About Michigan Piano Project

A Detroit-born initiative placing restored pianos in communities across the state

Our Mission

Michigan Piano Project rescues unwanted upright pianos, restores and tunes them, collaborates with local artists and students to transform them into public art, and places them in communities across Michigan through funded partnerships.

TL;DR — we save pianos and make them beautiful.

Our Vision

A Michigan where music and art are woven into everyday public life — where a walk through a park, a visit to city hall, or a stop at a library might include an invitation to sit down and play.

Our Story

Michigan Piano Project started in Detroit with a simple observation: thousands of quality pianos are discarded every year while communities lack access to musical instruments in public spaces. We saw an opportunity to bridge that gap — not through charity, but through a sustainable model of restoration, artistic collaboration, and community partnership.

Every piano we place is funded through sponsorships and partnerships. Every placement creates a ripple — in the artist who paints it, the community that hosts it, and the strangers who stop to play.

We're early-stage and growing deliberately. Our model is designed to be replicable, sustainable, and rooted in genuine community relationships.

Our Team & Board

Michigan Piano Project is led by a small team of organizers, musicians, and community builders.

Shawn Kijewski, Founder of Michigan Piano Project

Shawn Kijewski

Founder

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Coming Soon

Operations

Coming Soon

Community Partnerships