City of Lansing Announces $70,000 in Arts Grants
Mayor Andy Schor announced today that a total of $70,000 was recently awarded to several local arts and cultural organizations that will be creating vibrancy and excitement in Lansing in the upcoming year. The grants are funded through the annual City of Lansing Arts and Culture Grants program and are administered by the Arts Council of Greater Lansing.
“The Arts and Culture Grants provide funding that highlights the important work Lansing community organizations do to make our city one that is vibrant, growing and economically thriving,” Mayor Andy Schor. “These dollars help them to bring forth art projects, concerts, educational experiences, and events that enrich the lives of our residents and draw tourists to our region and our downtown. With every effort we make to feature Lansing as an arts destination, we support our tourism industry, our business owners and our entrepreneurs, all those folks that make Lansing prosperous.”
The City of Lansing Arts and Culture Grants are designed to assist arts and cultural organizations in the creation of community-driven artistic projects that capitalize on Lansing’s assets. The projects combine inspiration and innovation that contribute to creating a “sense of place” for residents, businesses, and visitors. The Arts Project Grants specifically look to fund projects and programs that increase accessibility to arts and culture for everyone and engage our communities in the process, while also adding growth and visibility to our city.
The 2026 Arts Project grantees and funded projects include the following:
All of the Above Hip Hop Academy
Cap City Breaking Jam is an annual “breakdance” competition held at the Lansing Shuffle. Youth & adult dancers from across Canada & the US compete for cash prizes in this all-day event, highlighting Lansing’s riverfront & downtown. The event is free to spectate and is scheduled for September 26th, 2026.
Capital City Film Festival
The Capital City Film Festival funding will support special projects, events, and collaborations presented during the 16th annual festival, April 8-18, 2026 with 5,000 guests projected. The project series will feature partnerships with All of the Above Hip Hop Academy and Mid-Michigan Environmental Action Council and ‘Pride in Motion’ events that will elevate LGBTQ+ stories.
Fenner Nature Conservancy (Pictured)
This project will create exterior and interior murals that transform high-traffic areas of the Visitor Center into vibrant, educational spaces.
Lansing Children’s Choir
The Lansing Children’s Choir (LCC) will present two community concerts and will also organize the 2026 MADD (Music Art Drama and Dance Camp).
Lansing Symphony Association
The Neighborhood ationConcerts take music out of the concert hall and bring it directly to the residents of LSO in accessible and welcoming settings. These smaller, chamber-like concerts feature LSO musicians performing in more intimate and familiar venues, such as at a park, chapel, farmers market, or local theater.
Pure Winds
The Young Listeners Program will visit Dwight Rich School, Eastern High School, and Sexton High School and perform for students, lead sectionals and masterclasses, and invite them to attend Pure Winds’ Robin Theatre concerts. This project provides direct music education, live chamber music access, and encourages youth and families to engage with Lansing’s cultural life.
REACH Studio Art Center
Creative Connections encompasses REACH’s free intergenerational arts programming led by local teaching artists. These programs include Walk-in Wednesday, Open House events, and REACH’s participation in community festivals. All these free, inclusive, and accessible programs embody REACH’s core values of creativity, equity, and community.
“Partnering with the City of Lansing to facilitate these grants aligns so well with our work as an arts and cultural organization,” said Meghan Martin, Arts Council executive director. “The funded organizations provide excellent arts programming to the community, and the arts project funds support them to offer even more in the way of free events and diverse opportunities. We are extremely proud to be a part of that.”
For more information regarding area arts funding, arts projects and upcoming grant opportunities, visit the Arts Council of Greater Lansing’s website at www.lansingarts.org.