Sense of Place in the Arts grant applications now available

Posted: Aug. 11, 2012 at 10:20 a.m.

LANSING - The City of Lansing and the Lansing Economic Development Corporation are pleased to announce a Sept. 7 application deadline for its fiscal year 2012-2013 Sense of Place in the Arts Grant Program. Funded by the City of Lansing, the Sense of Place in the Arts Grant Program supports arts and cultural projects in order to drive community revitalization and economic development in Lansing.

Grants will range from $10,000 to $75,000 for projects held from Nov. 15 through June 30, 2013.

Applicant organizations must meet eligibility criteria, must contribute to the City's "sense of place" as a part of its cultural economic development philosophy, and must produce collaborative, visible arts projects or programs that directly impact Lansing residents and visitors.

In conjunction with the Lansing Economic Development Corporation, the Arts Council of Greater Lansing will assist with the program and provide artistic consultation and expertise throughout the grant process.

Applications will be reviewed by an advisory panel made up of economic development and artistic professionals. The panel will select award recipients based upon the proposed project's quality and its ability to creatively shape the physical and social character of the city around arts and culture activities. Applicants will also be evaluated on project collaboration, the proposed project's impact on Lansing and its residents, and the organization's fiscal competence and capacity to manage the project.

Application packets are available to download from the Lansing Economic Development Corporation website at www.lansingedc.com under Program/Grants & Finance Assistance section and the Arts Council of Greater Lansing website at www.lansingarts.org under the Grants section.

The Lansing Economic Development Corporation and the Arts Council of Greater Lansing will offer a free grant workshop at 8:30 a.m. Aug. 15 at the MICA Gallery, located at 1210 Turner Street in Lansing, to assist potential applicants with the grant application process. The workshop is free, but an RSVP via email to leslie@lansingarts.org is required.

For further information on the City of Lansing's Sense of Place in the Arts Program, please contact Marchelle Smith, Lansing Economic Development Corporation/City of Lansing Grant Administrator at 517-702-3387 ext. 201 or Marchelle@purelansing.com.

Individual support and artistic technical assistance is available by contacting Leslie Donaldson, Arts Council of Greater Lansing Executive Director at 517-372-4636 to arrange for an appointment.