“I am deeply honored and excited to serve Greater Lansing as its next poet laureate, not only because I love the written word –but also because I deeply love this community,”

~Suban Nur Cooley on her shared love of poetry and people

Announcing suban nur cooley as poet laureate

We are pleased to announce Suban Nur Cooley, PhD, as the new Lansing poet laureate for the 2026-2028 term. Multiple applications were submitted, and Suban was chosen from three finalists who were interviewed by our selection panel of area poetry experts and educators.

She has more than a decade of experience connecting with the poetry community and sharing her work, and is also assistant professor in the department of African American and African studies at Michigan State University.

A member of the Arts Council board for two years, Suban is a strong supporter of arts and culture in our region. Her duties as board member will remain separate from her responsibilities as Lansing poet laureate, and we are excited to collaborate with her in this new creative capacity.

She will officially step into her role at a traditional “Passing the Laurel” event which take place on April 7, 2026, from 7:30-9:00 p.m. (doors open at 7:00) at The Robin Theatre. The celebration, presented by the RCAH Center for Poetry at Michigan State University, will include poetry and words of inspiration from our poets laureate emeritus and other members of the poetry community. This event is free and open to the public, but registration is requested. Learn more.

again there are three We are excited to welcome our membership and program manager, Taylor Haslett, back to the Arts Council team after her recent maternity leave. We’re glad she was able to spend time bonding with baby Cohen and adjusting to her growing family, but we’re are also happy for her return. You can look forward to upcoming Grant Chats, Creative Mixers, and other community and member events. She is ready to answer your questions about grants, programming, membership, and more. Teamwork makes the dream work, and we’re glad to be back to three. Contact Taylor.

christine beals turns a page Shout out to Arts Council artist member Christine Beals who was recently featured in the international arts publication, “Create Magazine.” Christine answered a call for entries that she found in our exclusive member newsletter and was chosen to have her work, and an interview, published in a four-page spread in the magazine and on their website. We love it when our area artists get this kind of recognition, that highlights not only their expertise and creative ability but also shines a light on the amazing creativity in our region. Learn more.

project idea? consult with us! Collaborating and partnering with area businesses and entrepreneurs is one of the ways that we ensure that the arts are centered in our region. Our consulting services offer multiple ways for you to explore arts and cultural opportunities for your business. We specialize in creative placemaking, public art projects, and programs– telling the stories and histories of our residents and artists, boosting our creative economy, and creative careers. We provide opportunities through calls to artists, grant administration, and more. Contact Meghan Martin for more info. See all of our services.

april grant chat Mark your calendars to join our membership and program manager Taylor Haslett at our upcoming April Grant Chat! Grant Chats are drop-in casual gatherings held at area cafes and other spaces where the public can stop by and ask questions or chat about grants and other topics. Join Taylor on April 16, from 9-10:30 a.m. at Chateau Coffee Co. in Okemos to talk about grants, project ideas, funding options, membership mixers, and more. Drop-in to this casual chat opportunity, grab a beverage, and pull up a chair with Taylor to discuss al your creative needs. Learn more.

What to Check Out…

ccff is ready for you

Capital City Film Festival is kicking off April 8-18, with a full line-up of films, music, and more. The festival takes place in venues all across Lansing, including the iconic Riverwalk Theatre, Central United Methodist Church, The Robin Theatre, and The Avenue. The annual Red Carpet Premiere Party will take place this year on April 9, at Central United from 6-10 p.m. Come walk the carpet, get your pic taken and celebrate CCFF 2026. More info.

poetry on the pathway

As the weather warms, make sure you make time to check out the new poetry installation at the Ingham County’s Tollgate Drain Wetlands, where you’ll see lecterns displaying poetry by six area poets who entered the “We are Water” poetry contest. The project was created by Lansing poet laureate Ruelaine Stokes as part of a fellowship from the Academy of American Poets. Learn more. (photo: WKAR)

April 15, 2026, is World Art Day! If you are getting this newsletter, then we know you love the arts and believe in the power they have to make the world a more beautiful place. From dance to theatre, literature, poetry, visual art, and beyond the arts create change, engage us in critical thinking, improve educational settings, and boost economies. In honor of this World Art Day, we invite you to give to the Arts Council to help support our work in Greater Lansing to center the arts in all aspects of life in our region. Give today!

The Lowdown

There’s so much happening in the CapCity local arts and culture scene, it’s hard to keep up. That’s why we love the 517 Living Calendar and have partnered with them to feature all of the arts and culture related events on our events page of our website. So make sure you check out everything that’s going on in the region (also share your arts events at 517 Living, and they will automatically show up on our website too!) Make your plans!