DEARBORN COMMUNITY FUND

Supporting programs that enhance quality of life and contribute to the vibrancy of the city of Dearborn, Michigan

Public Is Invited to the 2025 Mayor’s Arts Awards

Public Is Invited to the 2025 Mayor’s Arts Awards.
The public is invited to attend the 2025 Mayor’s Arts Awards scheduled for 7 p.m., Monday, April 28 in
Studio A at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. Artists, performers, and those who support
the arts in the greater Dearborn community will be recognized for their contributions. The public is
cordially invited to attend the program which includes seven awards categories, light entertainment and
a reception immediately following.


2025 award honorees include: Janeen Bodary (Artist/Performer Award), Niki Cassidy (Art Educator
Award), Karen Holland (Volunteer Award), Dearborn Fine Arts Club (Organization Award), and Steven &
Faye Adelson/Steven Bernard Jewelers (Patron Award). Sunshine Durant has been selected to receive
the Special Recognition Award. Mayor Abdullah Hamood will present the 2025 Mayor’s Award to
artist/designer Haroutioun Bastajian.


The Mayor’s Arts Awards program, launched in 1988, has continued to highlight, acknowledge and
encourage the many contributions made to the community through the efforts of creative, talented and
generous people. Support for the 2025 Mayor’s Arts Awards program is provided by Dearborn Federal
Savings Bank, Ameriprise Financial – Jim Thorpe, CFP, AWMA and Dearborn Dairy Queen on Greenfield.
The Mayor’s Arts Awards is one of the many activities included in April Arts Month, a project of the
Dearborn Recreation Commission/Cultural Arts Committee and the Dearborn Community Fund with
additional support provided by the City of Dearborn/Parks & Recreation.
Additional information is available by contacting the Dearborn Community Fund office at 313-943-5478.

Celebrate April Arts Month in Dearborn with a Free “Arty Party” at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center

April Arts Month is just around the corner, and the community is invited to kick off the month-long celebration with the free “Arty Party” event on Saturday, April 6th from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. This captivating event is perfect for all ages and will offer a range of activities such as art demonstrations, family crafts, a mini arts market, a pop-up exhibit curated by the Dearborn Fine Arts Club, Padzieski Gallery Art Exhibition and sculptural displays, short-film screening, a variety of musical and dance performances, culinary art demonstrations and much more. Guests will also have the opportunity to meet and engage with local artists from the Dearborn area. 

“We’re thrilled to kick off April Arts Month with this fun and engaging event,” said Sasha Corder, Program Manager for Dearborn Community Fund. “It’s the perfect way to bring the community together and showcase the incredible talent that we have in the area.”

April Arts Month is an annual celebration of the arts in Dearborn, and this year promises to be the best one yet. Throughout the month, the city will host a variety of events and activities that highlight the arts, including exhibitions, performances, workshops, and more.

Experience the joy of creativity and be a part of the incredible art community of Dearborn at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. For more information about “Arty Party” and April Arts Month, visit the city of Dearborn Community Fund’s website.

April Arts Month, a project of the Dearborn Community Fund and the Recreation Commission/Cultural Arts Committee is supported by the City of Dearborn/Parks & Recreation and Economic Development departments and generous sponsors.  2024 sponsors include: Dearborn Federal Savings Bank and Ameriprise Financial, Jim Thorpe, CFP, AWMA. 

For more information, including the latest Arts Month updates, visit dearborncommunityfund.org.

Contact: EmmaJean Woodyard, Dearborn Community Fund, 313-943-5478

Dearborn’s “April Arts Month (AAM)” Offers free events, workshops and Inside/Outside Art.

Dearborn’s “April Arts Month,”  full of events, workshops and cultural offerings, provides a glimpse into the wide variety of available creative opportunities that make for a vibrant community. 

April Arts Month “Arty Party, “ a free event, kicks off the month on Saturday, April 6 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. Suitable for all ages, guests can enjoy art demonstrations, family crafts, a mini arts market, a pop-up exhibit curated by the Dearborn Fine Arts Club, mini performances in Studio A, and more, more, more. 

On Saturday, April 20, Dearborn will welcome the Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) “Inside/Out” project for a six month stay. 10 replicas of art from the DIA collection will be placed in the East and West Downtown areas. To mark the start of the project, free, family activities  are scheduled as follows: 

West Dearborn:  11 a.m. – 1 p.m., Commandant’s Quarters area (Michigan Avenue and Monroe) 

East Dearborn:  2-4 p.m.,  Old City Hall/Arab American National Museum area (Michigan and Schaefer)

The DIA art work will remain on display throughout August for all to enjoy. 

Closing out the month of April, the 2024 Mayor’s Arts Awards program will take place on Tuesday, April 30 at 7 p.m.  in the Aliya Hassan Auditorium at the Arab American National Museum. Award categories include: artist/performer, organization, patron, arts educator and volunteer. This event is open to the public.  

April Arts Month, a project of the Dearborn Community Fund and the Recreation Commission/Cultural Arts Committee is supported by the City of Dearborn/Parks  & Recreation and Economic Development departments and generous sponsors.  2024 sponsors include: Dearborn Federal Savings Bank and Ameriprise Financial, Jim Thorpe, CFP, AWMA. 

Dearborn Public Schools City Wide Art Show

Mark your calendars for the 2024 Dearborn Public Schools City-Wide Student Art Show Opening Reception on April 3, 2024, from 4:30 pm to 7 pm. 

The art exhibit is free and open to the public from April 3 to May 18 at The Padzieski gallery located inside the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. The show features an impressive variety of creative work by elementary through high school students from across the city.

A special feature of the Student Art Show is an impressive array of art by chosen high school seniors who will have the opportunity to talk about their work during the “senior spotlight” presentations. 

You can visit the Padzieski Gallery; Ford Community & Performing Arts Center, 15801 Michigan Ave., Dearborn during regular hours of operation Wednesday through Friday from 12 pm to 6 pm, Saturday from 12 pm to 4 pm, and before select theater performances. To learn more about the event, you can call the DCF at 313-943-5478

Dearborn to launch April Arts Month celebrating interactive and creative art events and artists across the city

April Arts Dearborn, a month-long celebration, shines a spotlight on the rich cultural life that thrives across the city and encourages all to experience and enjoy it.

The city-wide arts celebration provides opportunities for all ages to visit, view or engage in a variety of activities intended to help increase appreciation and knowledge of the talent within the city of Dearborn. 

As part of the annual initiative, there will be month-long gallery exhibitions around town, together with one-day creative and interactive opportunities and open studio tours. A majority of the activities are free to the public. Some events have a fee associated.

There are three signature events during the month: “Open Studio Hop” on Saturday, April 15 from 1-5 PM where the public is invited to visit three working artist studios. 

On Sunday, April 23, “Art Stop at the Center” takes place from 12-5 PM. This is a colorful immersive art installation, clothed figure drawing workshop, demonstrations, hands-on art activities, mini-musical performances, and more. 

The month-long celebration will conclude with the Mayor’s Arts Awards on Tuesday, April 25 at 7 PM in Studio A at the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. There is no charge to attend or participate in these activities. 

A calendar of all of the events is available and lists all activities which are categorized as “Month Long,” “Take Your Time” and “One Day.”

Event calendars are available at the Henry Ford Centennial Library and the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center. A printable version is available at: www.dearborncommunityfund.org or www.padzieskigallery.org. 

For more information, contact the Dearborn Community Fund at 313-943-5478.

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April Arts Dearborn is a project of the Dearborn Recreation Commission/Cultural Arts Committee and the Dearborn Community Fund/Padzieski Gallery in partnership with the City of Dearborn. AAD Sponsor support has been generously provided by: East Dearborn Downtown Development Authority, West Dearborn Downtown Development Authority, KW Legacy – Michael Phillips Group, Dearborn Federal Savings Bank, Ameriprise Financial-Jim Thorpe, CFP, AWMA, Malek Al-Kabob, and Qahwah House.

April Arts Dearborn 2023

April Arts Dearborn 2023 is a project of the Dearborn Parks & Recreation Commission, Cultural Arts Committee and the Dearborn Community Fund. It includes events at the Padzieski Art Gallery, Rotunda Gallery, Arab American National Museum, City Hall Park and the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center.


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The Arty Party @ The Pop-Up Gallery | April Arts Dearborn 2018

Kickoff April Arts Dearborn at the Arty Party on Saturday, April 7th at this new & exciting, soon to be permanent gallery location. Meet the Pop-Up Gallery Artists. Enjoy good conversation, music and entertainment. No cover, BUT donations to help support April Arts Month will be appreciated.

Pop-Up Gallery
3700 Monroe St, Dearborn, MI 48124-3620, United States