Public Art Program, Summer Concert Series Come to Royal Oak

The Royal Oak Commission for the Arts (ROCFA) launches its inaugural year of public art programs in Royal Oak that include new opportunities for artists to display their work.

Formed in January 2012, “The Commission is comprised of artists, advocates and local business owners with a passion for the arts,” said ROCFA Vice Chair Lesley Braden. 

“Each Commissioner has a background in art from different disciplines and interests which enables us to come together to create programming for Royal Oak that will appeal to people who love music, performance and of course modern and fine arts.”

“The City Commission had a goal to support artists, arts and culture in Royal Oak.  ROCFA was formed to meet that goal,” said Assistant to the City Manager Stewart Meek.  “We spent our first year getting the Commission established, creating a public art policy, and identifying goals and objectives to pursue to enhance Royal Oak’s already established strong community of artists, art, and culture.  Now that this work is done, we can get to the fun part of bringing more art to the City.” 

The first priority for ROCFA is putting a call out to artists to be a part of Art Explored, a program bringing art to the downtown.  “We are looking for artists who want to create and place their art outside in downtown Royal Oak for about a year.  Six artists will be chosen to display their work.  This is an amazing opportunity for emerging and established artists to create public art and have their work seen with the beautiful backdrop of the City of Royal Oak,” added ROCFA Secretary and Artist, Camille Lecoutre.   Applications and more information for Art Explored can be found on the City of Royal Oak’s website at ROCFA’s webpage here:  www.ci.royal-oak.mi/portal/community-links/commission-arts. 

The ROCFA webpage may also be located by visiting www.ci.royal-oak.mi.us and clicking on the ‘Community Links’ tab, then ‘Commission for the Arts’.  “The deadline to apply for Art Explored is May 31, and we plan to see public art downtown by July 2013.”  

Summer concert series announced

In tandem, ROCFA is launching a free six-week summer concert series titled Art Explored “LIVE” beginning Thursday, July 11 and running for six consecutive weeks through August 15.  The family-friendly concert series will showcase regional acts and various musical styles including rock, jazz, country, world and electronic to name a few.  “We’re pleased to present an exciting and diverse line-up of artists for the concert series.  We’re also thrilled that the series fuses opening student group acts, a main act and a fashion show (presented by local retailers) together for a big night of entertainment and art,” said ROCFA Chair, and Executive Producer of The Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music, Jason Gittinger.  “We chose Art Explored “Live” as our first offering to the public because so many people wanted to see a concert series return to Royal Oak.  We expanded it to include several facets of the arts.” 

Each week will include two different headlining musical acts.  Student groups are at 6 p.m. and main acts are at 7 p.m. with a fashion show between the two main acts.  Acts include The Muggs, Duende, The Infatuations, the Twistin’ Tarantulas, and James Hughes/Jimmy Smith Quintet to name a few.  A full list is available on the ROCFA webpage.  “Getting the bands signed on was easy, but this wouldn’t be possible without the generous support of sponsors and donors in Royal Oak,” added Gittinger.  Sponsors include The Royal Oak Downtown Development Authority (DDA), the Royal Oak Chamber of Commerce, the Royal Oak Library, the Detroit School of Rock and Pop Music, and the Live The Music Foundation. 

“The Royal Oak Commission for the Arts is planning new innovative programs that explore all of the arts and add to the vibrancy of our City.  The Commissioners have big, imaginative ideas and the full support of the City behind them.  We are excited to see what we can accomplish,” said Royal Oak Mayor, Jim Ellison.

“Like all nonprofits, we need to fundraise and appeal to the public for financial support to make our goals a reality,” added Braden.  “Making donations has to be safe and easy to do, which is why ROCFA created a donations and support webpage.”  The donations and support webpage can be found here: http://www.ci.royal-oak.mi.us/portal/community-links/commission-arts/donations.  All donations go to the City’s Royal Oak Opportunity to Serve (ROOTS) Foundation, and will be used solely to support ROCFA programs.

For more information, please visit http://www.ci.royal-oak.mi.us/portal/community-links/commission-arts or “like” us on Facebook.

Source: City of Royal Oak press release