EAST LANSING, Mich. — The East Lansing Arts Commission has announced the recipients of its Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22) Cultural Arts Grant Program.
The Cultural Arts Grant Program supports high-quality public art projects that encourage artistic expression and public participation, with an emphasis on promoting cultural appreciation for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities as well as the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersexual and Asexual (LGBTQIA+) community.
Through the FY22 Cultural Arts Grant Program, 10 projects were awarded grants for a total of $17,500 in awarded grant funds. The FY22 grant-funded projects are required to take place between October 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.
Grant recipient and event/project details are provided below:
Pump House Concerts - Pump House Concerts will be hosting its 12th Annual Pumpstock Festival on Saturday, June 11 from 2-8 p.m. in Bailey Park, 300 Bailey Street. Community members can enjoy a day filled with live music, food, art and fun!
Dedria Humphries Barker - Artist Dedria Humphries Barker’s contemporary, conceptual drawings will be featured at the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road, throughout the month of May. Her art will also be displayed at downtown East Lansing’s Blue Owl Coffee, 213 Ann Street, throughout the month of June.
East Lansing Art Festival – The 59th Annual East Lansing Art Festival (ELAF) will take place May 21-22 in downtown East Lansing. The ELAF will use the allocated grant funds towards a floral art installation created by Sparrow Bloom Co.
Summer Solstice Jazz Festival – The East Lansing Summer Solstice Jazz Festival (SSJF) will take place June 17-18 in downtown East Lansing. The SSJF will use the allocated funds to help cover artist fees for BIPOC artists.
East Lansing Public Library – A visual art panels project will be installed inside the East Lansing Public Library (dates TBA). The panels will feature art that focuses on two themes: “Black History Month” and “Black Voices: Picture Books as Anti-racist Resources.”
Summer Circle Theatre - Summer Circle Theatre will be hosting a free, five-day summer kids camp for 60 rising 1st-6th grade mid-Michigan students (dates TBA). Participants will study acting, design and musical theatre before presenting a free show for families and East Lansing audiences.
East Lansing Ceramics Programs Outreach, Enhancement and Revenue Generation Project – Allocated grant funds will be used towards increasing the number of accessible and inclusive tools/equipment in the East Lansing Hannah Community Center’s Ceramics Studio.
All-of-Us Express Children’s Theatre – The All-of-us Express Children’s Theatre used its allocated grant funds towards its production of “Treasure Island,” which took place in February.
Pure Winds – Pure Winds, an award-winning woodwind quintet, used its allocated grant funds to host a promotional concert for its debut album, titled “Pure Winds,” in December 2021.
Community Darkroom 517 – Community Dark Room 517 used its allocated grant funds to host a series of workshops, titled “Intro to Film and Darkroom Processes,” from November 2021-January 2022.
Additionally, a FY21 Cultural Arts Grant Program recipient will be hosting their event this year after postponing it due to the COVID-19 pandemic:
Spencer Arias - Musicians Spencer Arias, Kyriaki Gkoudina and Lyn Goeringer are coming together for an evening of electronic music improvisation, titled, “Queerbending: Experimental Sounds.” The event is free to attend and will take place on Friday, April 8 at 6 p.m. at 368 Orchard St.