Michigan Creates

Host Ara Topouzian talks with Rodney Lontine, President & CEO of the Flint Institute of Music, about the transformative power of music education and performance. The conversation explores how FIM expands access to the arts, nurtures talent, and strengthens community connection throughout Michigan.

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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 Topouzian explores the history and ongoing relevance of Detroit’s Scarab Club with Kathryn Dimond. This episode highlights the club’s century-long legacy as a creative gathering place for artists, writers, and cultural leaders, and its continued role in Michigan’s artistic community.

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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 episode, Ara Topouzian talks with JoLee Kirkikis and Kailey Smith-Barth of ArtPrize about public art, creative placemaking, and audience engagement. They discuss how large-scale art experiences invite participation, spark dialogue, and connect artists with communities across Michigan.

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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 a special solo episode, Ara Topouzian reflects on Immigrant Heritage Month and the vital role immigrant artists play in shaping Michigan’s cultural landscape. Through personal storytelling and broader perspective, this episode explores identity, memory, and creativity as forces for connection and resilience.

Be sure to check out the companion blog post at HyeTimes for more insights and reflections.

Background music: Realities & Flower Song
Eastern Winds

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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 Topouzian speaks with Lisa Howard, Executive Director of the Plymouth Community Arts Council, about the impact of community-based arts programming. They discuss public art, youth education, and events that make creativity accessible while strengthening community identity in southeast Michigan.

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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 episode, Ara Topouzian talks with Michigan artist Julie Dawson, an illustrator, author, and creative storyteller whose work spans decades. They explore her artistic journey, creative process, and contributions to arts education and community engagement — including how art can inspire imagination and connection across generations.

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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 solo episode of Michigan Creates, host Ara Topouzian reflects on the role of culture, memory, and artistic expression in the aftermath of genocide and collective trauma. Drawing connections between the Armenian Genocide and the Holocaust, Ara shares how music, storytelling, and the arts serve as vessels for remembrance and survival when history alone is not enough. This episode centers on why cultural preservation is an active responsibility and how creative expression carries identity across generations.

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

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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 episode of Michigan Creates, host Ara Topouzian talks with Audra Pieknik, Executive Director of The Art Experience, about expanding access to visual arts through education, exhibitions, and community programming. Audra shares how The Art Experience supports artists, engages learners of all ages, and builds meaningful creative connections throughout southeast Michigan.

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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 Topouzian sits down with Sarah Calderini, Executive Director of the Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra, to discuss leadership, sustainability, and community engagement in orchestral music. The conversation explores how the A2SO balances artistic excellence with audience development, education, and accessibility in today’s evolving cultural environment. 

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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 episode of Michigan Creates, Ara Topouzian talks with Elaine Sims and Laura Mettam of the University of Michigan Medicine Gifts of Art program. They discuss how art and music are integrated into healthcare settings to support healing, reflection, and human connection, and how artists play a meaningful role in clinical and public spaces.

For more info: https://www.michiganmedicine.org/community/arts-health-home

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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