Marion Hayden, a jazz bassist and educator, is Kresge's 2025 Eminent Artist. Hayden was among the Detroit musicians celebrated in “Detroit Jazz: A Legacy Continues." The 2022-23 exhibit at the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History featured photographs of Hayden and other musicians taken by Barbara Barefield. (BridgeDetroit photo by Quinn Banks)

Happy Tuesday and welcome back to Culture Canvas!

Christine here, filling in for Micah who has been traveling for an out-of-state conference. 

The arts, music and entrepreneurial scenes in Detroit are busy as always. Here are a few new things to check out: 

The city of Detroit’s Office of Arts, Culture and Entrepreneurship (ACE) is partnering with the Irwin House Gallery for the third annual Sacred Spaces – a citywide, self-guided tour of Black-owned and operated spaces. 

The partnership aims to uplift Black exhibitions, programs and venues of all kinds, from high-end galleries to retail shops. 

This year’s participating venues: 

Sacred Spaces will be active throughout Black History Month. For more information about the Sacred Spaces galleries, venues, exhibitions and events, visit sacredspaces-tourdetroit.com or blackgalleriesdetroit.com, or follow updates on Instagram @detroitsacredspaces313 and facebook.com/blackgalleriesdetroit. 

Business alliance offers Black wealth-building fellowship 

The Michigan Black Business Alliance is furthering its commitment to building Black wealth via a new fellowship program.

The group’s Global Growth Accelerator (GGA) is a competitive, three-year program to help Black-owned businesses increase revenue and tap resources to grow beyond their current markets. 

The MBBA, formerly the Metro Detroit Black Business Alliance, was created with the aim of delivering technical assistance, providing links to low-cost capital and finding space for entrepreneurs to connect and collaborate.

MBBA will host an information session from 6-8 p.m. Feb. 12 at the BLK Biz Hub, 28 W. Adams Street, Ste. 800, in Detroit, or join the conversation virtually. RSVP here. 

Jazz bassist Marion Hayden is Kresge’s 2025 Eminent Artist

Marion Hayden, an award-winning jazz bassist, composer, educator and mentor, is the Kresge Eminent Artist for 2025. 

Hayden, 68, is the 17th recipient of the annual award, which provides $100,000 to the artist.
 
Established in 2008, the prestigious award recognizes metropolitan Detroit artists for a lifetime of achievement and contributions to the region’s cultural communities.

Hayden is the third jazz musician and the first musician of her generation to receive the award, following the legendary Wendell Harrison and the late Marcus Belgrave, both of whom Hayden played with and learned from. 

Hayden came to national prominence as a co-founder of Grammy-nominated Straight Ahead, which was the first all-female jazz group to be signed to Atlantic Records in the 1980s, and one of the few all-female jazz groups to record for a major label since the big band era. Straight Ahead launched the national career of violinist and MacArthur Genius Award winner Regina Carter and continues to perform around Detroit and beyond.

Hayden’s collaborations are wide-ranging: DeeDee Bridgewater, Kirk Lightsey, Steve Turre, Jon Faddis, Kamau Kenyatta, James Carter, Kareem Riggins, Terri Lyne Carrington, Ingrid Jensen, Nicolas Payton, Alvin Waddles, Charlie Gabriel of the Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Cindy Blackmon Santana and Gregory Porter.

Hayden’s Eminent Artist award comes with the production of a short film to debut this spring and the production of a printed monograph that will be distributed to the public.

The awards, funded by The Kresge Foundation, are administered by the Kresge Arts in the Detroit office of the College for Creative Studies.

313 Scene

  • The Motown Museum launched a sweepstakes that offers fans a chance to catch Smokey Robinson live in concert at the Venetian Theatre in Las Vegas on April 5. Plus, a customized museum experience the following month. (Detroit Free Press)
  • The Weeknd added a second Ford Field performance to his upcoming tour. He will now perform at the Detroit stadium on May 25, in addition to his previously announced May 24 show. (The Detroit News) 
  • There’s a two-for-one deal this week for upcoming shows at Detroit venues courtesy of the ticketing company AXS. The promotion applies to certain shows at the Masonic Temple, Royal Oak Music Theatre, and Majestic Theatre. (Detroit Metro Times) 

What’s Going on in the D?

  • The Rocksteady Disco crew will honor the legacy of David Mancuso’s The Loft at 9 p.m. on Friday. Feb. 14 with “Love Saves the Day” at Spotlite Detroit. Music will feature Eddie C, Elado, Eddie Logix, B2B and Peter Croce. Tickets are $16.95.
  • JoJo’s ShakeBAR is hosting the ultimate Galentine’s Day Soiree from 6-8 p.m. on Feb. 13. The festivities include a welcome drink and “girl dinner” bites like mozzarella sticks, JoJo’s fries, onion rings and a dessert spread. Other activities include friendship bracelet making, rom-coms and more. Cost is $40 per person. Tickets are non-transferrable and non-refundable.
  • Disney On Ice is bringing “Let’s Dance!” to the Little Caesars Arena from Feb. 13-16. The show will feature characters from Wish, Moana, the Little Mermaid, Lion King, Frozen and more. Find tickets and showtimes, here.

Micah Walker joins the BridgeDetroit team covering the arts and culture and education in the city. Originally from the metro Detroit area, she is back in her home state after two years in Ohio. Micah...