ARTS COUNCIL OF GREATER LANSING
1208 Turner St., Lansing, MI 48906
www.www.lansingarts.org
NEWS
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Dawn Gorman, communications manager, 517-372-4636 x 4
Arts Council Receives $5K Grant for Artist Live/Work Space Community Project
Workshops Set to Create Vision
Creating an artist’s live/work space in the tri-county area is key to attracting and keeping creative talent in Lansing. The Arts Council of Greater Lansing recognizes the need for this space, and in keeping with the Greater Lansing Cultural Economic Development Plan, is working to partner with area leaders and experts to create a vision/model for a live/work space in Lansing.
To fund this project, the Arts Council applied for and received a $5000 grant from the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council Community Reinvestment Fund*. The grant provides the resources needed for the Arts Council to launch the live/work space visionary project, which consists of three half-day workshops providing 1) a venue for artists to share ideas and learn from statewide and national model projects, and 2) elicit ideas and create a vision for the shared live/work space.
“A live/work space provides affordable space for the arts and builds community around the arts,” says Executive Director Debbie Mikula.”These workshops will help set the vision for Lansing, and that is very exciting.The Arts Council is extremely grateful to Mid-MEAC and its affiliates for providing us with the funds needed to get the ball rolling on what could be a huge contribution to Lansing arts.”
*This project is funded in part by a grant from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development to the Tri-County Regional Planning Commission as part of the Community Reinvestment Fund which is administered by the Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council.
Arts Council Artist Live/Work Visionary Workshops
Session One: A statewide perspective with Jane Robinson Visual artist and former executive director of the Jackson, Mich. Armory Arts Village, Jane will discuss the challenges and rewards of planning and maintaining artist living projects.
When: June 26, 2014 @ 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: Neighborhood Empowerment Center, 600 West Maple Street, Lansing, MI 48906
Session Two: A national perspective with Heidi Kurtze of ArtSpace
Artspace runs a network of 35 affordable arts facilities in 13 states. Representing a $500 million investment in America’s arts infrastructure, our facilities provide more than 1,100 affordable live/work units for artists and their families.
When: July 18, 2014 @ 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Where: Neighborhood Empowerment Center, 600 West Maple Street, Lansing, MI 48906
Session Three: A Community perspective with local municipal and community leaders
This session is still in the planning process, but is slated to run in September.
For more information regarding the workshops, contact Program Manager Barb Whitney at barb@www.lansingarts.org or (517) 372-4636 x 3.
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Founded in 1965, the Arts Council of Greater Lansing is a non-profit organization whose mission is to lead, advocate for, and advance arts and culture in the capital region. For more information, visit www.www.lansingarts.org.