Creative Cafe

Kristen interviews local artist and educator, Shonda Buchanan, about her newest book release, a book of poetry entitled The Lost Songs of Nina Simone. Originally aired on Saturday, June 21, 2025, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, MI.

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Museum Program Coordinator Stephanie Willoughby and KVCC Instructor and local artist Aubrey Rodgers about the new interactive Wallace and Grommit, and Shaun the Sheep exhibit called Sheer Genius! Originally aired on Saturday, June 14, 2025, at 8 AM on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen enjoys a plein air interview with Art on the Mall artists Jasper Hursley and Kenyatta Ray, Programs Director Kim Shaw, and Kalamazoo Concert Band Board Member Susan Carter, discussing all the fun planned for the second day of Art on the Mall and Sunday's Concert in the Park in Bronson Park.  Originally aired on Saturday, June 7, 2025, at 8 am on WKZO AM 590 and 106.9 FM.

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen sits down with Christopher Terkos, Executive Director of Outfront; Nancy Waldoch, the Advancement Liaison for the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts; and Kim Shaw, the Arts Council’s Program Director top discuss the JumpstArt weekend, June 6-8 in which our community will be able to enjoy, Kalamazoo Pride, KIA Art Fair in Bronson Park, the Art on the Mall Festival, the Doo Dah Parade, and the first Concert in the Park in Bronson Park. Originally aired on Saturday, May 31, 2025at 8 AM on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen sits down with Keith Kirchoff, the President of SPLICE. This is a national organization with ties to Kalamazoo through Western Michigan University, exploring the intricate world of meshing electronic and acoustic music. Originally aired on Saturday, May 24, 2025, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Kim Shaw, Programs director; Ed Genesis, artist and producer; and Barbie Dunn, recreation programs/events manager for the City of Portage, about their roles in putting together the different music series that make up part of the 13-venue, 125-performance schedule from May through September 2025. Originally aired on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Laura Weiler, independent artist and illustrator, Eric Schmidt, web designer and developer, and Eric Oliphant, membership and operation director at the Arts Council about the upcoming Artist Happy Hour, set to take place on Wednesday, May 21st at 5:30 pm at the Kalamazoo Promise. We spend a little time talking about the importance of an online presence for artists, what that looks like, and what to expect at the next artist happy hour. Originally aired on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at 8 AM on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen interviews Negar Afazel about her journey to the US and her latest project, the Kalamazoo Violin Choir. Originally aired on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 8 am on WKZO 590 AM and 106.9 FM.

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

Kristen talks with Kim Shaw, programs director, and Brendan Barnes, local artist, about the May Art Hop - Brendan's work, including his new book of poetry, as well as the record-setting participation set for this month's hop. Originally aired on Saturday, April 26, 2025at 8 am on WKZO590 AM and 106.9 FM.

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org

We sit down with Rebekah Kik, Deputy City Manager for Kalamazoo, and Kim Shaw, Mural Festival Director, to discuss the inaugural mural festival for Kalamazoo, coming in September 2025. Originally aired on Saturday, April 19, 2025 at 8 am on WKZO 590 Am and 106.9 FM in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Creative Cafe is a program of the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo. Home - KalamazooArts.org