ARTS & CULTURE GOAL #1: Foster authentic artistic and cultural expression by diverse neighborhoods and communities, especially those that are historically disadvantaged.
Example grants: Grand Rapids Symphony – Organizational transformation to embrace diversity, equity & inclusion in programming, community outreach & staffing (strong DEI theme alignment); New City Kids – Music program with academic and arts focus; Center of African American Art & History – Operating support for promoting cross-cultural understanding; Grandville Avenue Art & Humanities – Youth opportunities to explore their creativity, celebrate their culture, the cultures of others and build community; Diatribe Inc. – Poetry and spoken word workshops for youth from underserved communities.
ARTS & CULTURE GOAL #2: Assure affordable and welcoming access by lower-income and diverse individuals to a wide variety of artistic and cultural exhibits and performances through relevant programming and aggressive outreach.
Example grants: Grand Rapids Children’s Museum – Reduced admission rates for economically disadvantaged children and families; Opera Grand Rapids – Collaborate with GR Public Schools to bring opera instruction to middle school students; Grand Rapids Civic Theatre – Program for individuals with neurological and sensory conditions such as autism; Artist Creating Together, Inc. – Mobile studio that provides access to art, cultural, and educational experiences for disabled individuals.
Stories about the Wege Foundation's Commitment to Arts & Culture
The Mosaic Scholars bring diversity and creativity to the table.
“The Wege Foundation has partnered with the West Michigan Center for Arts & Technology (WMCAT) to help share our grantees’ stories.” Article by Arieal … More The Mosaic Scholars bring diversity and creativity to the table. »
When One Good Surprise Leads to Another
The program dedication for the festive gala reopening of the St. Cecilia Music Center reads, Chuck Royce and Peter Wege: two incredible men and … More When One Good Surprise Leads to Another »
CALLING ALL CHILDREN ARTISTS
The Grand Rapids Art Museum is holding its 6th annual children’s art contest sponsored by The Wege Foundation and inspired by the late environmental … More CALLING ALL CHILDREN ARTISTS »
Grand Rapids Joins Architecture 2030 In Record Time
April 27, 2015, architect Ed Mazria gave the 19th annual Wege Lecture urging Grand Rapids to join Architecture 2030, the program he founded in 2006 to … More Grand Rapids Joins Architecture 2030 In Record Time »
Friendship, Varneau, and LED Lighting
In July 2015, Wealthy Theatre again made history by converting all its lighting to LED making it the first restored theatre in the world to achieve … More Friendship, Varneau, and LED Lighting »
The Wonder of Water…”Until it’s gone.” At the GRAM
Edward Burtynsky is an environmental warrior whose artistic weapon is a camera. For over 30 years, the Canadian artist has turned aerial photography—via planes, helicopters, and … More The Wonder of Water…”Until it’s gone.” At the GRAM »
Wege Talk at Meijer Gardens Will Entertain and Educate
The personal friendship between Peter Wege and Fred Meijer resulted in many good works for West Michigan, including Meijer Gardens as Peter was one of the … More Wege Talk at Meijer Gardens Will Entertain and Educate »
Peter Wege’s estate gives $1 million gift for Grand Rapids Symphony’s endowment
By Jeffrey Kaczmarczyk | jkaczmarczyk@mlive.com GRAND RAPIDS, MI – Philanthropist Peter Wege has bestowed $1 million on the Grand Rapids Symphony. Wege, who underwrote the … More Peter Wege’s estate gives $1 million gift for Grand Rapids Symphony’s endowment »
$1 Million Gift to St. Cecilia Music Center
GRAND RAPIDS (WZZM) – The St. Cecilia Music Center announced Monday they’ve received a $1 million endowment from the Estate of Peter M. Wege. … More $1 Million Gift to St. Cecilia Music Center »
The Wege Mission Carries On
Let there be no doubt that Peter M. Wege’s has legacy bearers who continue to do “all the good” they can. Two of them … More The Wege Mission Carries On »
Three Aladdin’s Three Wishes and the PAC
The noisy chatter of children filling the seats on three sides of the stage quickly turned to hushed attentiveness as six Arabian princesses appeared … More Three Aladdin’s Three Wishes and the PAC »
NEWS FLASH on Improving Children’s Reading Skills: ART
How many people know that studying fine art not only enhances artistic skills, but also raises reading scores? Some 1500 third-graders from the Grand … More NEWS FLASH on Improving Children’s Reading Skills: ART »
Looking Back on a Theatre and a Friendship
Wealthy Theatre is honoring its 100th anniversary that began with years of magical entertainment, followed by a time of decay, and now celebrating its … More Looking Back on a Theatre and a Friendship »
New GRAM Leader Having Fun Already
Dana Friis-Hansen left his job as Executive Director of the Austin Museum of Art this summer to take over as CEO of the Grand … More New GRAM Leader Having Fun Already »
SOOPER YOOPER
The Wege Foundation is honored to support Mark Heckman’s “Sooper Yooper” because Peter Wege believes the problem of exotic invasive species is the single … More SOOPER YOOPER »
GRAM’S FIRST REPORT CARD
After one year in operation as the world’s first art museum to win a Gold LEED medal from the United States Green Building Council, … More GRAM’S FIRST REPORT CARD »
PETER WEGE RECEIVES HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM THE U OF M
The University of Michigan paid its highest tribute to lifelong East Grand Rapids resident Peter M. Wege by awarding him an honorary degree as … More PETER WEGE RECEIVES HONORARY DOCTORATE FROM THE U OF M »
G. R. MAGAZINE NAMES PETER M. WEGE ONE OF CITY’S MOST POWERFUL
The December issue of Grand Rapids Magazine published brief profiles on the 25 people their staff considered the city’s most important. The first person … More G. R. MAGAZINE NAMES PETER M. WEGE ONE OF CITY’S MOST POWERFUL »
GRAND RAPIDS PRESS HEADLINE: “BALLET COMPANY’S NEW THEATRE TAKES A BOW”
The September 14, 2007, Grand Rapids Press announced the opening of the Grand Rapids Ballet Company’s new 300-seat Peter Martin Wege Theatre, named for … More GRAND RAPIDS PRESS HEADLINE: “BALLET COMPANY’S NEW THEATRE TAKES A BOW” »
NEW GRAM MAKES WAVES IN GREEN CONSTRUCTION:
Wege Foundation Actively Fostering LEED-Certified Projects (Grand Rapids Business Journal’s front-page headline August 20, 2007) With a color photograph of the new Grand Rapids … More NEW GRAM MAKES WAVES IN GREEN CONSTRUCTION: »