12/9/22 - UICA Plans To Close

The Urban Institute of Contemporary Art in Grand Rapids will close toward the beginning of next year. The group says they were not able to recover from the pandemic.

(Press Release from Kendall College of Art and Design of Ferris State University) -  A decision was made concerning the future of the UICA in Grand Rapids.

After thorough consideration, Ferris State University and Kendall college of Art and Design has chosen to cease operations of the UICA effective March 3, 2023. UICA’s current exhibitions will remain open through Feb. 11, 2023.

For the past decade, KCAD, Ferris State University, and generous community donors have financially supported the UICA’s programming and overhead expenses. However, the organization has not been able to overcome the obstacles it faced during the pandemic and was not able to maintain the funding necessary to remain operational or become sustainable.

As the UICA winds down its operations, we have been working diligently to create and expand relationships with area arts organizations that support the contemporary arts to ensure a smooth transition as well as the continuation of some of its programming. Most notably, the gift store and popular Holiday Artists Market will continue under the guidance of KCAD; and the Open Projector Night initiative has found a new home at Wealthy Theatre.

Since its founding more than 40 years ago, the UICA is credited with pioneering the contemporary arts in the region, and it has inspired the creation of some organizations that will now carry the torch forward. Although UICA as an organization may be ending, its innovative spirit and focus on elevating contemporary arts and artists in West Michigan will continue in new ways with KCAD’s leadership role in the next iteration of ArtPrize.