A red carpet affair in a blue-collar city

Once inside, high-arched, ornate ceilings and chandeliers setting the backdrop, guests were able to buy food and drinks before viewing the 2015 Oscar-nominated short films.

Hollywood glitz and glamour traveled over 2,000 miles to the Detroit Institute of Arts last Thursday, bringing Detroiters a taste of red carpet life at the Oscars.

“Hollywood in Detroit,” a black-tie event hosted by the non-profit Detroit Passport to the Arts (DP2A), rolled out the red carpet where attendees walked in front of paparazzi on their way into the Detroit Film Theater inside the DIA.

Once inside, high-arched, ornate ceilings and chandeliers setting the backdrop, guests were able to buy food and drinks before viewing the 2015 Oscar-nominated short films.

The films were divided into two hour-long viewing sessions – live action and animation.

“’Parvaneh,’ one of the live action short films, caused the audience to react the most,” Oakland Post photographer Danielle Cojocari said. “At one point, the crowd burst into cheers because a background character was wearing a Detroit ball cap. The two winning films were ‘Feast’ and ‘The Phone Call.’”

After the viewing, guests were shuttled across the street to the Detroit Historical Museum for food, drinks, live entertainment and mingling.

DP2A is dedicated to introducing people 45 and under to the city’s cultural scene.

“Arts and culture are a large part of building community and have helped with the revitalization of Detroit,” director Margo Strebig said. “My hope is that more people will be willing to experience many types of art and find the one that speaks to them most [so] they can become invested in that community.”