The arts have an important role to play in the vibrant quality of life in any community and in economic development. Catherine Creamer of Grand Rapids based ArtPrize will talk about her organization’s role in helping development in West Michigan during the February Economic Club Luncheon.
Creamer joined ArtPrize in March 2011 as executive director and oversees business development and management. She has since worked to strengthen and provide support to both the creative and business components of the organization, including finance, operations and administration. She has experience leading major projects and uses her knowledge and experience to establish new financial opportunities that will enable the organization to reach selfsustainability.
Prior to working with ArtPrize, Creamer had business development and management positions with Herman Miller, faculty at New North Center for Design and Business and curriculum research for Kendall College of Art and Design. For the past five years, Creamer has led a consulting firm specializing in business development and material design innovation. Her clients included Material ConneXion, Natural Capitalism Institute, DARPA, Dial, Egg Strategy and Herman Miller.
Creamer was originally trained as a textile artist and she began her teaching work at Parsons School of Design in NY while exhibiting her work nationally. She has served on the Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park executive committee for the last eight years, and has been the president of the West Michigan Environmental Action Council since fall 2010. Creamer has a BFA from Rochester Institute of Technology’s School for American Craftsman with additional executive education from the University of Michigan, Wells College and Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
ArtPrize is an international art competition and festival based in Grand Rapids and designed to bring the artists and community members together to exchange ideas and inspire others. It was founded in 2009 by Rick DeVos, and it allows community members to turn their space into venues for artists to display their work and for the public to vote.
The February Economic Club Luncheon, sponsored by Rehmann, will be Thursday, February 16 from 11:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. at the Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center. Tickets are $40 or $300 for a table of eight. Registration information can be completed at www.lansingchamber.org.