Historic Venue Assets in Jeopardy!

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Taken By: Constance Thomas

Taken By: Constance Thomas

Currently Detroit is the largest US city to be under control of an unelected official with sweeping powers to gut public services and the wages and pensions of city workers, as stated from the article “Emergency Financial Manager Takes over Detroit,” back in March by Bryan Dyne.  Earlier this week the issue was posed that The Detroit Institute of Arts assets are up for sale. These assets would help the allying financial crisis the city has been facing for the past few years.

Detroit Institute of Arts (DIA) not only holds timeless art, but special events such as fashion shows, concerts, and worthy cause fundraisers are held here though out the year. As well as nuptials taking place in the famous Kresge Court.

The opening paragraph in the Detroit News stated this, “Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr is considering whether the multibillion-dollar collection at the Detroit Institute of Arts should be considered city assets that potentially could be sold to cover about $15 billion in debt”. Orr was stated saying he would begin negotiating concession from Detroit’s creditors and unions in an effort to address the city’s crisis without resorting to bankruptcy.

Currently Detroit has a $347million deficit and a $14billion in long-term liabilities. (Dyne, 2013). Mr. Orr is currently three months in on his eighteen-month tenure as the city’s emergency financial Manager.  Michael Byrne, vice president of the Royal Oak Arts Council (suburb of Detroit) had this to say to the Oakland Press about the current issue, “It’s just absolutely beyond my ability to see the Detroit community – meaning all the surrounding counties – be stripped of this kind of culture.

Just recently the DIA faced an internal financial strain. To help put the DIA on better financial standing, the museum waged a successful drive last year to pass a 10-year, 0.2-mil tax in Wayne, Oakland and Macomb counties in last August’s election to generate $23 million in operating costs per year. The economic lifeline for the institution also allowed it to offer free admission for residents of the counties that approved the tax, (Oakland Press, May 24, 2013)

Sculpture outside of DIA. Photo Taken by: Constance Thomas

Sculpture outside of DIA. Photo Taken by: Constance Thomas

On Thursday the 23rd, the DIA’s Facebook page made a statement, “According to those standards, the City cannot sell art to generate funds for any purpose other than to enhance the collection.” More information will be dispersed in the future, but until then the timeless pieces of art stays put.

When is The Wedding?

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Renee Aaron Events, LLC spoke with two of Detroit’s emerging wedding planners, Brandi Robinson-Peart of B. Posh Events and Cystal Marie of C-MY Style Events. When planning a wedding, couples tend to choose a time of the year where they feel would fit their entire theme. Some couple choose winter, because they’ve could have had a vision of a winter wonderland. Another couple may want an all flowers in bloom wedding.

For a wedding planner, this may cause to have multiple weddings in the same month. For these two women, they seem to handle the calendars very well. Crystal Marie had this to say, “2013 has been a great year for C-MY Style”. She also stated that December and January are slower months. During those time, an actual wedding may not take place, however the planning process continues.

As for Brandi of B. Posh, she had this to say about her busiest months, “Typically, with my clientele I am busier May-October. My slowest months are November thru February”. Brandi also had this to say about how often she meets with her clients leading up to their event, “I work weekly for my brides researching vendors, helping plan out decor, keeping them within budget and on a planning timeline”.

“Coordination services, full service wedding planning, styling or decor…everyone is different,” says Crystal Marie when speaking of what actually intels in the planning process.

Both women are sought out for their services early in advance. Two weddings hired Crystal Marie two years out. For Brandi  she has been hired for a wedding next year. Planning ahead is not a numbers game for just couples but most importantly for the wedding planner.

 

To find more information about B. Posh Events or C-MY Style, click on the links above.

Guidelines to Planning On Campus

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Wayne State University Office Building Photo By: Constance Thomas

Wayne State University Office Building Photo By: Constance Thomas

Midtown Detroit, is the home Wayne, State University college campus. The university is known for their excellent programs in the medical, engineering and theater program along with many others. Every winter and spring semester countless undergrads go through the ceremony of walking across the stage becoming graduates and alumni of this illustrious university.

Graduation is a large event. However, so many other events happen every day on campus during the school semesters. Many organizations put together events to engage students in campus life, social causes, and special presentations of speakers.

When it comes to a university of this capacity, there are many guidelines that need to take place. Unfortunately many are not prepared for what is in store to plan and execute as well ran event.

LaShawnda Wrice, special events, program specialist at Wayne State University spoke with us about some of the issues that she has come across when working with clients on their events:

 

  • Having small budgets on an elaborate event
  • Last minute request for planned event in a couple days, ex: Celebrities or dignitaries.
  • How will things get paid for rendered services?
  • Not having enough support staff to run the event.

The Office of Special Events and Services has a guideline for anyone with an inquiry to host an event on the campus. It nicely gives a timelines in three categories such as: 16-20 weeks, 20-25 weeks and 1 year or more. It also gives all the needed information on other resources that can and would need to be used.

Often times, one thinks once the location is finalized there isn’t much else needed. However, signage and banners to direct your attendees is needed. The use of microphones, screens and projectors if someone needs to show a PowerPoint presentation; in which audiovisual should be high on the to do list.

Community Arts Center Art Marque Photo Taken By: Constance Thomas

Community Arts Center Art Marque Photo Taken By: Constance Thomas

Another issue that many smaller events tend to forget is parking. Having adequate parking would help save a long haul across campus to just a walk across the street.

A great way to plan an event is to write all ideas and thoughts down. Once the ideas are written down, then the planning process begins. Having an expertise in the planning business or utilizing the on-site coordinator can cause for a successful event as well.

Getting the needed the requirements for an event is key. May it be a large graduation of 4,000 students and family or a tea for a group of 20, having a solid plan will always lead to successful event.