313 Presents, Olympia Development Of Michigan, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment And Comerica Bank Present Detroit Public Schools Community District’s An Evening Of Fine Arts

(DETROIT – April 28, 2022) – 313 Presents, Olympia Development of Michigan, Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and Comerica Bank, in partnership with the City of Detroit Office of Arts, Culture & Entrepreneurship (Detroit ACE), are proud to present Detroit Public Schools Community District’s (DPSCD) An Evening of Fine Arts at the Fox Theatre on Thursday, May 19 at 7 p.m. The signature event returns to the Fox Theatre for the first time since 2013 and kicks off DPSCD’s inaugural Come Home Alumni Gala Weekend.

An Evening of Fine Arts is the culminating activity for more than 200 students who were selected from DPSCD’s middle and high school fine and performing arts departments and showcases the tremendous talent within the district. It is a celebration of the students’ achievements and provides them with a one-of-a-kind experience that will shape their future endeavors. The community will see performances by the top instrumental music ensembles, vocal music ensembles, dance companies and theatre excerpts. In addition, original works of art by the district’s top visual artists will be displayed in the Fox Theatre’s Grand Lobby.

"Students' creativity, voice, and critical thinking skills are sharpened through the arts. As a foundation of our reform, we established an art or music program at each DPSCD school because we knew that our students' talents would not be developed without this programming. More importantly, access to the arts allows students to define and understand beauty. This simply develops better people and citizens," said Nikolai Vitti, Superintendent, DPSCD.

"The return of An Evening of Fine Arts is a strong signal of the district’s return to its rich legacy. It continues to be encouraging to see business partners and organizations embrace our whole child commitment to our students and families. DPSCD has served as the pipeline for so many talented performers through the decades. Events such as this allow us to see our students’ talents annually on one of Detroit’s largest and most historic stages: The Fox Theatre.” 

Through their partnership, 313 Presents, Olympia Development and Comerica Bank are supporting community initiatives focused on youth empowerment. The philanthropic outreach combines resources from each partner to engage and connect community organizations and schools to the Fox Theatre. In the fall, the partnership will launch a Workforce Development Lunch and Learn Series with Detroit students.

“An Evening of Fine Arts will display the outstanding talent of our community’s youth,” said Mike Ritchie, Comerica Bank Michigan Market President. “There is no better venue for this evening of exceptionalism to take place than at the Fox Theatre, which is one of the world’s most majestic and historic venues. When we began our partnership with 313 Presents and Ilitch Sports + Entertainment, we wanted to ensure that our community engagements worked together to empower and impact youth, and this evening provides the grand stage for some of Detroit’s finest students to showcase their gifts in what we hope is a night that they, their families and our community cherish for a long time.”

The Ilitch organization has proudly supported Detroit public school students over the years through financial and in-kind donations, volunteerism, life-changing internship and educational programs, and more. An Evening of Fine Arts is a natural extension of this long-standing partnership. 

“We are honored to join with Detroit Public Schools Community District to bring this signature event back to the historic Fox Theatre, shining the spotlight on these phenomenal students in Detroit as they pursue their dreams and inspire those around them,” said Christopher Ilitch, President and CEO of Ilitch Holdings, Inc. “We applaud these young people for their dedication to excellence in academics and in the fine arts, and we’re proud to support them in achieving their incredible potential as students and members of the community."

The Fox Theatre, which celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2018, has hosted the world’s greatest performers, and to this day, continues to provide generations of Detroiters countless memories as one of the most iconic theaters in the world while displaying its versatility in hosting world-class entertainment events, concerts, family shows and community functions.

“313 Presents is proud to bring An Evening of Fine Arts to the Fox Theatre once again,” said 313 Presents President Howard Handler. “Offering DPSCD students the opportunity to showcase their incredible talent on the same stage in which the biggest names in show business have performed aligns perfectly with our mission to provide access to amazing entertainment and alive moments inspired by the soul of Detroit. Our hope is this will provide inspiration and support to students who have a love for the arts. Through a combined effort with DPSCD, Olympia Development, Comerica Bank and Detroit ACE, 313 Presents looks forward to hosting An Evening of Fine Arts at the Fox Theatre.”

Rochelle Riley, the city’s Director of Arts and Culture, said “It is vital that we not only celebrate excellence, but celebrate it early. Our children who want to become part of one of the nation’s most vibrant and accomplished creative workforces, need to know that they don’t have to leave Detroit to be great and they can take great stages before Carnegie Hall. They can be showcased at one of our preeminent venues – the Fox Theatre. They deserve it, and so does the city. I cannot wait to see them shine.”

About An Evening of Fine Arts

An Evening of Fine Arts began as a way in which to showcase the advanced music programs in the Detroit Public Schools. Over the years it grew to include other art forms, including dance, theatre and visual arts. Some of America’s most prolific artists were nurtured in the Detroit Public Schools and many have performed as students in this event. EFA took place at the Fox Theatre for many years to sold-out audiences. In 2014, the district moved the evet to school auditoriums due to lack of funding needed to produce the concert at the Fox Theatre. Today, there is a renewed commitment within the Detroit Public Schools Community District to ensuring the arts in the education of Detroit’s children. All DPSCD schools proudly have a music and/or arts program.

Admission to An Evening of Fine Arts is free and open to the public, but patrons must have a ticket to enter. Tickets are available in advance at participating schools, the DPSCD Office of Fine Arts and Eventbrite.com.

For more info about An Evening of Fine Arts visit Detroitk12.org and follow the district on Facebook at Detroit Public Schools Community District, Twitter at @Detroitk12, and Instagram at @Detroitk12.

About the Fox Theatre

The Fox Theatre, headquartered in The District Detroit, is the city’s crown jewel. A premier venue for live music and entertainment and one of the largest and busiest theaters in the world, the Fox Theatre was established in 1928 and purchased by Michael and Marian Ilitch in 1987. In 1985, the theatre was listed on the United States National Register of Historic Places, and in 1989 it was recognized as a National

Historic Landmark after the Ilitch organization completed a $12 million restoration, returning the venue to its original splendor. In addition to hosting some of the biggest names in show business, the historic venue features a collection of award-winning Broadway musicals, interactive stage shows and treasured holiday favorites. The world-class theatre ranked sixth in the nation and seventh in the world in Pollstar’s 2019 Year-End Rankings for Top 200 Theatres.

313 Presents

313 Presents is Detroit’s premier live entertainment company. Inspired by the soul of Detroit, 313 Presents promotes and produces concerts, theatrical productions, sporting events and family shows at six world-class venues across southeast Michigan including Little Caesars Arena, the historic Fox Theatre featuring Proud Partner Comerica Bank, Comerica Park, Pine Knob Music Theatre Presented by Proud Partners United Wholesale Mortgage, Trinity Health and Ally, Meadow Brook Amphitheatre and Michigan Lottery Amphitheatre. Headquartered in The District Detroit, 313 Presents is a joint venture between Ilitch Sports + Entertainment and Pistons Sports & Entertainment. For additional information, visit 313Presents.com.

Olympia Development of Michigan

Olympia Development of Michigan, an Ilitch company, is a real estate development firm dedicated to improving the lives of people who live, work, and play in Detroit and beyond. Through catalytic developments, innovative design and construction, and inclusive placemaking, Olympia Development continues to create jobs, increase tax base, and grow businesses in Detroit while steadily creating one of the world’s most dynamic sports and entertainment destinations, The District Detroit. The District Detroit unites world-class theatres, four professional sports teams and three multi-use sports facilities, including Comerica Park – home of the Detroit Tigers, and the state-of-the-art, award-winning Little Caesars Arena – home of the Detroit Red Wings, the Detroit Pistons and world-class entertainment and community events. The District Detroit also includes retail, residential, educational, and commercial office developments, such as the Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University, the Detroit Center for Innovation, and the Little Caesars World Headquarters. Olympia Development’s restoration of Detroit’s historic icons, such as the Eddystone residences, is bringing much needed market-rate and affordable housing to the core of the city. The past and future economic impact of The District Detroit to the region and the state of Michigan is estimated to exceed $4 billion, driving job creation and entrepreneurship for the betterment of the greater community.

About Comerica Bank

Comerica Bank, a subsidiary of Comerica Incorporated, has served Michigan longer than any other bank with a continuous presence dating back over 172 years to its Detroit founding in 1849. It is the largest bank employer in metro Detroit and over 4,500 employees (FTE) statewide. With one of the largest banking center networks in Michigan, Comerica nurtures lifelong relationships with unwavering integrity and financial prudence. Comerica positively impacts the lives of Michigan residents by helping customers be successful, providing financial support that assists hundreds of charitable organizations, and actively participating in Detroit’s downtown revitalization. Comerica Incorporated (NYSE: CMA) is a financial services company strategically aligned by three business segments: The Commercial Bank, The Retail Bank, and Wealth Management. Follow on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Comerica, Twitter: @ComericaBank and Instagram: @comerica_bank.

About The City of Detroit Office of Arts, Culture, and Entrepreneurship

Established in 2019, the City’s Office of Arts, Culture, and Entrepreneurship oversees the City’s investment in and support of one of the best and brightest creative workforces in the country. The Office also works to ensure that opportunities to experience arts and culture in all its forms are available to residents year-round across the city. The Office's work is guided by Rochelle Riley, Director of Arts and Culture for the City. More information can be found at www.detroitartsandculture.com.