Community heART Highland Park (CAHP) is an original program of ArtOps. Established in 2016, CAHP is a multi-year initiative that seeks to build and strengthen community life through the arts.

The vibrant creativity of artists and residents is apparent in every corner of Highland Park. ArtOps researched, conducted interviews and started building relationships with key stakeholders, artists, and business owners about the arts’ role in the city. 

CAHP supports and develops collaborative activities between artists, residents, non-profits, and business owners, with the intent to fuel art created by the community, for the community. ArtOps also provides access to professional development resources from our staff in order to promote the capacity of artists and creatives.

Through an annual re-granting process, CAHP assists in the implementation of arts activities led by local artists and organizations that impact youth and adults alike. Over the past two years, CAHP has re-granted $150,000 directly in the city to over 20 recipients, with an emphasis on cross-collaboration and partnerships.

Grantees from 2018, 2019, and 2020 include:

• Angela Lugo-Thomas
• Asia Hamilton
• Avalon Village
• B.A.S.S. Inc. (Building Assets to Strengthen Society) 
• Boys & Girls Club
• Carl Williams
• Christine Cowan
• Dara Owens
• Detroit Repertory Theatre
• Highland Park Business Association
• James Turner
• Keith Hoye
• Kemit Hoye
• Kimberly McDade
• Legacy of Literacy
• Live Coal Gallery 
• Lucy Frye
• McDonald Phelps Foundation
• Mr. C’s Shrimp and Chicken
• My Sister’s Keeper
• Parker Pride Alumni Association
• Robert Onnes & Annex Gallery
• Ruth Ellis Center  
• Urban Requiem Project
• Waleed Johnson
• WHPR TV/Radio 33
• William Marcellus Armstrong & Jeff Harris
• Yvette Rock & Live Coal Gallery

Congratulations to our 2021 Grantees: 

• Adorned by Dee
• Avalon Village
• Cameron Jenkins
• Dara Owens
• Drake Phifer
• Marc Peeples
• Marion Hayden
• McDonald Phelps Foundation
• My Sister’s Keeper
• Parker Pride Alumni Association
• WHPR TV/Radio 33

THANK YOU to everyone who applied.

We recently re-granted $50,000 to arts-based projects that directly impact Highland Park. 

Below were the rules for applicants. Note that our program is now CLOSED. 

ANYONE can apply. If you have an idea for the arts, we welcome your application. If you are applying as an individual, you must be 18 years or older.

Key Dates: 

• Applications open on Friday, May 14, 2021
• Applications due by Friday, June 4, 2021 by 11:59 p.m. EST *if submitting in person, the deadline is 7 p.m. EST* 
• Awards announced at the beginning of July
• Funded projects must occur from July 2 to December 3. Projects must be completed by December 3, 2021. A final report will be due within 30 days of your completed project. 

Virtual activities and in-person activities are eligible for funding. 

Ideathons:

We hosted “Ideathons” every Thursday (May 20, May 27, and June 3) at 6 p.m. EST to share your ideas, get advice on how to put your application together, and connect with neighbors and friends on how to collaborate!

We focused each session around a topic to guide the conversation. Our planned schedule was as follows:  

1. Introduction to our Re-granting Program on May 20

2. Planning for a Pandemic on May 27

3. Creating a Project Budget on June 3 

We sought to get our free “Ideathon” sessions set up virtually to stay as connected possible during the COVID-19 pandemic.

If you would like to sign up to participate in future “Ideathons,” email robinson@art-ops.org. You can also register for free via HPACC’s Facebook page. 

Matching Requirements:

We have evolved our matching requirements this year to help streamline your fundraising needs and to help make the grant process as accessible as possible. 

All applicants must match their grant request by at least 25%, either through cash and/or in-kind. If you are awarded, you will be asked to complete a final report documenting your match. 

Please note that we will not give one single grant of $50,000. Our goal is to disperse the funds to as many eligible projects as possible. 

Application Materials

Note that our program is now CLOSED. 

Applying as an individual artist? 

Complete the following: 

1. Application form for individuals
2. Timeline worksheet
3. Project Budget worksheet
4. Work Samples
5. Application Checklist 

Applying as an organization, school, business, or collective?

Complete the following: 

1. Application form for non-individuals
2. Timeline worksheet
3. Project Budget worksheet
4. Work Samples
5. Application Checklist 

*All of the materials were available to download. If you prefer to complete the application in our online portal, click here!  

Other new major activities comprise the formation of the Highland Park Arts & Cultural Council (HPACC), a local artist-driven program championed by the Highland Park Business Association (HPBA). The programming we are developing in collaboration with HPBA includes: 

• Equipment rental sharing for events
• Professional development workshops in fundraising, budgeting, and marketing
• An arts internship program for high school graduates
• Arts education for youth and seniors; and
• “First Fridays,” free monthly events curated by the Council that aim to connect local businesses to artists through cultural events in the city. 

First Fridays

Join us for our next event in the “First Fridays” initiative. Check out our Facebook page for more information to attend our FREE community event: https://www.facebook.com/highlandparkartsandculturalcouncil

We look forward to seeing you (safely from a distance) again soon! 

Have any questions? Reach out to us! 

• Jainelle Robinson at robinson@art-ops.org
• Anne Ruffley at ruffley@art-ops.org