Creative Cafe

Kristen interviews Negar Afazel about her journey to the US and her latest project, the Kalamazoo Violin Choir. Originally aired on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen talks with Kim Shaw, programs director, and Brendan Barnes, local artist, about the May Art Hop - Brendan's work, including his new book of poetry, as well as the record-setting participation set for this month's hop. Originally aired on Saturday, April 26, 2025at 8 am on WKZO590 AM and 106.9 FM. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - Kalamaz...

We sit down with Rebekah Kik, Deputy City Manager for Kalamazoo, and Kim Shaw, Mural Festival Director, to discuss the inaugural mural festival for Kalamazoo, coming in September 2025. Originally aired on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Val Birch and Erica Bradshaw about the Starlite Collective, which was formed in 2021 and has now grown to 160 members.  We discuss the space at Park Trades Center and the upcoming programming for the creatives in the collective. Originally aired on Saturday, April 12, 2025, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council...

In part 3 of the series exploring grants - Kristen interviews Jacob Olbrot the Director of the Suzuki Academy about their working the community and their experience in the granting process. Originally aired on Saturday, April 5, 2025 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.5 FM. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

In the second part of this series on grants, Kristen sits down with Henry Parwoth, "Headband Henny," to discuss how the grants from the Arts Council have altered the trajectory of his work as an artist in Kalamazoo. Originally aired on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts....

Kristen shares news about the 2025 Grant Programs and interviews recent grant recipient Laura Citino about her work as a writer, the book she is working on, and how a KADI grant helped to secure a residency to complete the next chapter. This is part 1 of a three-part series. Originally aired on Saturday, March 22, 2025, at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Cou...

Kristen interviews Leslie Donaldson, the director of the Kirk Newman Art School  at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, about the amazing number of offerings for community members of all ages, including some classes and workshop offerings you may not realize are available through the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts. Originally aired on Saturday, March 15, 2025, at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM. Creati...

Kristen interviews Teri Noaeill from What A Do Theatre and Brad Poer from Kellogg Community College Theatre about their collaboration and the theatre opportunities in Battle Creek, MI. Originally aired on Saturday, March 8, 2025, at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.5 FM. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Rehema Barber, Director of Curatorial Affairs at the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts, about her background, the exhibitions she has curated, and the most recent to open, Sourced From the Zoo, a crowd-sourced exhibition taking place at multiple locations and opening Art Hop night - March 6, 2025.  Originally aired on Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM Creati...

We interview Kate Yancho, executive director of Wellspring/Cori Terry and Dancers, and Jennifer Glaws, RADFest curator, about the 16th annual Regional Alternative Dance Festival set to take place February 27 - March 2.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Raquel Hellenga and C Heaps about the journey of Queer Theatre and what is in store for this season. Originally aired on Saturday, February 15, 2025 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, MIchigan. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

We sit down with Eric Oliphant, membership director of the Arts Council; Kevin Dodd, the Aesthetic Education Program Coordinator for Kalamazoo RESA's Education for the Arts program; and Klay Woodworth, the Director of Broadcasting for Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp about the Creative Expo planned for Sunday, February 16, 2025, at 2 pm.  Arts organizations will connect with artists looking for emplo...

We interview Vanassa Darden, Judy Jones, and Kim Shaw about the Murphy Darden exhibit which is one of several recent celebrations of the work and life of the late Murphy Darden, Sr. Originally aired on Saturday, February 1, 2025, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

We sit down with Jane Ghosh, President and CEO of Discover Kalamazoo to discuss the tourism trends in Kalamazoo and how creative experiences help drive the local economy and vice versa. Originally aired on Saturday, January 25, 2025, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Marie Lee, publisher and editor of Encore Magazine about the history of the magazine, its dedication to reporting on the arts, and the new center section of the magazine devoted solely to the arts.  Originally aired on Saturday, January 18, 2025 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Megan Yankee, Executive Director of the Stulberg International Strings Competition about the history of the competition and what to expect during this year's competition.  Originally aired on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, MI. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Carman Goodrich and Stephen Remenapp about Monoform Cinema - a group showing films in Kalamazoo at the Dormouse Theatre for the past year. We talk about the types of films they show and their plans for the upcoming year. Originally aired on Saturday, January 4, 2025, at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home -...

We interviewed Janine Chesak-Black almost a year ago celebrating the season and family, we are getting to publish it now.  Please enjoy some time with us as we learn about Janine Chesak-Black, her career in theatre, and a special reading of Little Women to celebrate the holiday season.  Originally aired on Saturday December 21 and 28, 2024, at 8 am, on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.   Creative Cafe is...

Kristen interviews Nick LaCasse, the new Executive Director of the Gilmore Car Musuem.  They talk about Nick's background and passion for museum work, and the many programs that the car museum has to offer.  Originally aired on Saturday, December 14, 2024 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews two of the Community Medal of Arts Award recipients - Lanny Potts and Mary Whalen about their careers and accomplishments.  Join us to celebrate them on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 7 pm at KVCC's Lake Auditorium.  Originally aired on Saturday, December 7, 2024 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.5 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan.   Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of...

Kristen interviews Andrea and Mike Glass - daughter and son of William Glass Rookwood Potter, whose work was in November Art Hop and will be in December Art Hop.  We also talked with Kim Shaw, programs director,  about the last Art Hop of 2024! Originally aired on Saturday, November 30, 2024, on 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, MI. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamaz...

Kristen interviews Tracey Lawie, Director of Miller Auditorium about receiving one of the Epic Awards this year, and also talks with Elizabeth Start, a 2024 recipient of the Community Medal of Arts.  Originally aired on Saturday, November 23, 2024 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Erin Sparks of DeNooyer Chevrolet about their Business Arts Award and Elizabeth Kerlikowske and Scott Bade about Friends of Poetry and their Epic Award!  Originally aired on Saturday, December 16, 2024 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews two recipients of the Gayle Hoogstraten Arts Leadership Award - Ben Gudbrandson for Education, and Kate Yancho for Administration. Originally aired on Saturday, November 9, 202, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.  The Community Arts Awards are on Tuesday, December 10, 2024, at 7 pm on the 9th Street campus of KVCC.  RSVP here - 2024 Community Arts Awards - KalamazooArts.org . ...