Detroit Soup

History

Detroit SOUP was founded in the Mexicantown neighborhood of Detroit in February 2010. Kate Daughdrill experienced the dinner from the orignators (InCUBATE, a research group dedicated to exploring new approaches to arts administration and funding) of the SOUP idea in Chicago and approached Jessica Hernandez whose family owned the Mexicantown Bakery that had a loft above that was being used for storage. After a group (Amy Kaherl, Katie Barkel, Vanessa Miller, Amanda LeClaire, Phreddy Wischuesen, Dan Demaggio, Erin Ellis, Tom Joseph) had collaborated on a Women's event just months before continued to work together to make the dinner happen. It started because the group wanted to collaborate and work together while there was an idea that we felt could empower and connect the community while exploring new art practices.

Specialties

SOUP is: a collaborative situation a public dinner a platform for connection a safe space a democratic experiment in micro-funding a relational hub bringing together various creative communities a forum for critical but accessible discussion an opportunity to support creative people in Detroit Detroit SOUP is a microgranting dinner celebrating and supporting creative projects in Detroit. For a donation $10 attendees receive soup, salad, bread and a vote and hear from four presentations ranging from art, urban agriculture, social justice, social entrepreneurs, education, technology and more. Each presenter has four minutes to share their idea and answer four questions from the audience. At the event, attendees eat, talk, share resources, enjoy art and vote on the project they think benefits the city the most. At the end of the night, we count the ballots and the winner goes home with all of the money raised to carry out their project. Winners come back to a future SOUP dinner to report their project's progress.