Award: Avenue for the Arts Neighborhood Business Association
Best Promotion.
2011 – Urban Institute for Contemporary Art moves to the corner of South Division and Fulton.
2010 – Avenue for the Arts participates in the Festival opening day parades.
2010 – Avenue for the Arts Advisory Committee begins
2010 – Heartside Boogie Woogie Mural painted at corner of South Division and Weston.
2011 – Store, an artist Consignment Shop, is opened and operated by the Avenue for the Arts Advisory Committee.
2011 – The Pekich Park Concert series is created and hosted by Mexicains Sans Frontieres owner, Hugo Claudin.
2012 – The corner of Weston and South Division a mural celebrating the diversity
of residents along South Division is completed.
2012 – Mural is completed at 106 S. Division by Urban Institute for Contemporary Art’s Artworks Youth Program.
2012 – Artshop outdoor market takes place over 3 days. Various local artist participated showcasing their work.
2012 – stART Benefit to Support the Avenue for the Arts at San Chez Bistro began. Event featured artwork, food & drink demonstrations, live performances, and a chance to meet national & local artists.
2012 – Avenue for the Arts Murals is award Best Non-Profit Project by Neighborhood Business Alliance & Neighborhood Ventures.
2012 – UICA’s ArtWorks students design and install mural at 106 South
Division Avenue.
2013 – Artworks students design courtyard planters and tile work at Herkimer/Commerce Apartments, 309 South Division.
2013 – The DAAC is forced to close.
2013 – Learning Lab internship format is created.
2013 – First Friday gallery hops begin.This monthly event is a unique opportunity to check out new exhibitions, events and features at shops,
galleries and eateries in the rapidly evolving South Division Corridor.
2013 – Community discussions and classes are rebranded as the Break it Down. Make it Better series and feature community discussions about being an artist in alongside business classes geared towards artists. Current partnerships include ArtPrize and the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts.
2014 – Avenue for the Arts Billboard is awarded Best Promotion by Neighborhood Business Alliance & Neighborhood Ventures.
2015 – Avenue for the Arts [Work] Space opens at 307 South Division. The space functions as a gallery for local artists, community meeting spot, education center for visitors, and office for learning lab interns.
2015 – Exhibitions take place monthly at the Avenue for the Arts [Work] Space.
2015 – Open Programming begins. Fun and relaxing activities that are aimed towards meeting new people and growing community.
2017 – Avenue for the Arts separates from Dwelling Place and forms its first board.
2018 – Avenue for the Arts relocates to 106 S Division, the former Calvin College gallery and begins hosting regular art exhibits there.
2019 – Alongside WGVU, Avenue for the Arts co-produces Break It Down Make It Better, its first podcast.
2019 – Avenue for the Arts hires its first director.
2020 – Avenue for the Arts relaunches its membership program and newsletter.
2020 – Avenue for the Arts launches new art festival, Rapid Art Movement.