Producers of Culture: The Litribune Retools Its Future

"We are producers of culture, not just consumers," says Public Relations Representative Dan Climie, 21, when discussing year-old The Litribune's evolution from a small group of college students throwing house parties centered around a Kinko's-produced magazine to a community action organization comprised of equal parts citizen journalism, constructive criticism, arts and philanthropy. 

Now speaking through a quarterly print publication and creative workshops for art and literature, The Litribune has been fundraising, promoting and supporting positive creative work throughout West Michigan since March 2009.  In its sophomore year, the organization is currently undergoing internal restructuring to better fit the needs of the community.

"We are at a pivotal crux for what we've learned," says The Litribune founder Benjamin Davey, also 21. "We can be more solid for the public. Shortly, we will be better equipped to inspire and assist the community."

Davey is referencing the soon-to-commence Kickstarter campaign intended to boost The Litribune to the next level of operation. The campaign, which hopes to raise only $750, would push The Litribune to become a proper nonprofit organization, a task the staff has been toiling over for the past four months.

"Nonprofit status means we gain access to federal, state and local funding" says Climie. "It will vastly enhance our scope and level of functioning."

A re-launch of the website and an update to the printed magazine will occur with such funding. Although the website had been operational months before the collective truly began to interact with the community, the first issue of The Litribune took seven months to produce and what was originally to be a monthly publication became a quarterly.  Along with improvements to The Litribune website and magazine, Climie looks forward to expanding services to educational programs, a documentary film, and weekly community newsletters.

In the past, The Litribune has taken part in dozens of fundraisers, first in the form of collegiate house parties in the "student ghetto" of Kalamazoo, and later as sponsors at charity benefits.
 
"We would be throwing a party and I thought 'we could be doing this for a purpose'," says Climie. "At the time, I was coming out of my shell, and I would meet so many creative people I would want to collaborate with." 

In May 2009, The Litribune hosted its first residential benefit featuring local music acts. Davey claims the music scene of any community is a gateway to other creative outlets like poetry readings and visual art galleries. A year later, they tested this theory again by sponsoring the Midwest Fest, a three-day celebration involving multiple venues and musicians from several Midwestern states.

Now the group is stepping away from musical benefits to more social programs, saying many musicians are tapped for charity events each month and don't see much financial support to begin with. In a sense, they were taking money away from the artists they were trying to help.

The major backbone for developing and fostering creative growth will take place at a residential home located at 110 Fuller Ave. SE. Featuring a two-story artist studio housed inside a barn, the workshop environment strips away pretentious academic trappings and relaxes the critical atmosphere to heighten fun and participation. Past residencies at the studio, also known as "The Barn," have included artist Rochelle Ryneveldt and band Dead Stags. A writers' workshop meets each Monday evening, and an artists' workshop meets every other Monday. Both workshops begin at 8:30 p.m.

The Litribune also continues to take part in community events. Ideas are running rampant for their entry into Art Peers this autumn, located at Urban Pharm (1025 Wealthy St. SE). Additionally, collaborations ("And not competitions!" according to Davey) with TRNSFR Magazine's Alvin Fisher and Neal Kaufman of Eoaura Publishing, Hugo Claudin of Mexican Sans Frontiers, as well as The DAAC will continue.

 "There are too many people that do nothing," says member Nick Nortier. "[They have] dormant energy. They are full of talk -- talk of ambitions, but no follow through. Kids at 19 and 20 years old are burned out. "

Davey adds, "We are here to help foster their growth. Improve their quality of life with artistic outlets. Help give them a voice."



Matt Simpson Siegel is a Michigan-based writer whose work has appeared in many magazines and websites, on stages, screens, and radio. His most recent works include the nihilistic comedy "GR30K" and a dining column with REVUE magazine.

Photos:

Benjamin Davey

Nick Nortier

Dan Climie


Nick Nortier, Dan Climie, and Benjamin Davey

Photographs by Brian Kelly -All Rights Reserved