Capacity Building Program Celebration: Michigan Lakeshore in Holland on July 11, 2024.
HOLLAND, Mich. (WOOD) — Arts and culture leaders gathered in Holland on Thursday to celebrate the conclusion of a two-year initiative.
Capacity Building: Michigan Lakeshore is a program run by the DeVos Institute of Art Management in partnership with Betsy and Dick DeVos. The program helps 15 lakeshore arts and culture businesses develop long-term plans and strategies, and improve various aspects of their businesses. The 15 business owners meet once a month to learn from industry leaders.
Several businesses said they had seen growth in their organizations as a result of the program.
“Being in the same room with other arts and cultural organizations helps us collectively see what a unique asset we have,” said Jill Ver Steg, president and CEO of Evergreen Commons.
“It’s often hard for arts and culture organizations to make a mark in smaller communities, where they don’t have the same large donor and support base. So we thought this would be a really good and helpful way to help them get better at what they do,” said Betsy DeVos, a leader in the business community and former U.S. secretary of education.
The program is free for businesses. The DeVoses said they plan to create a similar program in Grand Rapids.
