Buckham Gallery announced its upcoming exhibitions for December 2019, opening today, December 13 and continuing through January 4 2020.

It’s not too late to get tickets to see “The Hip Hop Nutcracker” at The Whiting today — a holiday mash-up for the entire family, directed and choreographed by Jennifer Weber, The Hip Hop Nutcracker, which is celebrating its fifth anniversary, is a contemporary dance spectacle set to Tchaikovsky’s timeless music. A unique and joyful event, this evening-length production is performed by a supercharged cast of a dozen all-star dancers, a DJ, a violinist, and MC Kurtis Blow, one of hip hop’s founding fathers, who opens the show with a short set.

Celebrating its 10th anniversary this year, the Fenton Community Orchestra is one of Fenton’s finest gems. Led by Andrew David Perkins, Director/Conductor, the Orchestra was co-founded by three Fenton residents: Jennifer Fleck, Lisa Bayer and Kirsten Tesner, who wanted to bring a multi-generational orchestra to the area and give people of all ages the opportunity to play.

For gallery owner Annie Anglim, art is much more than simple expression. It is about inclusion, pushing boundaries and affecting a positive change in the world. “That’s why I named the gallery ‘Cause & Affect,’” explains Anglim. “Here, we are supporting various causes and we want to affect the Greater Flint community by giving a portion of our proceeds to non-profits. It’s art with a purpose.”

As part of Flint Institute of Music’s Music Around Town Series of events, the Festival of India will take place this upcoming Saturday, November 23 from 4-8:30pm. The festival is a celebration of Indian culture and is presented in collaboration with Nrityanjali dance who will be performing Colors of India. Nrityanjali dance was founded by Ashoka Rao and is committed to performing, preserving and propagating Indian performing arts through dance, music and theatre. Nrityanjali specializes in the Indian dance forms: Bharatnatyam, Kathak and Folk.

Already feeling cooped up at home? Want to get out of the house for a few? Now is the perfect chance, tonight marks the first performance of “Wait Until Dark” by the Flint Community Players. The show begins at 7:30pm and is sponsored by Greater Flint Arts Council Share Art Genesee Grants Program.

Can you feel the beat? This weekend is the much anticipated, annual Kuungana Drum & Dance Conference! This festive workshop features master drummers and dancers from all over the world. Hear rhythms and see dance styles from the nations of Africa and beyond. From November 8-10, attendees will have the chance to learn West African drum & dance from unique instructors specializing in the djembe, sabar and dundun instruments; as well as Kutiro and Congolese dance styles. All classes will be taught at the Flint Masonic Temple.

Flint Trading Co. in Downtown Flint is featuring the fascinating and complex work of award-winning and nationally recognized sculptor Mark Beltchenko at Friday’s ARTWALK. This solo show should not be missed. This Detroit area artist weaves ever deepening layers upon layers of stories in carved stone, steel and wood. Meticulous in detail and dialogue, his work serves as a meditation on our current lives and political hypocrisies. If you do not immediately recognize the discourse, that’s okay, just allow yourself to linger a while. Beltchenko is a quiet man who’s work tells the stories on his behalf.

Tomorrow, October 10 marks the first day of the annual Flint Festival of Quilts. The festival runs from Thursday through Saturday and takes place at a variety of Downtown Flint locations.

The Fifth Annual Flint Hispanic Festival, held last month in Downtown Flint, was rich in color, music, dancing, food and culture. Presented by El Ballet Folklórico Estudiantil (EBFE), the festival celebrates and acknowledges the contributions of the Hispanic and Latin American communities to American culture. “The festival went really well!” exclaims Susan Quintanilla, Founder and Director of EBFE. “Well over 1,500 people attended.”

Alright, wordsmiths. It’s time to get your write on! The Flint Festival of Writers begins on Friday, September 13, with a kick-off party at the Ferris Wheel from 6pm-9pm. Join your local writers for food, drink and live music. Jump into some creative writing activities and find a new story to latch onto during a free book giveaway.

Don’t miss it art lovers! Friday, September 6 will be the last day of the Mott Community College Faculty Exhibition sponsored by the Greater Flint Arts Council. The exhibit showcases original works of art created by the Mott art faculty. The 4,000 sq. ft gallery at Greater Flint Arts Council is filled with wonderful works of art in a large variety of mediums. Admission to the gallery is free and it is open today, Thursday and Friday from 9am-5pm.