Headliners

It’s hard to decide what gets top billing in Arts News, but here are a few things we felt deserved some noise.

full moon exquisite corpse

Join us on the full moon, Nov. 6, 2025, from 6 – 8 p.m. for an evening of fun, frivolity, mystery and parlor games at Sleepwalker Spirits & Ale in REO Town. Everyone is welcome to gather for this free, truly creative, mixer inspired by the 1920s surrealist collaborative drawing game, Exquisite Corpse. Arts Council members who would like to participate as artists, please contact Taylor at taylor@lansingarts.org. We look forward to seeing everyone and gathering in creativity under the light of the moon. Get details.

be an arts council member

Calling all current Arts Council members and member-curious folks! Sign up for 2026 membership Nov. 1 and get two free months. We look forward to welcoming you into our Arts Council Family! Member benefits include participation in our creative mixers, grant opportunities, member directory, our exclusive bi-weekly opportunities newsletter, and more! Contact our membership and program manager, Taylor Haslett, to learn more about membership and renewal. More info.

grantees received $24,500

Congratulations to the more than 20 area artists and arts organizations who received funding through our Young Creatives, Artists in the Community, and Chris Clark Fellowship programs. Together these programs provide funding for youth programing, youth scholarships, professional development opportunities, business resources, and community-driven placemaking projects. We are so proud to be able to provide these FY2026 funds to our creative community. We look forward to seeing all they create and accomplish! See all the grantees.

grant chat november

We know it’s spooky season, but applying for grants shouldn’t be scary. Mark your calendars to chat with Taylor Haslett at our next Grant Chat, and shake off your grant fears. Join Taylor on Nov. 6, 2025, to talk about grants, project ideas, funding options, resources and more in a casual setting. This Chat will be held at Foster Coffee Company in East Lansing from 3 – 4 p.m. Drop in to this casual chat opportunity, grab a beverage, and pull up a chair with Taylor to discuss your granting needs. Learn more.

Member Making News

lansing makers network

Lansing Makers Network was recently featured in Spartan News, who shared the story of this amazing community space for makers that offers tools for exploration of multiple mediums. EXCERPT: “The makerspace, I think, also offers something far more subtle but extremely important, a chance for community with other makers,” he said. “You’re going to meet people that share common interests … That’s a great thing.” (photo credit Alexis Schmidt.) Read more.

seams opens in old town

Seams has officially opened in Old Town, offering space for more classes and other offerings. Shout out to City Pulse for featuring this unique shop. EXCERPT: “The Old Town location is also Seams’ first standalone shop. The former location was around 300 square feet of “incubator space” in East Lansing’s Woven Art Yarn Shop, but the new shop is more than double the square footage, Gregg said, allowing space for additional offerings and sewing classes.” Read more.

Extra! Extra!

What we’re excited about

fish ladder music park

Last week the Old Town Fish Ladder Music Park officially opened. The park offers amphitheater seating for about 350 people and is beautifully adorned with murals by artist Brian Whitfield. It offers elevated swings with riverside views, a fireplace surrounded by musical-note benches, accessible seating, and lighting that illuminates the trees throughout the park. It will be a venue for festivals and concerts, but also provides a beautiful park for daily use by all. Learn more.

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!

Be an arts supporter! Join our Circle of Giving!

Our donors make our organization strong and help us do the work of supporting arts, culture and creativity in the Greater Lansing Region. Join our circle of donors and be a part of the arts community!