The DIA
I recently visited the DIA for the first time, though I've been a resident of Wayne County for a while. It was a great experience and I definitely plan on returning again soon, maybe even this summer. The fact that the museum is free to Wayne, Oakland, and Macomb County residents is extremely beneficial to the community. It allows for community members to come visit and utilize the museum no matter their financial situation, all we had to do was show our state I.D. to prove we were legal residents of the county.

Another thing that reflected the DIA's focus on the community was an exhibit they had called D-cyphered. This exhibit showcased portraits of local Detroit rappers, both big names and not so mainstream artists. There also was an accompanying book in the exhibit which explained the artist's story and the story of the exhibit. Not only did this exhibit try to engage the public through the use of local artists, it also attracted visitors who may not have necessarily been interested in the museum to begin with. My boyfriend was in heaven in this exhibit because he knew of the majority of the artists, and many of them do not often get public recognition for their talent, so it was a great experience for him to see them being recognized while representing the city as a collective group. Along with the visual aids provided in the exhibit, the music of the artists was also being played in the gallery room, which could be a way to spark the interest of someone who did not know of those artists originally.

Overall it was a great exhibit that reflected the DIA's community and intended audience.
Also, the people working at the museum were great. There were workers or volunteers walking around the museum all the time, so if you had a question or got lost you could easily ask for help. They also had some people surveying visitors about possible labels, and they rewarded those who participated with a free DIA postcard. It was a great feeling to know that the museum cared about the visitors' opinions and actively seek those opinions out. Overall my experience at the DIA was outstanding, though it is a very large and dense museum to try and get through in one day. I highly recommend visiting, but do not expect to be able to see and remember everything in your first visit.