Creative Cafe

Kristen interviews two of our Community Arts Awards Recipients - both will receive the Epic Award this year - Kalamazoo Academy Rock represented by Jay Gavan, and Wellspring/Cori Terry and Dancers - represented by Cori Terry, Marisa Bianan, and Kate Yancho.  This interview originally aired on Saturday, November 11, 2023 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts C...

Join us in exploring more about Community Medal of Arts Award Recipient Frank Meintz and Young Artist Award Recipient Braeden Davis as they talk about their respective Artistic Journeys.  Join us in person on December 5, 2023 at 7 p.m. at the Gull Lake Center for Fine Arts to congratulate them and all of the recipients. Originally aired on Saturday, November 4, 2023 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106....

Kristen interviews Dhera Strauss, Mike Marchak, and Chad Campbell about the Kalamazoo Film Society, their membership, and their programming including the Local Filmmaker Showcase.  Originally aired on October 21, 2023 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home...

Kristen interviews V Word, a co-producer at Blacksheep Music, and the Chief Inspiration Architect of the Art and Culture Collective of Battle Creek, which is celebrating its first anniversary!  Originally aired on June 13, 2023, at 8 a.m. on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM and re-aired on October 28, 2023 at 8 a.m.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Cafe is a p...

Executive Director Kristen Chesak shares all about the Arts Council grants including previous recipients, grant workshops offered, what grant programs are currently open, and how to apply. Originally aired on October 14, 2023 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo...

Kristen interviews Mary Reed and Dennis Martin about their journeys as artists, and their current work to help enrich and infuse arts into the Portage community.  Originally aired on Saturday, October 7, 2023, at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - Kalama...

Kristen interviews Chinma Nnebedum and his journey as a young artist in Kalamazoo.  He discusses his struggles in school, and how music and film gave him direction and meaning. And he talks about giving that back to others.  Originally aired on Saturday, September 30, 2023 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Cafe is a p...

Kristen interviews Cara Lieurance  about her 2021 Community Medal of Arts Award and the urgency of nominating a new slate of recipients for 2023 Community Arts Awards.  Originally aired on Saturday, September 23, 2023 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home -...

Kristen interviews Teaching Artist Gayle Reyes and EFA Alternative Education Coordinator Angie Melvin about the origins of this latest teaching artist exhibit. Originally aired on Saturday, September 16, 2023, 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. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kal...

Kristen interviews Dr. Khalid el-Hakim and Ernie Paniccioli on their respective exhibitions surrounding the history and influence of Hip Hop on our culture.  Dr. Khalid el-Hakim is a professor at Western Michigan University and has an exhibit at the new student center on WMU's campus.  He also founded the Black History 101 Mobile Museum.  Ernie Paniccioli is an artist with decades of photogra...

Eric Oliphant, Membership Director, interviews Sydney Schless, Marketing Director for the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, and Gabrielle Cerberville, Artist/Composer and Foraging Content Creator about the upcoming panel discussion on marketing yourself as an artist.  Originally aired on Saturday, September 2, 2023, at 8 a.m. on WKZO 590 AM and 106.5 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan.  Creative Cafe is a prog...

We interview Traci Fuhrman of Public Media Network and Kim Shaw, Programs Director about the September Art Hop which is celebrating storytelling.  Originally aired on Saturday, August 26, 2023, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

We interview James Palmore and Kim Shaw about their careers and their awards through the Community Arts Award (CAAs)program.  Nominations for the CAAs are now open through October 10, 2023. Originally aired on Saturday, August 19, 2023, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greate...

We interview Mike Depoian and Randy James about the KVBA and their Blues Bash at Old Dog Tavern. This episode originally aired on Saturday, August 12, 2023 at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.5 FM.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Chloe Ray, a recent transplant to Southwest Michigan, who makes her living capturing elopements on film for couples.  Originally aired on Saturday, August 5, 2023 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

We interview Teri Noaeill, the Executive Director of What A Do Theatre in Battle Creek, Michigan, about all of the great programming they are doing!  Originally aired on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, MI.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - Kal...

Kristen interviews Sam Zhang about the release of her second children's book The First Dragon Boat Festival, and her plans to continue to write and publish children's books that explore Chinese celebrations.  Originally aired on Saturday, July 22, 2023, at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, MI.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creative Caf...

Membership Director Eric Oliphant interviews Yolonda Lavender and Gabriel Giron, two of the panelists set to speak at the next Artist Happy Hour about Creating Space.  This is an extended cut of the original show that aired on Saturday, July 15, 2023, 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. The Artist Happy H...

Kristen is joined by Programs Director, Kim Shaw, to discuss therapeutic arts with Rootead Staff members.  Joining the conversation are  Executive Director, Kama Mitchell, and Youth Enrichment Director, Heather Mitchell.  We talk about the healing power of art, and the need to come into community in this way.  Originally aired on Saturday, July 14, 2023 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalam...

Kristen Chesak is joined by Kim Shaw, Programs Director to interview the Executive Director of the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra, Jessica Mallow Gulley, about KSO's return to Bronson Park for their Patriotic Pops concert as part of the Concerts in the Park series scheduled by the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. She also interviews Grace Theisen about her career and the upcoming Music in the...

We interview Jack Austin, former Lakeview High School grad, and current WMU student.  He has partnered with the Kellogg Community College Lifelong Learning Center to create a new theatre company for youth called Unity Theatre. Originally aired on Saturday, June 24, 2023, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, MI. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Creat...

Mitch Voss, producer/actor and Kevin Dodd, director discuss a new theatre project they are working on in producing the play, WITTENBERG which is running at Crawlspace Theatre in the KNAC building downtown Kalamazoo. Learn about how the relationships built years ago helped build this production today. Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.  Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews V Word, a local artist, and co-founder of Blvcksheep Music in Battle Creek, Michigan.  We discuss Blvksheep Music, V's work, and how we can support artists in our community.  Originally aired on Saturday, June 10 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.  Creative Cafe is a program of th...

We were live at this year's Art on the Mall - talking with Program Director, Kim Shaw, Director of Engagement, Nicki Poer, and 4 artists sharing their wares for the weekend - Julie Hope, Mary Reed, and Amber and Megan Kennedy.  Hear about their take on the participating in an outdoor festival.  Originally aired on Saturday, June 3, 2023 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, MI.  C...

We interview Brian Shetterly, Assistant Director with the Kalamazoo Concert Band about his career path and what led him to the Kalamazoo Concert Band.  We also discuss the Kalamazoo Concert Band's schedule and when you can see them next.  Originally aired on Saturday, May 20, 2023, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, MI.  Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater...