Students of Kendall College of Art and Design are disappointed by the announced closure of Grand Rapid's Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA). Help continue a public, contemporary gallery space for the community of Grand Rapids by signing this petition. Please read below for more information. 

With the closure of the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts (UICA), questions are arising about what will be done with the soon-empty space that will have once held the UICA. The UICA currently resides in the old federal building on 17 Pearl Street NW. Grand Rapids, Michigan is a city that prides itself on having an appreciation for the arts. By closing the UICA, the community of Grand Rapids is losing a significant source of connection with the art world. While other galleries, such as the Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM), Cultivate GR, Avenue for the Arts, and more exist, none of these curate the same contemporary lens that the UICA exhibits. It is important for both the student body of KCAD and for the community of Grand Rapids to have access to art that is now; art that is happening. 

Predating the UICA, the FED galleries operated under KCAD in the same space that the UICA currently resides in. The FED was a free-admission contemporary art gallery open to the public. Seeing a gallery like this return to KCAD’s campus and to the Grand Rapids art scene would be highly beneficial for both the student body and the community. 

The UICA has always been cognizant of employing Diversity Inclusion and Equity (DIE), a conceptual framework that promotes fair treatment and inclusion of all artists, including those who have specifically been historically under-represented or discriminated against because of their background. DIE opens opportunities for both artists and viewers. Traditionally under-represented artists have opportunities to exhibit their work, while visitors have the opportunity to be exposed to art they wouldn’t otherwise see. By closing the UICA space, we are losing that lens of the contemporary art world. While other local galleries in Grand Rapids may also employ DIE in their curated works, the majority of them are not of the same scale as the UICA. KCAD is fortunate to have such a great space for showcasing contemporary art. As a school of arts and design, KCAD should maintain this large public space to cater to both student work and regional, contemporary art. 

By signing this petition, the administration of Kendall College of Art and Design (KCAD) will gain notice of what the arts community of Grand Rapids, Michigan wants. This petition is advocating for a new contemporary gallery space to go into the old UICA space on 17 Pearl Street NW. The gallery should be open to the public with free admission, host regional artists alongside local and student artwork, and exhibit artwork curated from a contemporary lens.