Nonprofit Spotlight
The Nonprofit Spotlight in July is on Linkage Community!
Linkage Community forms a creative network with and for people directly impacted by incarceration. Together, they dismantle isolation, build bridges of opportunity, and connect through creativity.
Linkage Community is a member-driven network of artists across Michigan who share lived experience of incarceration. Members lead the work — showing and selling their art, teaching and taking workshops, mentoring one another, and earning income from their creative work. Lived experience of incarceration is part of who they are and part of what makes their art matter. These are artists whose creative work contributes to communities, shapes culture, and opens new conversations — because of what they know, not in spite of it.
That work shows up in the world: exhibitions, performances, showcases, and murals across the state — and members whose art you can commission, hire, or collect. And they’re building new ways for the public to take part — community workshops, events, and collaborations with partners who share their values.
Linkage became independent in August 2025, after more than two decades within the University of Michigan’s Prison Creative Arts Project. Today it’s 200+ members strong across 25 counties.
Details
Events to support Linkage Community
Linkage One Year Anniversary but more events to come!
August 1, 2026
No ticketed events are on the calendar yet, but they host exhibitions, showcases, and workshops throughout the year, and August 1 marks their first anniversary as an independent organization. Follow them on social media or sign up for their newsletter by clicking the event link to catch what's next.
Resources Provided
Linkage is a free community for creative individuals with lived experience of having been incarcerated in a Michigan prison (state or federal). Members get peer support and navigation, warm referrals to service organizations, mentorship and artistic development, chances to show and sell their work, and paid creative opportunities. If that's you, you can join here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdMYZxJs-vtN9Dk0CAqVeLCcfh6dZ-Eh5osBBCWPATI8u3NGw/viewform
How to Support
A financial gift is the most direct way to support the full work of Linkage — programs, paid creative opportunities for members, and the day-to-day that keeps it all running. You can give at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/linkarmswithlinkage. Following and sharing members' work matters too; visibility creates real opportunities. You can also bring this work to your own community: hire, commission, exhibit Linkage artists' work, or contract with them for a workshop or program for your business or organization. Just reach out — they’d love to talk.
Other Donations
In-kind donations of art supplies, office supplies, and other materials; pro bono professional services (legal, accounting, design, grant research); and hands-on help at in-person events are welcome! If you have something in mind, email Frannie at [email protected] and they'll find the right fit.
Volunteering
Their volunteer program is currently in development, and they’d love to have you on the team! The best first step is to email Frannie at [email protected] and tell them what you'd like to do to help.
Why Zing Loves Linkage
Zingerman's believes in giving everyone the tools to express themselves creatively and the power that art can provide for healing, growing, and connecting. For this particular community, which is full of people who are too often cast aside and not given the space to share their stories, we are grateful to Linkage for providing a support system that lets people know they're included, they matter, what they do matters, and that they have a future.