The Detroit Institute of Arts is Detroit and southeast Michigan’s cultural heart. The museum receives over 600,000 visitors each year – more than any other Michigan art organization. It contains the first Van Gogh to enter a U.S. art museum collection, as well as Diego Rivera’s Detroit Industry murals. The New York Times hailed the murals in 2015, as “probably as close as this country gets to the Sistine Chapel.”  

The Cultural Living Room Project enhanced an iconic space at the center of the DIA, an inner courtyard named Kresge Court. With support from ArtPlace, the space was transformed through major structural upgrades. It continues to offer innovative programming and weekly live music.

Kresge Court reopened to the public, as the Cultural Living Room, in June 2013. The unveiling followed major capital improvements that included improved lighting, seating, cabinetry and pergola. The room provides free Wi-Fi as well as scheduled live music and lectures. It serves as a gathering spot and favorite place to study, converse, meet and reflect. The room is used throughout the day by creative professionals, residents, students and others. These guests work, dine, socialize, study, and relax, in addition to enjoying the space for meetings, as well as solitary pursuits. The renovation has been extremely successful. Since the reimagined room’s debut, food sales in Kresge Court have increased by over 400%. Approximately 330 guests visit the room each day.