The City of Farmington Hills Special Services Cultural Arts Division, with support from the Farmington Area Arts Commission, is pleased to announce an exciting new addition to the Farmington Hills Public Art Program. For the first time, the program has introduced a literary component designed to explore the dynamic relationship between visual and written expression.

 

These literary works—ranging from poetry and prose to essays and song lyrics—are exhibited alongside the images that inspired them in the Rotating Exhibits Gallery at City Hall. The exhibit runs through July 25 and gives visitors a unique opportunity to experience the interplay of written and visual art.

 

The community is invited to the City’s inaugural Literary Arts Reading and Reception on Wednesday, June 25 from 6-8 p.m. at City Hall, located at 31555 W. Eleven Mile Road. Featured poets and writers will read their original works aloud. Eleven individuals were selected for this inaugural showcase, offering a wide range of creative perspectives inspired by the accompanying visual art on display.

 

“Being witness to visual art is not a static experience, but rather an ongoing conversation between the artist, the viewer, the writer and the wider community,” said Rachel Timlin, City of Farmington Hills Special Services Department cultural arts supervisor.

 

This initiative reflects the City’s ongoing commitment to fostering diverse artistic expression and expanding access to cultural programming. By integrating literary arts into the Public Art Program, it showcases the multifaceted mediums of art and provides an opportunity for local creative writers to be highlighted and celebrated.

 

The 2024/2025 Farmington Hills Public Art Program, which was established in 2010, features more than 60 artists with diverse and eclectic style, created by artists ranging from raw talents, fresh out of College for Creative Studies to seasoned professionals skilled in the Impressionist style. The works on display feature a variety of media, including clay, metal, fiber, paint and photography, with subjects ranging from very contemporary to traditional. As part of the Public Art Program, several exhibits rotate throughout the year in the gallery at City Hall. The City of Farmington Hills is currently accepting artist applications to be featured in the 2026/2027 installment of the Public Art Program.

 

The City of Farmington Hills has the largest dedicated municipal Cultural Arts Division in the state of Michigan. The Division coordinates arts programming for the community, including classes, events, and activities in visual and performing arts, and year-round performances at The Hawk Theatre, to expose diverse populations to the arts. The Cultural Arts Division also coordinates ART on the GRAND, an annual juried fine art fair, that the City of Farmington Hills hosts in collaboration with the Farmington Downtown Development Authority. The City’s Cultural Arts Division works to empower makers of all ages and abilities in The Hawk Makerspace, an immersive facility that allows makers to access a variety of state-of-the art tools and equipment, as well as a creative community with a wealth of resources and knowledge, to grow a new hobby or skill, from sewing to woodworking and more.

 

Visitors can view the exhibit during City Hall’s regular hours, Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. For more information about the exhibit or the Public Art Program, please contact the City of Farmington Hills Cultural Arts Division at 248-699-6709.

 

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