Welcome to Arts Roll Call, the bi-monthly podcast that features Arts Council artists and arts organizations. This month in episode 6 of the podcast, we speak with local artist, activist and entrepreneur Najeema Iman.

Greater Lansing’s attractions, recreational and entertainment facilities are inviting you to come play this summer.

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing is pleased to announce 2021 Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) grantfunding totaling $28,789 to be distributed to area artists and arts and cultureorganizations.

This week we had to bid farewell to a great friend and supporter of the Arts Council. She was an internationally known and well-loved leader in fundraising, board development and donor strategy and well respected in the nonprofit realm. She was also our consultant over the last year and had become a strong, welcome and honest voice in guiding the growth of our organization.

Welcome to Arts Night Out--Off the Map, a bi-monthly blog series where we share the insights and reflections of past Arts Night Out participants. Arts Night Out may be on a short hiatus, but it is still in everyone’s hearts. So, until we can gather again, we are taking it off the map and bringing it to you in small bites of memories from businesses around town.

Welcome to Arts Roll Call, the bi-monthly podcast that features Arts Council artists and arts organizations. This month in episode 5 of the podcast, we speak with local poet and founder of The Poetry Room, Masaki Takahashi.

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing announces a request for qualifications (RFQ) for a new public art project in partnership with Provision Living Senior Communities. The project will be installed at 6350 Abbot Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823. This creation should tie back to the history of the Greater Lansing Area in hopes of providing a pleasant memory to community elders who may reside in our building or who are simply passing by.

In celebration of Youth Arts Month, the Arts Council is proud to feature our young creatives on billboards around the region for the month of March. With the support of Adams Outdoor Advertisting, the Arts Council is featuring the work of six talented area youth artists in its seventh annual campaign!

Welcome to episode 4 of Arts Roll Call. In this month's podcast our host, Robin Miner-Swartz spoke with local hip hop artists Ozay Moore and Anthony James-Player from All of the Above Hip Hop Academy.

Mayor Andy Schor announced second round of Fiscal Year (FY) 2021 Cityof Lansing Arts Project Grants totaling $42,500 were awarded to five local arts and cultural organizations. These grants are funded through the City of Lansing and administered by the Arts Council of Greater Lansing. 

Welcome to Episode 3 of Arts Roll Call--a podcast for the arts curious. In this episode, host Robin Miner-Swartz and Jessy Greg, discuss Jessy's many roles in the community, including artist, shop owner at Seams Fabric, City of East Lansing Mayor Pro Tem and also sits on the East Lansing' Arts Commission. They also look at the highs and lows of being a store owner during a pandemic, the importance of collaboration and so much more.

The City of Lansing and Arts Council Greater Lansing are proud to announce round-one FY2021 City of Lansing Arts and Culture Arts Projects Grants totaling $40,000 to two local arts and cultural organizations.

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing is excited to announce the launch of its 2020/2021 “Art in the Sky” billboards, featuring the work of six Greater Lansing area artists. Now in its 11th year, the billboard program was made possible through a successful collaboration with local business, Adams Outdoor Advertising and multiple partnerships with Arts Council member artists from across the Tri-County region.

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing announces grant funding totaling $25,700 to be distributed to area artists and arts and culture organizations. Funding support is provided through the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) Minigrant Program, the Arts Council’s Young Creatives and Artists in the Community.

Welcome to Episode 2 of Arts Roll Call--a podcast for the arts curious. In this episode, host Robin Miner-Swartz and Chad Swan-Badgero, founder and artistic director of Peppermint Creek Theatre Company and arts education program manager for the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs, dig deep into the value of the arts, arts advocacy, the theatre community and how it is surviving during COVID, and that's just a few of the highlights. This episodes gets serious and silly, and we hope you love it.

Every year around this time, the Arts Council takes the opportunity to remind you all about the importance of shopping local and buying local art, fine crafts and arts experiences during the gift-giving season. This year, supporting our local businesses and our creative sector is especially important. Learn how it benefits us all!

Arts Council executive director, Meghan Martin, recently received a scholarship from Resch Strategies to attend to Lansing Regional Chamber of Commerce's Leadership Lansing initiative, which offers leadership training and experiences to local community leaders.

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing invites you to join our team! We are looking for an administrative assistant. Find more information, including job description and contact information here.

Earlier this week, the Arts Council announced our new program Arts Roll Call, a podcast/video cast featuring our members. Meet our guest for Episode 1, Artist Ryan Holmes as he talks about his life as an artist and arts educator in Greater Lansing and what that looks like during these times of change.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) recently announced the nonprofit arts organizations recommended for direct funding through the Corona virus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and The Arts Council of Greater Lansing is pleased to share that it is one of 855 organizations, and one of 23 in the state of Michigan, to receive $50,000 in relief funding.

The National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Mary Anne Carter has approved more than $84 million in grants as part of the Arts Endowment’s second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2020. Included in this announcement is an Art Works grant of $10,000 to the Arts Council of Greater Lansing for the 2020 Creative Placemaking Summit. This is one of 1,015 grants nation wide that the agency has approved in this category.‍

The Arts Council recognizes the wealth of culture in our community, and as a community organization, we deeply value and uphold everyone's right to tell their story and share their history.

It comes as no surprise to us at the Arts Council of Greater Lansing to see our community facing this challenge with all the grit, strength and creativity it is known for. As we slowly emerge from this crisis, we will be proud of how we stood strong and supported one another.

Arts Night Out. If you haven't been, it is the perfect alchemy of arts, culture and business. It's a whole lot of fun, but it's also the Arts Council's way of supporting our artists and our awesome Old Town business community. We love to talk about it, so we invite you to pull up a chair and get ready for an Arts Night Out tale.

We miss you! We miss you stopping by our office, saying hello and telling us what you've been up to. We miss bumping into you at gallery openings, art shows, craft fairs and exhibitions. We miss seeing you at concerts and plays, dance recitals, poetry readings and open mics. We miss waving at you from across the street, across the restaurant, across the cafes and watering holes. Yep. We miss you. So we hatched an idea.

The times are uncertain, but creativity will get us through! Arts and culture are so important during times like these, and we are very fortunate to have an amazing arts community here in Greater Lansing. You all inspire us so much, and we want you to know that we are here for you--to support you in any way that we can!

We want you to be a part of our amazing advocates for arts and culture! Sign up for our Articulate Activators Network to learn about opportunities to keep art and creativity alive in our region and beyond!

It's been a year of exciting changes and growth at the Arts Council, and you helped us through all of it! We are going and growing strong thanks to all of the support and hard work of our staff, our board and our amazing members and arts community. We truly couldn't have done it without you. Take a look at our Annual Report for a snapshot of all that you helped us accomplish in 2019!

The Arts Council and Blue Owl Cafes are partnering up to support the arts for Arts Advocacy Month. If you love yourself a latte, a pour over or perhaps a cup of tea and you're also a champion of the arts, then get to your nearest Blue Owl and show your support with your very own "Support the Arts" sticker!

To celebrate Arts Advocacy Month, the Arts Council is excited to launch its second annual 32 Auction website! Now is your chance to purchase local art and support not only local artists but our area young creatives too! We love this campaign as the proceeds go to our Young Creatives Program and back to the artists as well!

The Arts Council's 2020 Support Young Creatives Campaign launches in March with the work of six Lansing-area youth artists whose work will be featured on Adams Outdoor Advertising digital billboards throughout the Greater Lansing region for the entire month. Original artworks were submitted by Greater Lansing area teachers and final pieces were selected based on composition and overall visual elements, including roadside appeal, as well as their combined representation of ages and regions.

Lansing Mayor Andy Schor was joined this afternoon by the Arts Council of Greater Lansing and 2020 City of Lansing Arts & Culture Grant awardees. The group gathered beneath the Shiawassee Bridge in Rotary Park to announce $157,500 in 2020 Arts & Culture Grants.

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing’s board of directors appoints Meghan Martin as executive director. Martin served as interim executive director since May 2019 and steps into her permanent role as the organization's leader effective immediately.

Kelly Hansen is a graphic designer, museum exhibit designer and painter. She believes that the creative process is therapeutic and enjoys experimenting with color, texture and a variety of mediums. In this exhibition, she uses acrylic paint on canvas to explore the relationship between a person’s outer appearance and their inner story.

Claude Johnson-Perry has loved making art since he was a child watching Bob Ross on TV. He loves making colorful work that inspires people to think about their own lives, love and dreams. His work will be on display at the Arts Council for the month of January.

Calling all Greater Lansing teachers. The Arts Council is accepting applications for our 2020 Support Young Creatives Billboard campaign and art exhibition! Deadline for submissions is Feb. 3, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. Don't miss this great opportunity to showcase your student's work! Support Young Creatives!

Lansing-based multi-media artist Sarah Hillman was born in Cape Town, South Africa, raised in Windhoek, Namibia, and moved permanently to Michigan after graduating high school. Her work is a celebration and reflection of the things she is passionate about and tell a story of meaningful moments in people's lives. Sarah works in a variety of mediums, including watercolor, digital painting, ceramic sculpture and ‘rock art.’

Come pitch your project for the Arts Council of Greater Lansing and the City of Lansing's 2020 Arts Impact Project. The chosen project will receive an award of $75,000 for the development of a permanent creative structure that enhances a neighborhood's appearance and kindles community engagement in the City of Lansing.

Call to Arts Council Artist Members! The Arts Council is seeking Artists for its Exhibit Wall for January - June 2019. Submit your application.

Wendy is an accomplished printmaker who has been making art for more than 40 years. She works in relief printmaking as well as surface design and dye-painted textiles and has printed chap books, posters and broadsides as well.

Nancy Aitcheson began painting as a young adult and works in oils and watercolor. She is inspired by still life, landscapes and people in everyday situations, and strives for interesting composition, and a colorful, loose approach to her pieces.

The Arts Council is currently accepting nominations for the annual Applause Awards, which recognize members and organizations in the community for their work in supporting, promoting and furthering the arts in our Greater Lansing region. Nominate someone today! Deadline is Monday, Oct. 14, 2019 at 11:59 p.m.

It is no secret that change has been in the air at the Arts Council over the last few months. We are very excited to announce that Taylor Rupp is stepping into a new role as we continue to move our organization forward in new directions.

Sarah Surface Evans is a life-long lover of art and creativiety. She paints and draws daily and especially loves working with India ink and watercolor.

Matt Mulford is a Lansing-area artist who works in a variety of mediums and subject matters. He is a co-owner of Peculiar Perspectives Studio & Gallery in Williamston and owner of Mulford Arts.

"City Pulse" and the Arts Council of Greater Lansing announce the 2019 Summer of Art cover series call to artists and application guidelines.

Changing times, strategic growth, new directions and new paths. Spring is bringing a great deal of change to the Arts Council, including a passing of the baton, as executive director Debbie Mikula annouces her new position in the community and the new interim Arts Council executive director.

Christine Beals is a local artist whose work is inspired by geometric shapes, quilt patterns and the beauty of nature. Her work will be on display at the Arts Council for the month of June and an opening reception will take place on June 7 from 5-7 p.m. at the Arts Council. The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be served.

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing proudly announces grant funding totaling more than $142,000 that was distributed to area artists and arts organizations in the Capital region.

Daniel J. Hogan is a Lansing cartoonist who works with inks and watercolors, and makes digital art as well. His focus is creating humorous illustrations that get a smile or a chuckle out of the viewer. His exhibition will be on display at the Arts Council through the month of May!

Marissa Tawney Thaler is a visual artist living in Lansing, Mich. She holds a BFA from Kendall College of Art and Design in Grand Rapids, where she studied Art Education and Illustration. Marissa’s work, often narrative in nature, uses primarily drawing media to achieve a “bittersweet aesthetic.” Often working in series, she aims to find the lighthearted side of struggles and moments of connection in everyday happenings.

Calling All Karaoke Aficionados and Friends! The Arts Council of Greater Lansing is pleased to announce Arts Night out Afterglo at UrbanBeat in Old Town! Join us as we present our first ever karaoke contest and afterglo party following Arts Night Out!

Call to Arts Council Artist Members! The Arts Council is seeking Artists for its Exhibit Wall for July - December 2019. Submit your application.

Each year during the month of March, the Arts Council Celebrates Youth Art Month with their "Support Young Creatives" billboard campaign and art exhibition. Youth Arts Month was launched in 1961 and emphasizes the important role of the arts in a child’s education and why all children deserve to have a quality arts education program included in their school curriculum. The Young Creatives Billboards and Exhibition will run through the end of March.

Throughout the entire month of March, the Arts Council's devotes its time toward advocating for the arts, planning at least 30 scheduled visits to municipal and school board meetings around the Tri-Counties. We invite you to join us and ARTiculate...raise your voice in support of the arts.

When creating her glass-scapes, Janice draws on her appreciation of the forms, motion and contrasts of the natural world. She expresses her creativity by combining assorted colors and handmade streaks and highlights of opaque, transparent and iridized glass, arranged in combinations using a genre she coined "Kinetic Balance." Her goal is to provide the viewer with a realm of order and calm that stands in contrast to the chaos of the external world.

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing is pleased to announce the release of its 2019-2021 Strategic Plan. The new three-year plan provides focus and guides the organization toward new goals, relationships and growth for the region.

Lansing Mayor Andy Schor was joined this morning by the Lansing Economic Area Partnership (LEAP), the Arts Council of Greater Lansing and 2019 First Impressions grant awardees at the Michigan Institute of Contemporary Art to announce $140,000 in 2019 First Impressions program grants.

Svitlana Martynjuk's work is inspired by abstract expressionism movement. She allows her experiences to influence much of her work and believes that each viewer discovers their own interpretation based on their internal state and environment. Her goal is to bring an abundance of joyful and calm feelings, as well as to help the viewer see the world through her eyes... to feel the emotions that are born in the painting process.

Our October exhibition is "La Fraschetta del Borgo" by Joseph Yarbrough. This exhibition is a collection of images from Rome, Italy, especially Ostia, that tell a story of the people, the places and experiences through Joseph's perspective.

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing presented six awardees with Applause Awards at its 39th annual Holiday Glitter event held at the University Club of Michigan State University on Dec. 4, 2018. Awards were presented in the following categories: Creative Community, Business Leadership, Arts and Cultural Organization, Arts Educator, Individual Artist and Individual Leadership.

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing, in partnership with Adams Outdoor Advertising, is excited to announce its ninth year of “Art in the Sky” billboards, featuring the work of 10 Greater Lansing area artists.

The Arts Council presents "Global Expressions," an exhibition by Greater Lansing area immigrant, refugee and global-student population. This exhibition features the work of 11 area artists and will be on display through the month of November with an opening reception to be held on Nov. 2, 2018 from 5-8 p.m. during Arts Night Out in Old Town.

The Arts Council is currently accepting nominations for the annual Applause Awards, which recognize members and organizations in the community for their work in supporting, promoting and furthering the arts in our Greater Lansing region. Nominate someone today! Deadline is Tuesday, Oct. 16, 2018 at 11:59 p.m.

Call to Arts Council Artist Members! The Arts Council is seeking Artists for its Exhibit Wall for January - June 2019. Submit your application.

Nearly a year in the making, the Cultural Economic Development Plan (CED Plan) was revealed to an audience of nearly 300 people at the Arts Council's Creative Placemaking Summit on Oct. 4, 2018.

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing, in partnership the Lansing Economic Development Corporation (LEDC) is pleased to announce the City of Lansing's Arts Impact Project. This annual project awards $75,000 for the development of a permanent creative installation that enhances a neighborhood's appearance and kindles community engagement in the City of Lansing.

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing is pleased to announce the appointment of three new members to its board of directors and re-election of two incumbents for FY2019.

Our October exhibition is "Features of Michigan" by Angela Hamilton. Angela is an award-winning plein air artist who has a great appreciation and reverence for Michigan wildlife and scenery, which she expresses in her work.

Our September exhibition is "Preston Penwork, 2018" by Dennis Preston. Dennis Preston is an illustrator, artist and teacher working in Greater Lansing. Most of the pieces in this show are entirely new works--sometimes edgy or odd--sometimes funny and entertaining and offer much for the eye to take in and the mind to ponder.

Nick Perialis spent the summer learning the ins and outs of public relations and communications while growing his writing skills for publication. Follow along as he shares his experience as an Arts Council PR intern.

Our August exhibition is "Visionary Art" by David Carrigan. David works in acrylics and oils on canvas and various other mediums. He loves to tell stories with his work that reflects a variety of subject matter. David has loved drawing since he was very young and finds the world to be a place full of magic. He hopes others will experience that feeling as well when they view his images.

UPDATED: Downtown Lansing Inc, call for proposals for Downtown Lansing Wallscape Project. DLI, in partnership with City of Lansing, respond to feedback from artist community and secure additional funds for artist's work.

Our July exhibition features the art of Max and Louis Boyang, who are 12-year-old twin artists. Max and Louis have exhibited across the country and won national awards in adult competitions. Their detailed and colorful works express a love of nature and its design.

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing and the Capital Region Community Foundation announce a request for qualifications/proposals (RFQP) for a new public art project in downtown Lansing – one block in front of the State Capitol. Deadline is Monday, July 23, 2018, 11:59 p.m. Submit your application today!

"City Pulse" and the Arts Council of Greater Lansing announce the 2018 Summer of Art cover series call to artists and application guidelines.

How do we get more involved in our communities and creatively make our region one that we love--one in which we take great pride and ownership? Hint--it's all about hustle--starting small, reaching out and digging in to create results and make things happen.

At a press conference held at Michigan Imagery in Lansing, Mich., the BWL and the Arts Council of Greater Lansing announced Michigan Imagery as the creative team for the Central Substation Mural Project.

Chance Liscomb is a sculptor and painter. He enjoys creating works around colorful, common objects. This body of work is a selection of paintings that focus on some of life's sweeter elements.

The Arts Council is excited to participate in the upcoming 517 Day event, hosted by Lansing Made & River Town Adventures, with a contest that focuses on, you guessed it...ART!

Since January 2018, cultural and economic leaders in the tri-counties have been sharing their opinions and their perspectives with Martin Cohen, our national consultant. By the end of the week, will have engaged more than 400 individuals to help us create a strong Cultural Economic Develeopment Plan that includes arts and culture at its heart, but we still need some help.

During the month of May we will be featuring the art of David Annis. In this exhibition, "Bodies of Light," David uses long-exposure photography and other techniques to capture the beauty and grace of the human form.

The City of Lansing recently announced the completion of phase one of the Adado Riverfront Park re-visioning and permanent stage. The Arts Council is proud to be a member of the project steering committee and is excited for the next phase to begin. Read all about the plans and next steps.

There are a multitude of reasons why you should attend our 2018 Creative Exchange. Our speaker and leader for the day, Barbara Schaffer Bacon has two that are especially important to her, and she is excited to share with you. See what Barbara has to say about the Creative Exchange!

Are you ready for a creative exchange? As leaders in the arts and cultural community, we have an uncommon capacity to share insights – to find common ground for working together. From viewpoints expressed, and those heard, emerge fresh ideas for community change and revitalization. At the end of the day, we all envision thriving and dynamic communities.

The Arts Council is pleasd to present, The Color of Change, an exhibition by Catherine Tonning Popowich. Michigan born and raised, Catherine has been creating art her entire life. The Color of Change represents a shift in Catherine's work from realism to abstract, that led her to exploring with new techniques and colors.

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing, in partnership with Board of Water & Light are pleased to announce a request for qualifications/proposals (RFQP) for a new public art project, funded by public resources through the Lansing Board of Water & Light.

On Tuesday, Feb. 20, 2018, the Arts Council joined Lansing Mayor Andy Schor, LEAP and more than 10 area arts organizations to announce $140,000 in 2018 First Impressions grants.

For the past 52 years, the Arts Council has been a strong advocate for arts, culture and creativity in the Tri-Counties. We have taken a stand on arts in the schools, percent-for-art programs, the value and importance of the arts, funding on a national, statewide and local basis, diversity and inclusion, and so much more. We invite you to join us a spokesperson for the arts during the month of March, and voice your support for the arts!

As the new year begins, so begins our process of creating a new strategic plan to help us envision a stronger, more creative region and organization. Read how we plan to move forward in this process and what some of our hopes are for goals and outcomes.

The Arts Council is pleased to present this exhibition by Nevin Speerbrecker. Nevin uses pencil and marker to create this collection of representations of indigenous people and wildlife from North America and across the globe.

In celebration of Youth Art Month, the Arts Council is pleased to announce its "Support Young Creatives" campaign and Young Creatives Billboard Project. Arts educatiors in the Greater Lansing Tri-County Region are invited to submit artwork from students ages K-12.

In what ways can the Arts Council best serve you as an artist, a community member, a business owner, an entrepreneur...? Take our short survey today! (Psst, you could win a $50 Visa gift card.)

Your donation to the Arts Council helps us support artists, arts organizations, arts projects, arts education and so much more. As you plan your year-end giving, please consider joining our Circle of Giving.

The Arts Council is pleased to present this free smARTS website-building workshop to its dues-paying members. Lansing blogger and cartoonist Daniel J. Hogan (danieljhogan.com and clattertron.com) will share steps to easily create an artist website using the content management system, WordPress.

The Arts Council is pleased to present an exhibition by artist Stephanie Joy Hogan. Working primarily with acrylic paint, inks, and paper ephemera Hogan intuitively creates semi-abstract paintings, often including illustrative details inspired by colors and shapes that are developed through layers and layers of experimentation.

The 15 foot-tall sculpture, called "Portrait of a Dreamer," is composed entirely of stainless steel and overlooks Museum Drive from Michigan Avenue. "Portrait of a Dreamer" is not just substantial in stature but is also interactive and illuminated. Artist Ivan Iler describes the piece as one that visualizes the flow of ideas transpiring within Lansing’s cultural district.

A series of public meetings will be held to engage the Lansing community in designing a new, permanent outdoor amphitheater at Adado Riverfront Park. Over the course of two days, the core project team and community stakeholders will meet to create design concepts for the proposed stage and surrounding environs.

A time of celebration and awards is just around the corner, and we hope you will join us!

Jackson National Life Insurance Company® recently announced a $10,000 grant to support the Arts Council of Greater Lansing’s Young Creatives Program.