Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs

Supports Arts and Culture through $9,175 in Round-Two Minigrants 

LANSING, March. 24, 2015—The Arts Council of Greater Lansing, regional regranting administrators for the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs Minigrant Program, is proud to announce $9,175 in funds have been awarded for the second round of 2015 Minigrants.The funds, granted through MCACA’s state-wide program, support arts and cultural events taking place between Jan. 1 and Sept. 30, 2015.

The Minigrant program funds both arts projects and professional and organizational development grants. The Arts Project Minigrants provide funding for locally-developed, high-quality arts and cultural projects that are free or low cost to area residents. The Professional and Organizational Development Minigrants assist non-profit organizations, administrators and professional artists, supporting unique experiences such as attending conferences, workshops and seminars or hiring short-term consultants.

The 2015 Minigrant recipients include:

Professional and Organizational Development Minigrants:             

Michigan Women’s Historical Museum and Hall of Fame

The organization is receiving assistance from the Johnson Center for Philanthropy in three key areas of nonprofit sustainability: a board self-assessment, a follow-up strategy session, and executive coaching.

Nick Adkins, children’s author

Nick will attend a weekend writer’s and illustrator’s conference with the top editors, agents, art directors, authors and illustrators in the children’s publishing world. The Annual Winter Conference is in New York and is an excellent opportunity to learn, get inspired and network with others in the children’s book industry.

Williamston Theatre

The Williamston Theatre will send four staff members to the 2015 Theatre Communications Group National Conference in Cleveland in June 2015. This conference will provide educational and networking experiences for the staff members and will help launch the organization on their long-term strategic planning process as they approach their tenth anniversary season.

Arts Projects Minigrants:

Capital Area Blues Society

The Society will launch an art installation project of professionally painted upright pianos to be placed in public spaces during the warm weather months, then moved into enclosed locations for the winter. These pianos will be situated in neighborhoods, commercial districts, local parks and on city streets as place-making tools, functioning both as vibrant works of art and as musical instruments in playable condition, available for the public’s use and enjoyment in spaces accessible to the entire community. The aim is to promote the work of paid artists and provide enriched educational and cultural opportunities to the area.

Native American Arts and Crafts Council

The Native American Arts and Crafts Council is planning the 12th Annual Riverbank Traditional Pow Wow. The Pow Wow is a celebration of Native American Culture through song, dance, food and crafts. It will be held May 30-31, 2015 at Louis Adabo Riverfront Park.  

REO Town Commercial Association

REO Town Art Attack is an annual outdoor art festival held on one Saturday at the end of summer to promote community and creativity in historic REO Town just south of Lansing’s Downtown. The festival features a “Showdown” where both experienced and inexperienced artists apply to make art on-the-spot while festival attendees watch and children of all ages can visit the REACH Art Truck to make their own art. Music performances fill the air with eclectic sounds from local bands throughout the day while artisans and food vendors sell their wares from booths in the Art Market.

The MCACA Minigrant Program provides financial assistance on a matching basis to non-profit organizations that address community need for arts and cultural programming. A qualified peer-review panel makes decisions among submitted applications. The Arts Council of Greater Lansing has administered MCACA Minigrants regionally since the inception of the program in 1986.

Founded in 1965, the Arts Council of Greater Lansing is a non-profit organization that exists to support, strengthen and promote art, culture and creativity in the capital region. For more information, visit www.www.lansingarts.org.

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