Best Detroit Arts Programs To Support

Philanthropist Robert Jacobs, owner of the Buddy's Pizza chain of restaurants, is the paragon of supporters to the arts in Detroit. As a young college student, he would wander over to the the DIA's Kresge Court for lunch, all the while experiencing a great sense of fulfillment. It was then that he realized this was where his heart lay. Not only has he granted sizable donations to the DIA, he also begifted priceless works of art to the benefit of art lovers of future generations. This remarkable man donated more than $2 million to the Capuchin Soup Kitchen to feed the hungry of Detroit. His legacy forms a core compendium of central ideas that relate to feeding the community, not just in food for the body, but encompassing broader initiatives that provide nourishment to the human soul.

Not everyone can donate $2 million to anything, but always keep in mind that giving even five dollars to an arts program makes you a philanthropist. These organizations are excellent choices as beneficiaries of gifts, estates and largesse.

St. Andrew's Society of Detroit
Kilgour Scottish Centre
2360 Rochester Court
Troy, MI 48083
(248) 526-1849
detroitscots.com

St. Andrew's Society of Detroit is the oldest benevolent organization in the State of Michigan, founded in 1849, and it keeps on drumming without missing a beat. This group presents one of the most spectacular summer events in the state - a pageant of highland dancing, corps of drummers, bagpipe parades, processions of clans in colorful tartans, culinary presentations, storytelling, family history programs, children's events and the list goes on and on. Every month, they hold meetings at the Kilgour Scottish Center, where they gather money and gifts for the needy in the community. They buy clothes for babies and children, then donate the gifts to children's hospitals and Toys For Tots. Also included in their philanthropist efforts is the distribution of scholarships and money overseas for worthy causes. These people have some of the biggest hearts on the planet. Leave a legacy gift to St. Andrew's Society through gifts by will, revocable trust or beneficiary designation.

Related: If It's Not Scottish, It's Crap!

Sons of Norway
The Swedish Club
22398 Ruth St
Farmington Hills, MI 48336
(248) 626-2148
nordkap.weebly.com

The Sons of Norway runs a spectacular cultural arts program, with awards and pins given for learning classical music, literature, culinary arts, Norwegian rosemaling, hand knitting, figure carving, weaving, philately, folk dancing, woodcarving, Hardanger embroidery and much more. A legacy gift to the Sons of Norway will be heard for generations to come as the excruciatingly ethical organization awards grants and scholarships to students and the community. This American non-profit corporation looks to its mother country, Norway, for cultural values such as protection of the eco-system, attention to preserving natural habitats and recognizing efforts that benefit mankind, such as the Nobel Prize for Peace.

Related: A Brief History Of The Nobel Prize

Detroit Artists Market
4719 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI 48202
(313) 832-8540
detroitartistsmarket.org

Hours: Tues to Sat - 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.

The Detroit Artists Market has been a part of the Detroit community for 80 years, providing opportunities for local artists to show their work. These efforts have created a synergy between the audience, artists and collectors. Contributions help sponsor seven exhibitions each year by covering the costs to run the shows and pay experts for gallery talks to educate the public. Since the mid 1930s, the DAM has sponsored an annual garden party, where the beautiful objects in the garden are works of art consigned by the organization. A broad overview of the 80-year story of DAM is currently on display at the Detroit Historical Museum.

Detroit Institute of Arts
5200 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI 48202

Hours: Wed and Thurs - 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Fri - 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., Sat and Sun - 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Mon and Tues - closed
Price: $8

The Detroit Institute of Arts brings exhibits to Michigan that most people would never see in their lifetime, such as a collection of Rembrandts. The DIA is more than just a bunch of multimillion dollar paintings, it also houses the Detroit Film Theatre and Brunch with Bach. Not to mention everyone's biggest delight, the Institute hosts The Noel Night concerts. Beginning artists can take lessons at the DIA for nominal fees, and the organization often runs free admission days when receiving the largesse of famous first families, such as the Fords.

Players Guild of Dearborn
P.O. Box 2617
Dearborn, MI 48123
(313) 561-8587
playersguildofdearborn.org

The Players Guild of Dearborn was organized in 1927 to raise funds for the construction of the University of Michigan Women's League building on the Ann Arbor campus. This group is particularly successful in recruiting talent from Wayne State University and University of Michigan Dearborn into its guild, and offers two musicals in its annual season. They are fond of British farce, traditional drama and historical interpretations. In addition to using their own stage, some performances are taken directly into the community. One such musical was "Shenandoah," which was performed at Greenfield Village as part of a Civil War heritage program.

Video: The Players Guild of Dearborn performs the musical number, Flying Free, by Paul Bruce

Romero Anton Montalban-Anderssen is the winner of the 2009 first prize in journalism from the Detroit Working Writers Organization. He earned a Juris Doctor degree from Wayne State University School of Law. He has seasonal residency in Detroit Michigan, The Italian Riviera, and Honolulu Hawaii. His work can be found at Examiner.com.