Break it Down | Make it Better

March 20-21, Bamboo Grand Rapids

2 Fulton St W, Grand Rapids, MI 49503

Break It Down | Make It Better is West Michigan’s longest-running professional development conference for artists, creatives, and arts administrators. Each year, creatives come together to build skills, form connections, and find inspiration in one another’s journeys. This year’s theme, The Action of Art, explores how artists turn ideas into action through practice, collaboration, experimentation, and community-building. With over 30 speakers, this 2-day event will inspire attendees through panels, workshops, and round table discussions. Lunch is provided both days with a complimentary happy hour at AllArtWorks on Saturday. Hosted by ArtPrize edu, Avenue for the Arts, & AllArtWorks.

Presented by Bamboo Grand Rapids

Schedule of Events

Day 1: Friday, March 20

10:30am – 11:15am – Registration
11:15am – 12:00pm – Opening Remarks + Keynote Panel
12:15pm – 1:00pm – Session #1

Collaboration as Resistance– Artists Merima Smajlovic and Mary Jane Pories Pixels to Performance: Video Games as the New Interactive Art Form– Casey Ward
Selling Your Work– Anna Donahue from Artist Entrepreneurs
Let’s Collab-Shayna Velasquez, Manager of Community Engagement at the Grand Rapids Art Museum
The Action of Joy: Building a Creative Life One Practice at a Time– Andrea Napierkowski

1:00pm – 1:45pm – Lunch
2:00pm – 2:45pm – Session #2

From Pitch to Projection– Spencer Everhart, Grand Rapids Film Society & Open Projector Night
If You Can Dream It, You Can Build It– Paulina Petkoski, Founder of PLAYGROUND DETROIT
Foundry and Fabrication– Gabrielle Egnater, Foundry Faculty at Grand Valley State University
Making Small things Big (and vice versa)–The business of Murals– Artist and Full-time Muralist Dania Grevengoed
First In, Not Pushed Out: How Artists Shape Districts, and How to Own the Outcome– Hannah Greening, Founder, Managing Broker Fancy Real Estate

3:00pm – 3:45pm – Session #3

People, Places, Process: Lessons from the City of Marquette Shoreline Cultural Trail – Amelia Pruiett, City of Marquette Office of Arts and Culture
RSVP to IRL: What Participation Actually Changes– Derek Mohr, Host of CreativeMornings Grand Rapids
From Idea to Action– Dorelle Brock
Leveraging Artist Documentation: Tips and Tricks– Eric Souther
Live Screen Printing Workshop– Carlos Rivera

3:45pm – 4:00pm – Wrap Up Remarks

Day 2: Saturday, March 21

10:30am – 11:15am – Registration
11:15am – 12:00pm – Opening Remarks + Keynote Panel
12:15pm – 1:00pm – Session #4

How Music Influences Creativity– Della Marie Levi, Owner of Della Soul Records Building Alternative Art Spaces– Hailey Johnson
What I’ve Learned While Running a Wildly Successful Art Club– Chelsea Roberts
How To Activate Under-utilized Spaces– VEIL Collective
Concept Over Medium– Jeffrey Augustine Songco
Art as Action: Building Community Through Creative Engagement – Pleasant Peninsula
1:00pm – 1:45pm – Lunch
2:00pm – 2:45pm – Session #5

Media Management– Matt Patulski
Vending Like A Pro– Jenny Hearns & Shyle Lyons, Merchants and Makers
12 Lessons From 12 Years of Daily Art– John Jurries, Painter
Creating Community Impact– Pamela Alderman
Paper Casting, Stencils, and Light– Sandra Haansen

3:00pm – 5:00pm – Happy Hour at AllArtWorks

The 12th annual conference took place on Friday, February 28th, 2025.

Its theme was Tool Box TLC: Technology, Lifelong Learning, and Collaboration. The day’s workshops, presentations, and roundtable discussions focused on tools for artists, long-term professional development, and how our arts community can come together to create more collaboration. The conference was generously sponsored by Kendall College of Art and Design and was be held at their historic Woodbridge Building in downtown Grand Rapids. In all 120 artists and arts workers attended the event, the most in eight years.

Opening Panel

New Kids on the Block: A panel discussion of five arts leaders new to their organizations and/or new to Grand Rapids, Cindy Fowly (Grand Rapids Art Museum), Mary (Grand Rapids Ballet), Suzanne (Frederik Meijer Gardens), Catlin (ArtPrize), Wardell (The Diatribe).

Session I

• Foundry and Fabrication — Practice, Collaboration, and Production: A panel discussion led by Gabrielle Egnater of GVSU featuring four area sculptors like Jerod Christy (JC), Artist and 3D Technical Supervisor at GVSU.

• How to Become a Creative Leader in Your Community as a Transplant: A presentation by Hollywood trained award-winning filmmaker, critically acclaimed podcaster and comedian Virginia Anzengruber.

• Collage in Community — The Game!: A workshop by artist Chelsea Lake Roberts

• Artmaking as a Daily Practice: A presentation by artists John Jurries and Ryan Crawley.

• Navigating Creative Goals Alongside Parenting: A dialogue between artists Hailey Johnson and Emily Mayo

• Pitching 101 — How to Land Big Bylines to Build Your Writer Platform: A presentation and workshop by writer Elle Warren

Session II

• When You Stop Making Things for Fun, Your Art Might As Well Be Dead: A presentation by artist John Donavon

• Transformational Growth — The Case for Mentorship: A workshop by artists Lora Robertson and Scoob.

• Media Management for Creative Professionals Part 1: A presentation by Matt Patulski

• From Maker to Markets —How to Start Selling Art at Artisan Markets – A: A step-by-step guide by artist Jenny Hearns

• From Scarcity to Strength — Identifying Your Creative Identity: A workshop by artist Jarran Fountain

• Centering Community Transformation: A panel discussion led by Monk Mattheus, Head of Culture for the Center of Community Transformation

Session III

• Studio Without Walls —Healing Through Art: A presentation by artist Pamela Alderman

• From Brand to Fans — Building Your Art Business & Selling with Confidence : A dynamic breakout session featuring Susan Coombes, co-owner of Periwinkle Fog and Shyle Lyons, organizer of Merchants and Makers

• Compassionate Collaboration: A panel discussion led by curator Annamarie Buller

• Portrait Making — A Visual Representation of Who You’re Becoming: A workshop by Jill Vyn and Emerson Antcliff

• Abstract Expressionism in the Contemporary World: A workshop by artist Merima Smajlovic

• Media Management for Creative Professionals Part 2: A presentation by Matt Patulski

The Day’s Schedule

9:15 AM – 10:15 AM
Speed Dating

9:45 AM – 10:15 AM
Check in

10:15 AM – 11:15 AM
Opening Remarks and Keynote Panel

11:30 AM – 12:15 PM
Breakout Session Block #1: Six locally-led roundtables, workshops, panels and presentations

12:30 PM – 1:15 PM
Catered Lunch

1:15 PM – 1:30 PM
Dance in the Annex Performance

1:45 PM – 2:30 PM
Breakout Session Block #2: Six locally-led roundtables, workshops, panels and presentations

2:45 PM – 3:30 PM
Breakout Session Block #3: Seven locally-led roundtables, workshops, panels, and presentations

3:30 PM – 3:45 PM
Final Remarks

4:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Happy Hour
Continue the day’s conversations at a complimentary happy hour hosted by AllArtWorks in their viewing studio at 333 Cesar Chavez Ave.