Kalamazoo, Michigan Warning: You are not logged in. Your IP address will be publicly visible if you make any edits. If you log in or create an account, your edits will be attributed to your username, along with other benefits.Anti-spam check. Do not fill this in! == Culture == [[File:Kalamazooairzoo.jpg|thumb|[[Société Pour L'Aviation et ses Dérivés|Spad]] WWI fighter in the [[Kalamazoo Air Zoo]]]] The city has an Arts Council.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.kalamazooarts.com/ |title = Arts, Culture, Fun: Kalamazooarts.org - Serving the Arts and Artists in Southwest Michigan - Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo |work = kalamazooarts.com |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120214231758/http://www.kalamazooarts.com/ |archive-date = February 14, 2012 |access-date = December 28, 2012 }}</ref> On the first Friday of each month, the council organizes the 'Art Hop'. Art Hop is a free event, during which downtown businesses and galleries display works by local artists, and patrons 'hop' from venue to venue, enjoying art, live music, and the chance to interact with local artists. A popular site during Art Hop is the [[Park Trades Center]], which houses the [[Kalamazoo Book Arts Center]], Glass Art Kalamazoo, and many other studios. On [[New Year's Eve]], downtown Kalamazoo is the site of an annual New Year's Fest celebration. This celebration is centered at Bronson Park and surrounding venues, allowing patrons to walk from venue to venue to enjoy an all ages showcase of performing arts and other activities (music, magic, comedy, exhibitions, fireworks, food). Initiated in 1985, the event has grown in scope and popularity.<ref>{{cite news |last = Yoakum |first = Ted |date = December 28, 2011 |title = 26th annual New Year's Fest offers variety in downtown Kalamazoo |url = http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/12/26th_annual_new_years_fest_off.html |newspaper = MLive.com |publisher = Booth Newspapers |access-date = December 8, 2014 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150904055538/http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2011/12/26th_annual_new_years_fest_off.html |archive-date = September 4, 2015 }} </ref><ref>{{cite web |url = http://deb7293.wix.com/new-years-fest#!about/c10fk |title = Event Information What is New Year's Fest? |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |website = new-years-fest.com |access-date = December 8, 2014 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141221162642/http://deb7293.wix.com/new-years-fest#!about/c10fk |archive-date = December 21, 2014 }}</ref> Music groups and other performing artists perform at the downtown [[State Theatre (Kalamazoo, Michigan)|State Theatre]], [[Western Michigan University]]'s Miller Auditorium, and [[Wings Event Center]]. The annual "Eccentric Day" at [[Bell's Brewery|Bell's Eccentric Cafe]] celebrates the brewery's Eccentric Ale on the December Friday that marks the end of finals at Western Michigan University.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://recipes.net/articles/cooking-with-beer-10-beer-recipes-to-try/|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090211083536/http://www.michiganbeerguide.com/news.asp?articleid=124|url-status=dead|title=Cooking with Beer: 10 Beer Recipes To Try|archive-date=February 11, 2009|access-date=March 10, 2022}}</ref> The [[Moped Army]] was founded in Kalamazoo in 1997. There is no longer a [[zoo]] in Kalamazoo. The [[Milham Park Zoo]] closed in 1974. Next to Milham Park is the Milham Park Golf Course.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.kalamazoogolf.org/MilhamPark/index.htm|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713005307/http://www.kalamazoogolf.org/MilhamPark/index.htm|url-status=dead|title=Kalamazoogolf.org : Resources and Information.|archive-date=July 13, 2009|website=Kalamazoogolf.org|access-date=March 10, 2022}}</ref> Completed in 1936, the 18-hole, par-72 course is entirely within the city limits of Kalamazoo. During winter, [[sledding]] and [[Nordic skiing|cross-country skiing]] are popular activities at the golf course (free of charge). In recent years, the Kalamazoo Nordic Skiers<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.kalamazoonordic.com/ |title = Kalamazoo Nordic Skiers |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141217122848/http://kalamazoonordic.com/ |archive-date = December 17, 2014 |access-date = November 29, 2014 }}</ref> club has groomed and maintained skate ski and classic ski trails for community use. In 2002, the [[Kalamazoo Public Library]] was named "Library of the Year" by ''Library Journal''.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA220873.html |title = Library of the Year: Kalamazoo Public Library Kalamazoo, Michigan |publisher = Libraryjournal.com |access-date = December 10, 2011 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110720223054/http://www.libraryjournal.com/article/CA220873.html |archive-date = July 20, 2011 }}</ref> The library includes a main location and four branch libraries, and until 2010, a [[bookmobile]] system.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.kpl.gov/ |title = Kalamazoo Public Library Home Page - Kalamazoo Public Library |work = kpl.gov |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070110041704/http://kpl.gov/ |archive-date = January 10, 2007 |access-date = November 10, 2005 }}</ref> In 2014, the library opened 'The Hub', a digital lab open to the public for digitizing photos and video, producing podcasts, preserving old vinyl records, cassettes and VHS tapes, and other services.<ref>{{cite news |last = Liberty |first = John |date = May 24, 2014 |title = things to do in Kalamazoo |url = http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/05/top_5_things_to_do_in_kalamazo_67.html |newspaper = MLive.com |publisher = Booth Newspapers |location = Kalamazoo |access-date = November 29, 2014 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20141205003116/http://www.mlive.com/entertainment/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2014/05/top_5_things_to_do_in_kalamazo_67.html |archive-date = December 5, 2014 }}</ref> Kalamazoo's theaters and performing groups include the [[Kalamazoo Civic Theatre]], The New Vic Theatre, Farmers Alley Theatre, Crawlspace Theatre Productions, The [[State Theatre (Kalamazoo, Michigan)|State Theater]], and the [[The Barn Theatre|Barn Theatre]] in nearby [[Augusta, Michigan|Augusta]]. Plays and musicals are also performed at Kalamazoo College and Western Michigan University. === Animation festival === A project of [[Kalamazoo Valley Community College]], The Kalamazoo Animation Festival International (KAFI) encourages and educates [[animation]] artists, promotes Kalamazoo's animation industry, and provides community entertainment.<ref>[http://kafi.kvcc.edu/about/index.php Kalamazoo Animation Festival International] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120211115239/http://kafi.kvcc.edu/about/index.php |date=February 11, 2012 }}</ref> In addition to a biannual festival, KAFI sponsors events such as film screenings and workshops throughout the year. KAFI's first festival drew 235 submissions and nearly 1,000 attendees in 2002. A second festival was held in 2003. Since then, an every-other-year schedule has been adopted. The 2007 festival attracted more than 500 entries from 37 countries. In addition to an animated film competition with $15,000 in prizes awarded, the festival features events for students, artists, educators, filmmakers and the general public. Past KAFI award winners include [[Bill Plympton]], [[Chris Landreth]] and [[John Canemaker]].{{Citation needed|date=January 2011}} === Museums === The city's most prominent art museum is the [[Kalamazoo Institute of Arts]], whose collection has more than 3,600 works and a focus on 20th-century American art. The KIA regularly mounts temporary exhibitions. The [[Kalamazoo Valley Museum]], established in 1881,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://kvm.kvcc.edu/info/history/ |title = Kalamazoo Valley Museum: History and Governance |author = <!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |date = 2014 |website = kvm.kvcc.edu |publisher = Kalamazoo Valley Museum |access-date = January 9, 2015 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150109225528/http://kvm.kvcc.edu/info/history/ |archive-date = January 9, 2015 }}</ref> is an American Association of Museums accredited museum operated by [[Kalamazoo Valley Community College]]. The museum features "hands-on" exhibits aimed largely at children, and has a [[planetarium]] and a [[Challenger Learning Center]]. Northeast of town, in [[Hickory Corners, Michigan|Hickory Corners]], is the [[Gilmore Car Museum]], which includes cars used in [[Walt Disney]] movies. The [[Kalamazoo Air Zoo]], just south of town, has several dozen aircraft on display, from biplanes to jets. === Music === The [[Gibson Guitar Corporation]], founded in Kalamazoo in 1902, spurred local musicians to play a wide variety of styles, from classical and folk to modern rock (the company relocated to Nashville in 1984). The [[Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra]],<ref>{{cite web |url = http://www.kalamazoosymphony.com |title = Over 90 Years of Extraordinary Musical Experiences and Educational Programs | Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra (KSO) |publisher = Kalamazoosymphony.com |access-date = December 10, 2011 |url-status = live |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120103023417/http://www.kalamazoosymphony.com/ |archive-date = January 3, 2012 }}</ref> founded in 1921, is directed by Raymond Harvey. The city also hosts the [[Irving S. Gilmore International Keyboard Festival]], a [[Johann Sebastian Bach|Bach]] Festival, the Michigan Festival of Sacred Music,<ref>{{cite web |url = http://mfsm.us/ |title = Michigan Festival of Sacred Music |work = mfsm.us |access-date = July 21, 2015 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150801185947/http://mfsm.us/ |archive-date = August 1, 2015 }}</ref> and the Stulberg International String Competition.<ref>{{cite web |url = http://stulberg.org/ |title = Congratulations to the 2015 winners! |work = stulberg.org |access-date = July 21, 2015 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150813153343/http://www.stulberg.org/ |archive-date = August 13, 2015 }}</ref> The local and [[indie music]] scene has produced pop stars such as RCA recording artists [[The Verve Pipe]]{{citation needed|date=February 2024}} and Metal Blade recording artists [[Thought Industry]]. Kalamazoo is also host to the Kalamashoegazer music festival, held for the last 13 years and a showcase for both local and national shoegaze and dream pop bands. Summary: Please note that all contributions to Christianpedia may be edited, altered, or removed by other contributors. If you do not want your writing to be edited mercilessly, then do not submit it here. You are also promising us that you wrote this yourself, or copied it from a public domain or similar free resource (see Christianpedia:Copyrights for details). Do not submit copyrighted work without permission! Cancel Editing help (opens in new window) Discuss this page