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Every Friday, July 8 - August 19
The Grand Rapids Art Museum, Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation, and the Downtown Alliance announce a Friday night filled with free activities at Rosa Parks Circle and GRAM this July and August. The Grand Rapids Art Museum (GRAM) brings back the popular outdoor summer series, GRAM on the Green, for a third season beginning July 8, 2011. Steelcase, Inc sponsors the live music series. New this year is collaboration with Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation, as well as returning partner, the Downtown Alliance. GRAM on the Green features special activities with games and sketching on the Wege Plaza, live music and a cash bar on the outdoor Terrace, and art conversations. Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation and the Downtown Alliance will offer a Zumba exercise class and Ballroom Dancing in Rosa Parks Circle. All activities outdoors are free of charge. Admission to galleries and special events inside the Museum is offered at the reduced Friday Night rate of $5.00 after 5pm. Members and children 5 and under are always free.
GRAM on the Green will begin at 5:00pm every Friday, July 8 through August 19. From 5:00 to 9:00 pm, sketching and games, including giant versions of Jenga and chess, will be available on the Wege Plaza. Grand Rapids Parks & Recreation and the Downtown Alliance offer free classes and activities before and after the live music. The Zumba exercise class is offered from 5:15 to 6:00 pm, and ballroom dancing with available instructor will be from 8:30 to 10:30 pm, both in Rosa Parks Circle. Two sets of live music can be enjoyed on the Museum Terrace from 6:00 to 7:00 pm and from 7:30 to 8:30 pm. An eclectic variety of bands are offered from week to week. Special guest Big O’s Café will drop by the Terrace with their cart and offer slices of pizza for sale during the musical entertainment. Between music sets, from 7:00 to 7:30 pm, guests can enjoy Friday Night Conversations with a theme focusing on different art forms each month. The Conversation location varies. Cash bar is open until 8:30 pm, and galleries are open until 9:00 pm.
GRAM ON THE GREEN
Schedule of events July 8 through August 19
Outdoor activities are free of charge. See schedule below.
Grand Rapids Art Museum
Galleries are open until 9:00pm every Friday night. Admission to galleries is only $5.00 after 5:00pm and free for members and children 5 and under.
FREE OUTDOOR SKETCHING AND GAMES ON WEGE PLAZA
5:00 TO 9:00 PM
Peter M. Wege Plaza, situated between the Museum entrance and Maya Lin Ecliptic at Rosa Parks Circle, will have easels and materials available for outdoor sketching. Giant Jenga and chess sets will also be available, along with other normal sized board games.
FREE LIVE MUSIC FROM THE MUSEUM TERRACE
6:00 to 7:00 PM & 7:30 to 8:30 PM
July 8 Marshland Express (Randy Marsh/Jazz)
July 15 End Times Orchestra (Musical theater)
July 22 An Dro (Celtic-based, Globally-infused, World-beat)
July 29 Brandon Hill (Electronic, Dubstep, Bass)
August 5 Fauxgrass Quartet (Contemporary Bluegrass)
August 12 The Concussions (Surf)
August 19 Dave Hardin (Americana)
PARKS & RECREATION/DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE FREE ACTIVITIES IN ROSA PARKS CIRCLE
5:15 TO 6:00 PM & 8:30 TO 10:30 PM
Grand Rapids Parks and Recreation and the Downtown Alliance host Zumba exercise class and ballroom dancing.
Zumba Exercise Class 5:15-6:00pm
Ballroom Dancing 8:30-10:30pm
FRIDAY NIGHT CONVERSATIONS
7:00 TO 7:30 PM
July Conversations: Dance
August Conversations: Film
Each month features a different mode of expression. The location of each Conversation varies.
July 1: Intro to Ballroom Dancing – Want basic instruction or refresher? Join in!
July 8: Broken Flowers Revisited: A Butoh-inspired dance by Rachel Finan
July 15: A Modern Dance Experience choreographed by Shawn T. Bible, GVSU
July 22: The Art of Dance: A Focus on the Permanent Collection
July 29: Art Inspires Art: Grand Rapids Ballet Company
Aug 5: Animating Time: Video Postcards by Deanna Morse
Aug 12: A Cinematic Tribute to Audubon
Aug 19: WKTV: Your Perspective is Requested
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