Since the founding of the Richmond Center for Visual Arts in 2007, members of the Friends affiliate group have created our core off-campus community, spread news about RCVA to wider audiences, and shared the excitement of our events, exhibitions, and vision for the future. Friends of the Richmond Center also provide integral financial support by sponsoring exhibition previews and receptions, and helping to offset the costs of exhibition production.
Members of the RCVA Friends affiliate group directly support the Richmond Center’s mission to act as an anchor for the presentation and interpretation of contemporary art and design on the campus of Western Michigan University, within the city of Kalamazoo, and throughout the southwest Michigan area.
Each membership in the Friends of the Richmond Center for Visual Arts helps underwrite production costs for exhibitions that feature national and international artists, as well as regional artists, faculty, and students. Friend members provide integral support for educational programming and cultural events as well as wages for student gallery assistants who are essential to RCVA’s day to day operations.
Exhibitions at the Richmond Center for Visual Arts strengthen the pulse of Kalamazoo’s rich arts community. This past year alone, RCVA has featured an exhibitions highlighting contemporary South African art, established New York City artists, as well as beloved regional artists with prodigious careers.
Along with students and faculty of WMU’s Frostic School of Art and the University at large, the Friends of the Richmond Center represent our primary constituency—from those curious about contemporary art and its social, political or cultural role, to individuals who value the art of our time as essential to one’s lifelong growth, education, and the overall vitality of our community.
Membership perks are broad and varied but include exhibition previews and receptions, lectures, behind the scenes tours of the Frostic School of Art and the Richmond Center, ticket discounts at the Gilmore Theatre Complex, private artist-led tours, and invitations to artist talks.