This Giving Week, we are looking at the Northern Michigan University student organizations that give back to our local community.
Meet the Arts of the U.P. organization, newly founded in the winter semester of 2019.
What does the organization do?
The intent of the organization is to help support and fund arts programs within public schools locally in the Upper Peninsula. We do a lot of volunteer work for the Michigan School Band and Orchestra Association (MSBOA). We help them with events such as Honor Band, solo and ensemble, and band festival. We also volunteered for the Percussive Arts Society last semester with the percussion camp that they ran here at NMU.
What events does your organization put on or participate in?
Arts of the U.P. just finished our very first big event (Halloween Havoc), which was a Halloween party that included a costume contest with prizes provided by dining, live music, pumpkin painting, and treats/refreshments. It was very successful and all proceeds go towards art programs within the U.P.
This semester, we came up with an organized plan to help all of the different art forms that exist. We will be supporting creative writing/poetry in the month of February, March is music and theater month, and April is visual arts month. Each of these months will have an event/fundraiser held to support the corresponding art. Events such as poetry slamming in February or a photography competition in April will take place to support those forms of art.
A lottery will also take place each month of the winter semester to support local schools. Each participating school's name will be drawn from a hat and depending on what art we are supporting in that month, they will receive supplies to support that specific art program within their school system. We also have fun creative fundraisers once a month that go towards supporting the arts.
Further comments about your organization?
Arts of the U.P. welcomes all NMU students to join us and make a difference in the art world. The current members and officers are primarily art and music students, but we welcome everyone! We do a lot of volunteering work both for the community and in schools. Our meetings take place in Jamrich Room 2315 at 6PM every Tuesday. If students are interested in joining us, they should email [email protected].
