Press Release: KIA Opens Annual Fundraiser Silent Auction to General Public for First Time
The Kalamazoo Institute of Arts UNFRAMED: Soirée Silent Auction fundraiser bidding opens online to the public Saturday, October 10 at 8am! This silent auction offers one-of-a-kind artwork and wonderful experiences at all price points and raises vital funds for the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts’ operations, programs, events, collection, and the Kirk Newman Art School. Thank you for your support as we continue to ensure that art is for everyone.
We hope you’ll join us virtually for this special fundraiser with opportunities to bid on stunning artwork by George Kennard, Thomas Kendall, Milford Zornes, Menard Kingsley, and more.
The silent auction also offers exciting experiences for all including a WMU Ultimate Bronco Fan Package, KNAS Ceramics Team Building for 10, Bell’s Brewery Immersive Dinner and Tour, Lake Michigan Salmon Fishing Charter for 6 , and so much more!
About Our UNFRAMED: Soirée Honorees
This year’s sold out UNFRAMED: Soirée will be held on October 17th with special thanks to our honorees, Jim and Carol Carter.
The Carter family has been an integral part of the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts for three generations. Their commitment, participation, and generosity spans the entire organization, from Kirk Newman Art School youth camps and adult classes, to Art Detectives, ArtBreaks, docent training, exhibition openings, annual events, and our Free July offering. Jim and Carol understand the importance of art to the health of a community and they have moved this understanding into action in support of the KIA with their time, talent, and resources.
Make a Donation In Honor of Jim and Carol Carter
Learn more about UNFRAMED: Soirée here.
Bidding Registration
Participants must register to be able to place their bid in the silent auction.
Silent Auction bidding opens online to the public: Saturday, October 10 at 8am
Silent Auction bidding closes online and in-person: Saturday, October 17 at 9:15pm
For more information please contact Caroline Miota, Membership & Database Associate at .
About the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts
Founded in 1924, the Kalamazoo Institute of Arts (KIA) is a nationally accredited art museum and community art school that brings people together through creativity, learning, and shared experience. Each year, more than 100,000 visitors explore 10–15 rotating exhibitions across the museum’s 10 galleries, drawn from a permanent collection of more than 4,600 works spanning American, European, Asian, and contemporary art.
Beyond the galleries, the KIA is a place where art is not only viewed but made. The Kirk Newman Art School (KNAS) welcomes more than 3,400 enrollments annually, offering hands-on instruction in ceramics, sculpture, jewelry, drawing and painting, printmaking, fiber, photography, glass fusing, and enrichment programs for all ages. Students learn directly from professional artists and educators in a dynamic, studio-based environment.
The museum campus also includes a multi-media auditorium, a publicly accessible art library, an interactive children’s gallery, and the KIA Gallery Shop featuring work by local, regional, and international artists.
Through exhibitions, education, and community partnerships, the KIA serves as a cultural anchor for Southwest Michigan — a place where art sparks curiosity, strengthens connection, and inspires new ways of seeing. Learn more at kiarts.org.