Ara talks with Julie Dawson a Michigan-based artist whose creative journey spans more than five decades. A gifted storyteller, author, and illustrator, Julie has built an extraordinary career bringing imagination to life through her art. 

A passionate advocate for the Girl Scouts and other nonprofits, Julie has used her talents to support meaningful causes. She’s also the creator of Sillbillies —a whimsical and inspiring children's book series that delights readers of all ages.

Michigan Creates is a podcast series highlighting artists and art & culture organization in Michigan. Produced and hosted by Ara Topouzian, award winning traditional Armenian musician. Podcast theme music: Song: Sun Never Sets Music by: CreatorMix.com

In this special episode of Michigan Creates, host Ara Topouzian takes a deeply personal journey into the resilience of culture in the face of genocide. Reflecting on the Armenian Genocide, the Jewish Holocaust, and other tragic events, he explores how art, music, and storytelling have played a vital role in survival and remembrance. Through history and personal experience, this episode is a powerful reminder that culture is both fragile and enduring—and that preserving it is an act of resistance. Tune in for a thought-provoking discussion on the importance of honoring and safeguarding cultural heritage.  

Background Music: Ara Topouzian (Kanun) and Mal Barsamian (oud), Homage: A Tribute to Detroit Armenian Musicians © 2015, Ara Topouzian.

Michigan Creates is a podcast series highlighting artists and art & culture organization in Michigan. Produced and hosted by Ara Topouzian, award winning traditional Armenian musician. Podcast theme music: Song: Sun Never Sets Music by: CreatorMix.com

Ara talks with Audra Pieknik, Executive Director of The Art Experience.

The Art Experience in Michigan is a vibrant celebration of creativity, showcasing the diverse talents of local artists and fostering a deeper connection to the arts within the community. From gallery exhibitions to interactive workshops, this initiative offers a rich array of artistic experiences that highlight Michigan's dynamic art scene. Whether you're exploring contemporary works, engaging with thought-provoking installations, or participating in hands-on creative activities, The Art Experience is a unique opportunity to immerse yourself in the cultural heartbeat of the state, where art and community come together to inspire and unite.

Michigan Creates is a podcast series highlighting artists and art & culture organization in Michigan. Produced and hosted by Ara Topouzian, award winning traditional Armenian musician. Podcast theme music: Song: Sun Never Sets Music by: CreatorMix.com

Ara talks with Sarah Calderini, Executive Director of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra. 

The Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra (A2SO) is a professional ensemble based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, known for its dynamic performances and commitment to both classical and contemporary music. Founded in 1928, the orchestra performs a wide range of repertoire, from traditional symphonic works to innovative collaborations with local artists and composers. The A2SO serves as a cultural hub for the community, offering educational programs, outreach initiatives, and engaging concert experiences. Under the direction of its music director, the orchestra consistently seeks to foster a deep connection between music and audience while enhancing the cultural vibrancy of the Ann Arbor area.

Sarah brings a multifaceted perspective from a deep corporate, entrepreneurial and non-profit sector background. 

Michigan Creates is a podcast series highlighting artists and art & culture organization in Michigan. Produced and hosted by Ara Topouzian, award winning traditional Armenian musician. Podcast theme music: Song: Sun Never Sets Music by: CreatorMix.com

Ara chats with Elaine Sims and Laura Mettam about the Gifts of Art Program at University of Michigan Medicine. This program brings the arts into the environment of care to help restore hope, encourage personal agency, and honor human dignity. From live performances and walk-through exhibits to resources and concerts you can enjoy in your home, the Michigan Medicine Gifts of Art Program has something for everyone. For more info: https://www.michiganmedicine.org/community/arts-health-home

Michigan Creates is a podcast series highlighting artists and art & culture organization in Michigan. Produced and hosted by Ara Topouzian, award winning traditional Armenian musician. Podcast theme music: Song: Sun Never Sets Music by: CreatorMix.com

Ara chats with Monica Swartout-Bebow, Artistic and Executive Director of Kerrytown Concert House located in Ann Arbor, MI. Monica brings the breadth of nearly three decades of experience as a performing artist, teacher and businesswoman to the job, believing passionately that Kerrytown Concert House brings live performance to artists and music lovers in an up-close and personal way that is like no other in Ann Arbor. For more information: https://kerrytownconcerthouse.com

Michigan Creates is a podcast series highlighting artists and art & culture organization in Michigan. Produced and hosted by Ara Topouzian, award winning traditional Armenian musician. Podcast theme music: Song: Sun Never Sets Music by: CreatorMix.com

Ara chats with Amanda Stanger-Read is the Executive Director of the Great Lakes Performing Artist Associates (GLPAA), a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting performing artists throughout the Great Lakes region. With a passion for arts advocacy and a background in artist management, Amanda has been instrumental in fostering connections between talented performers and communities. Under her leadership, GLPAA helps bring diverse, world-class performances to venues large and small, enriching the cultural landscape of the region.

Michigan Creates is a podcast series highlighting artists and art & culture organization in Michigan. Produced and hosted by Ara Topouzian, award winning traditional Armenian musician. Podcast theme music: Song: Sun Never Sets Music by: CreatorMix.com

Ara chats Sarah Clare Corporandy, Co- Founder of Detroit Public Theatre.

In addition to her role as Co-Founder and Producing Artistic Director with Detroit Public Theatre, Sarah Clare is entering her 11th season at Chautauqua Theater Company at the Chautauqua Institution in New York, where she serves as the Managing Director. During her time at CTC, she has also served as the line producer for the Inter-arts collaborations of The Romeo and Juliet Project and Go West. Sarah Clare served as Managing Director for Philadelphia’s celebrated interdisciplinary ensemble Pig Iron Theater Co. and as company manager for Barrington Stage and New York Stage & Film. She served as an artistic partner with the Canadian-American cross-border Breathe Art Theatre Project and on the advisory boards of New York Shakespeare Exchange and the Serenbe Playhouse in Georgia. From 2009-2012, Sarah Clare held a full-time professorship at Savannah College of Art and Design, teaching in the master’s program for arts administration on both the Savannah and Atlanta campuses and through their online eLearning program, for which she developed new course curricula. She currently serves as a professor at SCAD. Her work has been published in the International Journal of the Arts in Society. 

Detroit Public Theatre produces nationally recognized plays and programs with world-class writers, directors, actors, and designers in the heart of Midtown Detroit’s thriving cultural district. We create bold, relevant work that illuminates the thrills, joys, and challenges of our shared human experience.

Michigan Creates is a podcast series highlighting artists and art & culture organization in Michigan. Produced and hosted by Ara Topouzian, award winning traditional Armenian musician. Podcast theme music: Song: Sun Never Sets Music by: CreatorMix.com

Ara chats with clarinetist Dave Bennett. 

Dave began his national touring career at the age of 14. He has been a featured soloist at Carnegie Hall with The New York Pops (2013) and has been featured with 35 other US and Canadian orchestras including Nashville, Houston, Detroit, Rochester, Omaha, Toronto, Calgary, Vancouver, Orlando, San Antonio, Jacksonville, Portland, OR and Portland, ME.  Some of his annual appearances include The Elkhart Jazz Festival, The Suncoast Classic Jazz Festival, The Arizona Classic Jazz Festival, The Sacramento Hot Jazz Jubilee, The Clambake Music Festival, and The Redwood Coast Music Festival.

Dave has been featured on NPR Radio’s “Jazz at Riverwalk.”  He made his European debut in 2008 at The Bern Jazz Festival (Switzerland) in a combo with jazz legends and Benny Goodman alumni guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and vibraphonist Peter Appleyard.  He has also shared the stage with Ken Peplowski, Byron Stripling, Marcus Printup, Aaron Diehl, and Bria Skonberg. 

He has been featured soloist on several jazz cruises, performing with Harry Allen, Warren Vache, Allan Vache, Banu Gibson, and Tardo Hammer. 

Dave is a recording artist on jazz label Mack Avenue Records. His second release, Blood Moon reached No. 24 on the Billboard Jazz charts in 2018.  

Michigan Creates is a podcast series highlighting artists and art & culture organization in Michigan. Produced and hosted by Ara Topouzian, award winning traditional Armenian musician. Podcast theme music: Song: Sun Never Sets Music by: CreatorMix.com

Ara chats with Dwayne Hayes, Founder & Executive Director of KickstART Farmington. 

KickstART Farmington (KSF) is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization based in Farmington Hills, Michigan (formerly known as Absinthe Arts 21). 

KSF is a multi-disciplinary arts organization building community through the arts by presenting local events, supporting the work of area writers and artists, and collaborating with others in our Farmington/Hills community to develop a vibrant and diverse arts scene.

Michigan Creates is a podcast series highlighting artists and art & culture organization in Michigan. Produced and hosted by Ara Topouzian, award winning traditional Armenian musician. Podcast theme music: Song: Sun Never Sets Music by: CreatorMix.com