A pitch competition for makers who shift culture.

Applications due October 31

Pitch Haus is your platform, your canvas, your stage to showcase the culture makers who call your community home.

The Michigan Growth Office will award four $25,000 grants to host and activate the Make/Shift Pitch Haus in four communities across Michigan.

Pitch Haus is a fully tricked out 40’ shipping container that serves as your blank canvas for a multi-functional art activation. How you choose to active the Haus is limited only by your imagination. Fashion shows, art gallery, podcast studio, dinner party, DJ booth, performance space, classroom? It’s your Haus. Just invite us to the party.

Make your Pitch. Make it Creative.

Make it Michigan.

“When we invest in creativity, we amplify the culture that makes Michigan a magnet for population growth."

- Hilary Doe, Chief Growth Officer

OUR GOAL.

Michigan’s creative class is one of our greatest assets. The Make/Shift Pitch Haus is about celebrating our creative energy —spotlighting the artists, makers, and entrepreneurs whose work defines our state’s cultural identity and attracts new people to call Michigan home.

WHAT TO KNOW.

  • Every application must pair a leading culture maker in your community (the curator) with a cultural organization (non-profit fiduciary).

    Curators and cultural organizations must be based in Michigan.

  • Friday, October 31 at 11:59PM.

  • $25,000 cash grant

    AND

    Host and activate the “Pitch Haus,” in your community

  • It’s a fully tricked out 40’ shipping container that serves as your blank canvas for a multi-functional art activation. It has built in lighting, AV capabilities and plenty of electrical outlets. It has massive windows that slide open so you can transform it into a stage. It has blank walls to hang art or do projection mapping. You could technically park a car in it. Technical specs coming soon.

  • Your application will be scored based on three criteria:

    #1 - THE VISION. Tell us how you’ll bring the Pitch Haus to life. How will you use the Pitch Haus to showcase creativity in your community?

    #2 - YOUR COMMUNITY. Who will you engage at Pitch Haus and how will you engage with them? How will this experience leave a lasting impression or impact on your community?

    #3 - YOUR EXPERIENCE. Who are the lead creative curator and cultural organization working together on the project? How have they made their communities more creative, more livable and more engaging?

  • Grant funding must be used the host and activate the Pitch Haus. Activation can be inside, outside, adjacent or virtual, it’s all fair game.

    The majority of funding must be allocated to creatives and creative programming.

    No more than 20% of the budget ($5K) should be allocated for administration (ie the fiduciary).

    If you’re integrating the Pitch Haus into an existing event or project, that’s great. We love to leverage cultural work already happening in communities. Tell us how the $25K will amplify your event or project.

  • Any time January 1 to September 30, 2026.

  • It could be a weekend, a week, a month or more. You tell us.

    We may need to adjust your proposed hosting schedule to accommodate other winners. We’ll discuss in advance.

  • Anywhere in Michigan.

    Hosting the Pitch Haus outside is probably your best bet. Find a piece of prime real estate with flat ground and get permission for temporary use.

    If you’re planning to host Pitch Haus inside a building or structure, make sure you can get a 40’ shipping container in and out.

  • Our goal is to:

    1 - Select winners by November 14, 2025.

    2 - Complete grant agreements and disburse funds by December 31, 2025.

    3 - Complete your projects and activations from January 1, 2025 to September 30, 2026.

  • Sign up for an information sessions here.

  • The Make/Shift Pitch Haus competition is hosted by the Michigan Growth Office, which is part of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

    The Michigan Growth Office has contracted with the dynamic team of Creative Place Consulting and Studio M Detroit to lead the design and execution of Make/Shift Pitch Haus.

APPLY NOW.

APPLY NOW.

Applications are due October 31

LEARN MORE