This season, College for Creative Studies and Bedrock are transforming downtown with “Windows on Woodward,” a festive storefront gallery for everyone to enjoy.

Select Bedrock retail tenants along Woodward Avenue, including Born in Detroit, Bonobos, The Lip Bar, 6 Salon and Woodhouse Day Spa, have collaborated with CCS students to design and unveil custom holiday window displays.

“Windows on Woodward is where imagination, craftsmanship and creativity meet community,” said Rhonda Rouse, Senior Manager, Tenant Experience at Bedrock. “As part of the holiday season in downtown, our festive, walkable window showcase amplifies Detroit’s next generation of talent as they shape the city’s future.”

https://www.ccsdetroit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/The-Lip-Bar.jpg www.ccsdetroit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/BornInDetroit.jpg www.ccsdetroit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/CB3A5131.jpg www.ccsdetroit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/CB3A5126.jpg www.ccsdetroit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/CB3A5182.jpg

Each window is a collaboration between student designers and the retailers, merging professional mentorship with real-world experience and bringing fresh, local talent to one of Detroit’s most iconic corridors.

“This project gave our students invaluable hands-on experience in design collaboration, project management, and fabrication,” said Shannon McPartlon, Executive Director of The Office of Partnerships at CCS. “We are grateful to Bedrock for their partnership and the opportunity to be part of this historic moment. The results are truly representative of what CCS students are capable of achieving when they apply their talents to a real-world, high-profile challenge.”

Participating Students: Isabella Avila-Recillas (Interdisciplinary Art and Design) Levi Mooney (Interdisciplinary Art and Design) Autumn English (Interior Design) Katelyn Welchko (Interdisciplinary Art and Design) Brandi Witek (Communication Design & Strategy) Miracle Hubbard-Wray (Interior Design) Griffin Mesner (Fashion Accessory Design) Olivia Draus (Interdisciplinary Art and Design)

When artist Janice Charach (’73 Advertising Design) arrived at the College for Creative Studies, she quickly found what so many CCS students discover: a place where creativity, curiosity and belonging converge. Her years at the College shaped her as both an artist and a person. Janice immersed herself in studio courses, experimenting with materials and ideas that would later define her work. After earning her BFA, she continued to paint, exhibit and study, building a life devoted to artistic expression. When Janice passed away in 1989, her family found comfort in the world that had always connected them – art. Through the Manat Foundation, established by her parents, Natalie and Manny Charach, they began creating spaces where art could uplift others, including the Janice Charach Gallery in West Bloomfield. What began as an act of remembrance became a lifelong family commitment to celebrating creativity as a force for healing, connection and joy.

This year, that legacy has come full circle as the Manat Foundation has made a special gift to CCS to honor Janice’s life and her connection to the College, establishing two lasting initiatives: the Charach Family Galleries (formerly Center Galleries) and the Janice Charach Endowed Scholarship for students in the Studio Art & Craft department.

Honoring a Life Through Art

“CCS was where Janice’s artistic journey began,” said one of Charach’s cousins. “Supporting today’s students and the galleries that showcase their work feels like the most meaningful way to honor her.”

The newly named Charach Family Galleries, located in the Manoogian Visual Resource Center, will continue to serve as a vital exhibition space for CCS students, faculty, alumni and visiting artists. The Manat Foundation’s gift provides immediate and ongoing support to enhance lighting, accessibility and the overall visitor experience. An endowed fund will also ensure the galleries’ long-term sustainability.

The Charach family’s decision to support CCS is rooted in legacy and love. The galleries stand as a tribute to Janice and a living space for creative exchange – a place where art continues to inspire connection, conversation and community.

www.ccsdetroit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Copy-of-Newpaper-article-on-Art-Show-1981-1-scaled.jpeg A newspaper clipping from Thursday, April 30, 1981, featuring artist Janice Charach next to her painting, “Indonesian Puppets.” The article, titled “Colors are her energy,” promoted her XOCHOPILI art show in Birmingham, MI.

A Family Legacy of Generosity

The story of the Manat Foundation begins with Natalie and Manny Charach, whom their nieces describe as “extraordinary ordinary people.” First-generation Americans of Eastern European Jewish families who put down roots in Detroit, they built their lives through hard work, perseverance and an unwavering belief in helping others.

Manny, a World War II veteran decorated for his service in France, and Natalie, who began working at 13 to help support her family, carried their early experiences of resilience into a lifetime of philanthropy. They founded the Manat Foundation in 1970, naming it for their shared initials, and spent the next five decades supporting causes close to their hearts: children’s health, education, veterans’ services and the arts.

“Natalie and Manny believed their true legacy was their philanthropy,” said their nieces. “They taught all of us that giving back is both a privilege and a responsibility. We are proud to continue their work in ways that reflect who they were and what they valued.”

www.ccsdetroit.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/NatalieMannyCharachCropped-scaled.jpg Natalie and Manny Charach

Investing in the Next Generation

Alongside the gallery endowment, the Janice Charach Endowed Scholarship will provide ongoing support for students in the Studio Art & Craft department – the same department that nurtured Janice’s creative beginnings.

“This scholarship will empower future artists to take creative risks and explore their craft with confidence,” said Valerie Jenkins, Chair of the Studio Art & Craft department. “The Charach family’s generosity sustains the heart of CCS: our students and the spaces where they learn, create and share their voices.”

Speaking on behalf of the College, CCS President Don Tuski shared his gratitude: “We are deeply grateful to the Charach family and the Manat Foundation for this extraordinary gift. Their generosity honors Janice’s creative spirit while shaping the future of CCS in profoundly meaningful ways. By investing in both scholarships and the reimagination of our galleries, the Charach family is ensuring that creativity continues to thrive—opening doors for emerging artists and enriching the spaces where our community gathers to experience art. This gift embodies the very heart of our mission and will inspire generations to come.”

A Legacy That Lives On

Today, the Manat Foundation completes the philanthropic mission of its founders. These gifts reflect the family’s shared belief that creativity and compassion are deeply intertwined.

Through this partnership with CCS, that belief finds new life. The Charach Family Galleries and the Janice Charach Endowed Scholarship will ensure that future generations of artists – much like Janice herself – can learn, create and grow in an environment that values imagination, generosity and purpose.

Within the walls of the galleries that now bear her family’s name, Janice’s spirit endures. Her art, and the legacy it inspired, continue to remind us that creativity has the power to connect, to comfort and to carry us forward.

Metropolitan Detroit artists are invited to apply for a 2026 Kresge Artist Fellowship, a $50,000 no strings attached award recognizing creative vision and ongoing contribution to the region’s cultural life. At a time when arts funding is contracting nationwide, these fellowships continue to strengthen metro Detroit’s creative economy and affirm the role of artists in building vibrant, thriving neighborhoods.

Kresge Arts in Detroit is generously funded by The Kresge Foundation and administered by the College for Creative Studies. The fellowship application opens December 1, 2025. Full application guidelines are available now at kresgeartsindetroit.org. Artists residing in Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb County are eligible to apply in the following disciplines:

Live Arts

Includes Choreography, Comedy, Dance, Performance Art, Playwriting, Storytelling, Theatre Directing, and Interdisciplinary Work

Film & Music

Includes Animation, Film Directing, Music Composition, Music Performance, Screenwriting, Sound Art, and Interdisciplinary Work

Fellowship selection criteria includes: a demonstrated track record of artistic achievement and high-quality work, the potential to grow and advance in one’s career, and the potential to reflect, enhance, or impact communities within metro Detroit.

The number of awards in each category will be proportional to the relative number of applications received. Applicants who choose to be considered will also be eligible for Gilda Awards if they do not receive a fellowship.

Also on offer are 10 Gilda Awards of $5,000 each. These $5,000 awards honor Gilda Snowden’s (1954–2014) legacy as a mentor and champion of young, emerging artists in metropolitan Detroit. The Gilda Award recognizes early-career artists gaining momentum and demonstrating exceptional potential through creative risk-taking and boundary-pushing work.

“Detroit’s artists community is an integral driver in our city’s growth and resilience,” said Wendy Lewis Jackson, managing director for The Kresge Foundation’s Detroit program. “By investing in creative people, we strengthen neighborhoods, spark new enterprise, and carry forward the culture that makes Detroit unmistakable.”

Through this continued support, The Kresge Foundation affirms that artists are central to Detroit’s growth and essential partners in advancing opportunity and creating resilient, connected communities.

“The cost of living keeps rising, and artists feel that pressure like everyone else,” said Katie McGowan, director of Kresge Arts in Detroit. “What’s different here is the trust behind the support, this fellowship is not prescriptive–both the monetary prize and award year support give artists the space to take risks or slow down long enough to build something lasting. The cumulative effect of well-funded and deeply supported artists might seem intangible, but its economic and social impacts are measurable across neighborhoods throughout the tri-county area.”

Award-Winning Film Program

Each fellowship includes one year of artist support including networking, exhibition opportunities, and legal and accounting consultations. Kresge Arts in Detroit also offers to produce a film for each of the fellows created by a local filmmaker. Select films have been screened and received awards at local, national, and international film festivals in recent years. In 2021, Detroit-based production company Reel Clever was awarded a Michigan Emmy for work on the series. View past films here.

“This fellowship is an incredible opportunity to not only showcase your artistry, but to become a part of a family of artists and arts supporters unlike anywhere in the country. Don’t worry if you haven’t had a long arts career; this award is about artistic achievement and high-quality work at any stage,” said Michelle May, 2018 Kresge Artist Fellow in Music. “The most impactful part of applying for me was being able to articulate not only what I do as a musician and composer, but why I do it and why I think what I do is important. It really helped me be much more introspective about my place in the world, which in turn expanded my art practice! My two best pieces of advice are to not wait until the last minute to apply and to be sure to have a few people, artists and non-artists, review your statements. Congratulations on applying!”

Key Dates

Nov. 3, 2025: Application guidelines available Dec. 1, 2025: Online application opens Jan. 15, 2026 by 11:59 PM: Application deadline

The 2026 Kresge Artist Fellows and Gilda Award recipients will be selected by an independent panel of distinguished local and national artists and arts professionals. Previous applicants are strongly encouraged to re-apply, as new panels with fresh perspectives are convened each year.

Now in its 18th year, the program continues to demonstrate how investment in the arts transforms what is possible for communities: fueling creative careers and animating neighborhoods. These fellowships prove that sustained creative work strengthens civic imagination and nurtures the day-to-day wellbeing of communities.

Kresge Arts in Detroit also administers the Kresge Eminent Artist award, presented each winter, which honors a lifetime of artistic achievement and community contribution. In 2024, The Kresge Foundation increased the prize to $100,000. Each award includes the creation of a short film and published monograph chronicling the artist’s work and legacy.

Application Info Sessions

Kresge Arts in Detroit staff will hold an online application info session and walkthrough in December, followed by a second online Q&A session in January. While not required, applicants are encouraged to attend these sessions, which are designed to support artists in creating compelling applications for a Kresge Artist Fellowship. Artists can register to attend using the links below.

Application Info Session (virtual) Dec. 10, 2025 5:30–6:30 PM

Application Q&A Session (virtual) Jan. 8, 2026 5:30–6:30 PM

Visit kresgeartsindetroit.org for the complete guidelines, FAQs, and additional resources. Please direct questions about application requirements to Kresge Arts in Detroit at [email protected] or by phone at (313) 744-3204.

Kresge Arts in Detroit is generously funded by The Kresge Foundation and administered by the College for Creative Studies. The goals of Kresge Arts in Detroit are to enrich the quality of life for metro Detroiters by helping artists provide a broad spectrum of cultural experiences; celebrate and reflect the richness and diversity of our community in all its aspects; heighten the profile of arts and artists in our community; and strengthen the artistic careers of local artists. Since 2008, Kresge Arts in Detroit has awarded over $9 million through 17 Kresge Eminent Artist Awards, 317 Kresge Artist Fellowships, and 72 Gilda Awards ($5,000 each). The fellowships are currently $50,000 each and the Eminent Artist Award is $100,000. kresgeartsindetroit.org

The Kresge Foundation was founded in 1924 to promote human progress. Today, Kresge fulfills that mission by building and strengthening pathways to opportunity for low-income people in America’s cities, seeking to dismantle structural and systemic barriers to equality and justice. Using a full array of grant, loan, and other investment tools, Kresge invests more than $160 million annually to foster economic and social change. Kresge’s Detroit Program collaborates with cross-sectoral partners to promote and expand long-term, equitable opportunity in Kresge’s hometown by centering the priorities of its residents. kresge.org