GM’s commitment to the arts community comes to life

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Friday, 11 Sep 2026 12:00 0 1 autotech

GM's commitment to the arts community comes to life

When you look at a vehicle on the road, the first thing that captures your attention is the design. From the stance and the lines to the colors and materials, design is the soul of a vehicle, and at General Motors, it’s what connects people to our products on an emotional level.

To celebrate our belief that exceptional design requires many perspectives, and to invest in the future of automotive design, GM is proud to announce a $250,000 grant to the College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit to support educational programming and help students from all backgrounds explore careers in design. The announcement coincides with the public opening of the new Art + Cars exhibit presented by General Motors in collaboration with Bedrock and ArtClvb at Hudson’s Detroit, GM’s corporate headquarters in Downtown Detroit. The exhibit, located within GM’s Entrance One space, showcases three GM concept vehicles with innovative materials alongside contemporary pieces by local artists. Additionally, GM also announced a long-term loan from GM’s collection to the Detroit Institute of Arts.

Investing in Detroit’s Creative Future Detroit is not just GM’s headquarters; it is a well of inspiration. The future of design depends on giving young people the tools to turn their artistic passions into careers. GM has worked with CCS for more than 30 years to foster the next generation of automotive designers, providing over $18 million of total support, including $10 million in philanthropic support through in-kind donations, event sponsorships and strategic grants.

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GM’s latest grant to CCS will directly support youth and precollege programs, providing Detroit students with hands-on STEAM education experiences, as well as opportunities for college prep, college credits, and career exploration.

Celebrating Detroit’s Creative Community
Detroit’s creative identity is shaped by the intersection of art, design, technology, and manufacturing.

In 1927, GM became the first automaker to create a dedicated design studio, the Art and Colour Section, under the legendary Harley Earl. In 1938, GM introduced the Buick Y-Job, widely recognized as the industry’s very first concept car.

The automotive industry transformed Detroit into a global center of innovation, while generations of artists, designers, architects, musicians, and makers developed a creative culture defined by craftsmanship, experimentation, and bold ideas.

The Art + Cars exhibition at Entrance One reflects the deep connection between General Motors and Detroit, creating a dialogue between automotive styling, innovation and contemporary art. The Buick Wildcat, Cadillac SOLLEI and GMC HUMMER X pickup concept vehicles1 on display feature unique colors, materials, and finishes. Each works of art that could one day shape the future of mobility. Paired with original 2D and 3D artwork by local artists, Art + Cars is a celebration of the people who are shaping Detroit’s creative future.

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Art + Cars features artwork by Ijania Cortez, Patrick Ethen, Cathy Jacobs, KACEYKAL, Blythe McCaig / Evet Ceramics, Sandra Osip, Bilge Nur Saltik / Form and Seek, Matthew Shlian, Phillip Simpson, India Solomon, and Vaughn Taormina.

The Art + Cars exhibit at Entrance One will run through Nov. 1, and is open daily to the public at no cost from 11 a.m. – 7 p.m. Entrance One Is located at 1232 Woodward Ave, Detroit, MI 48226 (corner of Woodward Avenue and Nick Gilbert Way).

Additionally, GM is lending its Charles Sheeler painting, General Motors Research, to the Detroit Institute of Arts for 10 years, making an important work from GM’s collection accessible to the public in the city where its story began.

The painting, which was commissioned for the opening of the Global Technical Center in Warren, MI in 1956, captures GM’s heritage of research, engineering, and breakthrough innovation. It depicts the iconic Research Administration building’s spiral staircase, GM’s ‘mechanical heart’—used in the first successful open-heart surgery—and the Centri-Filmer vaccine-purifying machine. Bringing General Motors Research to the DIA underscores the deep ties between GM’s design heritage and Detroit’s vibrant arts and cultural community, creating a new opportunity for people to experience the company’s history through art, while inspiring the next generation of designers.

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Photo credit: General Motors
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