Events

Our creative mixers are open to the public and hosted in partnership with our members. They take place at local cafes, pubs, and occasionally at our own facilities. They’re usually free, but we encourage guests to support the venues by purchasing food or drinks. When held at our facilities, we offer light appetizers and drinks.

We hold Creative Mixers a few times a year, and they are the perfect opportunity for creatives and lovers of creativity to get together and share. These gatherings provide the space for meeting friends of all sorts, networking, collaborating, sharing ideas and fostering creation.

Please register by filling out the form linked below. We’ll be expecting you!

Register for the Next Creative Mixer!

Portrait Pairings
Tuesday, April 22, 2025
6 - 8 p.m.

Over the past two months, art council members have been secretly paired to create portraits of one another. Join us for Portrait Pairings, part of our networking series, where we will unveil these portraits and celebrate the unique styles of each artist. This is a fantastic opportunity to connect with fellow artists and celebrate creativity in our community. Don’t miss it!

This event is being held at EagleMonk Pub and Brewery. This is a no-host event, food and drinks are available for you to purchase from the menu during the evening!

Address: 4906 W Mt Hope Hwy, Lansing, MI 48917

This is a free event and your registration helps us know how many guests to expect! Thank you!

Each year, the Arts Council enlists national, statewide, and local leadership for professional development opportunities. Four to five workshops are presented each year which last between 2-4 hours and subjects concentrate on areas such as marketing, fundraising, sponsorships, grant writing, portfolio review, website creation and so much more. These free and/or low-cost workshops allow you to advance your professional skills and knowledge in the creative field.

2025 smARTS Workshops

_{February Workshops: Poetry Series} 

Inspired by our Lansing Poet Laureate program, the Arts Council of Greater Lansing is offering a series of workshops to help poets of all levels elevate their craft. Whether you're looking to publish your work or bring it to life on stage, these workshops are designed to help you become the best poet you can be.

Shake the Room
Thursday, February 20th, 2025 | 6:00 - 8:00 pm
Location: Michigan Institute of Contemporary Art
Instructor: Masaki Takahashi
Members Free | Non-Members $20

REGISTER HERE

Ready to turn up the volume on your poetry? In Shake the Room, we’ll explore creative techniques to shatter writer’s block and ignite your imagination. Learn how to craft punchlines that land with impact, harness the power of hyperbole, wordplay, similes, and metaphors, and stretch your storytelling with extended metaphors that leave a lasting impression.

But it doesn’t stop at the page—this workshop is all about bringing your words to life. We’ll dive into the art of performance, from refining the tone and rhythm of your piece to building the confidence to own the mic. Whether you’re discovering your voice or polishing your delivery, this session will empower you to make the room shake with your poetry.                                                    

Meet the Instructor:
From 2022-2024, Masaki Takahashi served as the Lansing-area Poet Laureate, providing workshops and performing at area events.  His non-profit, open mic, The Poetry Room, served as a space for him to welcome emerging and popular poets from around the region and beyond. He continues to be a strong voice for poetry in the region. Learn more about his work here.

Get ready for the 2023 Creative Exchange!

‍Mark your calendar for this year's exciting event! Join us in person on May 31, 2023, from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. at Courtyard by Marriott in Downtown Lansing (600 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48912).

We are pleased to welcome Artists Thrive! who will engage us all in an interactive experience and activities that will offer insight to artists, arts organization leaders and creatives in the greater Lansing region.

This half-day event will dig deeply into our community's successes and struggles as we continue to build a cohesive and supportive creative community across disciplines and sectors.

The Artists Thrive! team will seek to have honest conversations about the arts in Greater Lansing using words like silenced, struggle, survive and thrive, along with a variety of probing questions and innovative approaches to get us thinking. This day is all about changing our narrative around the arts! We hope you will join us.

If you have questions, please email taylor@www.lansingarts.org.

Grant Chats are monthly drop-in events! One part networking and one part grant consultation, they typically take place at local venues like museums or coffee shops in the Capital Region.

Drop by anytime to discuss your creative ideas with membership & program manager, Taylor Haslett! She can provide information on local grant opportunities and assist you in planning your applications.

We invite you to RSVP by email, though it is not required to attend; just send a note to Taylor at taylor@lansingarts.org.

Wednesday, February 19, 2025
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum
Address: 547 E Circle Dr, East Lansing, MI 48824

Thursday, March 13, 2025
 12:00 pm - 2:00 pm
Location: Turner-Dodge House
Address: 100 E North St, Lansing, MI 48906

Tuesday, April 8, 2025
11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Location: Bangos
Address: 331 S Washington Square, Lansing, MI 48933

Tuesday, May 6, 2025
11:30 am - 1:30 pm 
Location: Blue Owl Cafe (REO Town)
Address: 1149 S Washington Ave Lansing, MI 48910

Monday, June 9, 2025
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
Location: Nelson Gallery
Address: 113 S Washington Square, Lansing, MI 48933

Tuesday, July 8, 2025
11:30 am - 1:30 pm 
Location: Haraz Coffee House
Address: 501 E Grand River Ave, East Lansing, MI 48823