We believe art is for everyone and work to be a welcoming, inclusive cultural hub for Southwest Michigan.
From publicly posted calendar Checked Jul 8, 2026
Sunday Drop-in Conversations — For the People, By the People: America at 250
Between June 27 and October 4, drop in on Sundays between 1:30–2:30pm and have a conversation with a docent who can provide information and answer questions…
Free Thursdays at the KIA
Enjoy free admission and extended hours until 8pm on Thursdays, thanks to generous support provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program and the…
The People Speak: A Living Exhibition by Face Off Theatre Company
Explore the For the People, By the People: America at 250 exhibition with theatre artists from Face Off Theatre Company! This program offers guests an…
Gallery Gathering: Curator’s Tour of For the People
For the People, By the People brings works of historic significance into conversation with bold contemporary voices in an exploration of the symbols,…
Wonder Walk: Outdoor Art
We all know there are artworks inside the KIA, but did you know there’s art outside too? Bring your little art lover to the museum in August when we’ll take a…
ArtBreak: Virtual Artist’s Talk with Dulce Pinzón
During this virtual ArtBreak, learn more about Dulce Pinzón, whose archival pigment print Catwoman is included in the exhibition For the People, By the People.…
Artful Evening: My America: A Performance Lecture by Julio César Morales
Join San Francisco-based artist Julio César Morales for a performance lecture exploring the intersections of music, migration, identity, and cultural…
Mindful Making in the Library
Take some time out to express yourself in the library. We will have supplies available to encourage meditative expression through art, including a…
Book Discussion: In Open Contempt: Confronting White Supremacy in Art and Public Space by Irvin Weathersby Jr.
Blending memoir, cultural criticism, and history, author Irvin Weathersby Jr. challenges readers to examine American history and imagine more inclusive ways of…
Creativity, Resilience, and Reflection: An Expressive Arts Workshop
Inspired by For the People, By the People, join expressive arts facilitator Kim Shaw for a restorative arts-based workshop exploring creativity as a pathway to…
ArtBreak: Reclaiming Native Narratives in American Art
During the 19th century, many American artists embraced the theme of the “Vanishing Indian.” By depicting Native Americans as disappearing, such artists spread…
Summer Jams
Summer Jams returns to the KIA as a lively open mic night celebrating music, poetry, and creative expression. This event brings artists and community members…
Gallery Gathering: Roger Shimomura and Works of Resilience
Join us for a conversation on how Roger Shimomura and other contemporary artists have responded to the internment of Japanese Americans during WWII, using…
Wonder Walk: Local Artists
In September, our youngest art lovers can explore the work of local artists featured in the West Michigan Area Show. Through close looking and playful…
Collage Crew Kzoo
Come to the Meader Fine Arts Library during Art Hop and create an artistic collage with Errin Ironside and the Collage Crew Kzoo. Inspired by the exhibition…
ArtBreak: American Legacy: Lange’s Portrait of a Mother
During this ArtBreak, Prof. Ginger Owen-Murakami will discuss one of the most influential documentary photographs ever created. Produced by Dorothea Lange…
Artist’s Talk with Hank Willis Thomas
Meet internationally-renowned conceptual artist Hank Willis Thomas! During this special program, Thomas will share reflections on his work, which revolves…
Art Detectives: Her Right Foot by Dave Eggers
In September, Art Detectives will read a story about the Statue of Liberty and what she represents. Then they will explore the exhibition For the People, By…
Book Discussion: Harlem Rhapsody by Victoria Christopher Murray
Harlem Rhapsody follows Jessie Redmon Fauset, the literary editor of The Crisis magazine, as she helps ignite the Harlem Renaissance while navigating a secret…
Artful Evening: “I, Too, Sing America”: The Harlem Renaissance in Art, Music, and Theatre
“Art is the inner voice of the people.” —Alain Locke Join us for a discussion of one of the most vibrant and significant movements in American art history –…
ArtBreak: “Kalamazoo…and how it grew!”: A Model American City Tours Europe at Mid-Century
In the late 1950s, Upjohn Pharmaceuticals partnered with the United States Information Agency to develop an exhibition on Kalamazoo that toured several major…
John James Audubon: Entrepreneur, Naturalist, Patriot, Fraud
During this talk, Dr. James Denison will examine John James Audubon’s multinational background, transatlantic audience, and the nationalist ambitions behind…
Gallery Gathering: Sheila Pree Bright’s Cotton and Dulce Pinzón’s Catwoman
Photographer Sheila Pree Bright’s series Invisible Empire foregrounds the tension between the pastoral beauty of the American South and the historical…
Wonder Walk: Big Paintings
Let’s find the biggest works in the museum. Join us for a playful walk through the galleries designed for our youngest visitors. Together, we’ll explore big,…