Detroit is lucky. Its founders valued art. Its founders prepared the cultural soil well, so that ideas flourish here. Music grows here. Theatre grows here. Fine Art grows here. So informed visitors can come here on any given day and pick a bouquet of cultural events that will enrich them for the rest of their lives. Thedetroiter.com provides reviews, essays, interviews, pictures, poems, and other blog entries to share this great city with the world by “unearthing a great american city one story at a time.” It has been doing this since 2002.

Starting today, I take the daunting position of tilling this massive cultural garden to continue its successes in sharing Detroit’s successes. I, of course, need other gardeners, so I have reached out to encourage artists, art therapists, art enthusiasts, and other art experts to write for us. Soon, you will see regular features that build on thedetroiter.com’s past format, yet expands it to explore and encourage new voices in new formats. Among other items, you will see the old standbys of essays, interviews, and art reviews, but you will also see regular entries on the business of art, the power of art as therapy, and the importance of art education. We will also have regular contributions from artists in other Cities, because in this information age we need all the information we can get. Additionally, we plan to host lectures and gallery tours to further engage the community.

Thedetroiter.com is unlucky. We have to keep up with this ever growing creative garden that is slowly, but surely, covering the city. Of course thedetroiter.com is also lucky, because as we try to do our part to pick and highlight Detroit’s cultural events we are inspired to see more and to do more.

PS — Until I have everything squared away here, please email me any questions, comments, story ideas, etc., at colindarke@hotmail.com