may 20, 2020
Welcome to your Creative Connection. In these times, creative connections look much different than we're used to. As seen in the above photo from Lansing 5:01's recent virtual event , our area creatives are getting innovative and still connecting us to the arts we love! Let us know what you are working on, and i f there is anything we might be able to help you with . Here's what we have been up to!
 Hang in there and stay safe!
important things to do right now!
write a letter of thanks to your council member!
On Monday, May 18, 2020, the Lansing City Council gave a vote in support of arts and culture in our region, letting us know t he arts matter! We would like to send out a big thank you to Mayor Schor and the City of Lansing council members for supporting arts and culture in our region! We invite you all to send a letter of thanks to your council member thanking them for their vote to keep Arts Project Grants and Mini Pocket Grants for Art in the 2020/2021 budget. These grants are so important to our arts and culture organizations, enriching their programming and having a significant impact on our communities and our economic growth and stability.

Apply for a $500 City of Lansing Pocket Grant!
Do you have a creative arts-based idea you want to see come to fruition? Then a $500 pocket-sized grant could be your answer! Anyone interested in producing arts-based projects, events or installations in neighborhoods within the City of Lansing can submit brief proposals for a monthly review and quick turnaround. The Mini Pocket Grants for Art are awarded to people and organizations who collaborate with a Lansing non-profit to artistically bring an area to life. These grants are ongoing. Learn more.
grants funding
creators & organizations
We know you are all looking for resources to support your arts business and organizations during this unsure time, and we are actively seeking out funding and other opportunities to help you. We have created a page on our website to assist you and hope you will explore it. Please note that some of the resources are lists that have been curated by numerous organizations and institutions; as a result, there may be some overlap and some options may have expired as things are changing so quickly. We will continue to add to the page as more opportunities arise.

new funding opportunity
The NDN Collective’s COVID-19 Response Project is designed to provide immediate relief to some of the most underserved communities in the country. NDN’s intent is to quickly distribute resources to frontline organizations, Tribes and individuals to provide gap services during this health crisis, and to artists and entrepreneurs who have suffered the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
new festival resource!
Attention all festival organizations and organizers! Michigan Festivals and Events has created a COVID Restart Guide to help with some ideas on how to proceed safely with future events.
work intern volunteer
jobs/careers
The Arts Council of Greater Lansing is seeking an administrative assistant. The ideal candidate will be responsible, take initiative, multitask with ease and work well as part of a team. Must demonstrate an ability to clearly and personably communicate with stakeholders, including but not limited to: board, staff, interns, donors, sponsors and students. Learn more.

Michigan Institute of Contemporary Art (MICA) is seeking to hire an operations manager. Position includes administrative responsibilities, support of MICA’s Board, MICA festivals assistance (Lansing JazzFest, Michigan BluesFest and others), coordination of MICA Gallery operations and space rentals and being an on-site liaison for MICA's management. To apply, email cover letter and resume to  [email protected]  with “operations manager position” in the subject line. 

Cole Academy is hiring a part-time art teacher for the 20/21 school year. This position is 4-5 hours per day and totals 20 hours per week. Cole Academy serves grades K-6 and is located in Greater Lansing. Learn more.

WILX is seeking a news editor/photographer to generate content for broadcasts, web channel and social media. The photographer’s primary focus will be shooting/editing video and general news gathering, either teamed with a reporter or solo across various media channels. Learn more.

internships
The Arts Council is accepting applications for summer and fall interns in the areas of programming, fund development, public relations/communications or build-your-own. Learn more.

The Lansing Art Gallery is seeking a summer "virtual" arts education intern who will assist with social media, marketing and managing virtual arts programming. Interested candidates should email a letter of interest and a copy of their resume to Michelle Carlson, education director, at [email protected] .

Allen Neighborhood Center   has openings for a variety of internships, including youth programs, food projects, outreach, farmers market, market bank and Hunter Park GardenHouse.   Learn more. 
calls competitions ● classes
While some things have gone away, new things are being created. Creativity matters, so please keep making art, seeking out calls and submitting those applications when you can.

calls to artists
The Arts Council of Greater Lansing announces a call to artists for their exhibit wall. Exhibit your work at the Arts Council for one month. Current months available: August, October and December. Deadline to submit is June 1, 2020. Learn more.

Friends of Durant Park  in Lansing, Mich.  is seeking an experienced artist or team to give new life to a dying tree in the park by turning it into an art work. This project idea was inspired by Chicago Tree Project artist Samantha Rausch. Extended deadline is June 30, 2020.  Learn more.

ArtPrize announces call to artists for its event on Sept. 16-Oct. 4, 2020. Artist registration is open through June 4, 2020. Learn more.

The Gifts of Art Program is seeking submissions for solo and group art exhibits for the September 2020 to August 2021 exhibition year. One of the first and most comprehensive arts in healthcare programs in the nation, Gifts of Art brings the world of art and music to Michigan Medicine at the University of Michigan. Deadline for submissions is June 15, 2020. Learn more.

The Arts Center Highland Park invites artists, wherever they may be in their careers, to submit to an exhibit that expresses artwork that is coming out of this time. Each applicant may submit up to three pieces, and will be guaranteed to have one accepted for it's virtual exhibit "Art in the Time of Quarantine." Deadline for entries is May 31, 2020. Show date is June 19, 2020, thru Aug. 1, 2020. Learn more.

Higher Art Gallery announces a call to artists for its annual all-media juried exhibit,
"Citizens Coping: artists respond to the last four years." As this exhibit lands smack dab during the month of the 2020 election, the gallery invites artists of all mediums to examine how the last four years have changed them personally (or not), and express how the actions of this administration have affected them (or COVID-19). Learn more.

Submittable has put together this Call to Artists COVID-19 list of creative opportunities for artists, writers, poets and more. Some are local, but many are national and international. It's actually fun to read through all of the interesting and creative ideas people are coming up with to share arts and culture. Give it a read and hopefully you will find the perfect fit. Learn more.

Better Than Plaster is seeking artists who create children's art. They feel that there is a lack of diversity in children’s art, and they want to do something about it! This call is open to artists of children’s art from all around the globe. Learn more.

competitions
Film Pipeline   announces 2020 Short Film Competition. The third annual Film Pipeline Shorts Competition seeks remarkable directors and diverse, engaging content--the type of work defined by forward-thinking perspectives and unconventional yet universally appealing stories. Cash prizes and more. Early deadline is May 31, 2020.  Learn more.

Manifest announces an international call for art about monsters, real or imagined. Submissions can range from the most traditional to the most conceptual, abstract, or experimental. Cash prize will be awarded, multiple entries can be submitted. Deadline is May 25, 2020. Learn more.

Manifest invites visual artists to submit works of art about sparkle, enchantment, facade, flashiness, and the seductive power of bright lights and color for their "Twinkle" exhibition.  Submissions can range from the most traditional to the most conceptual, abstract, or experimental. Deadline to submit is May 24, 2020. Learn more.

Additional resources
don't forget to drop us a line!
If you haven't heard, we recently announced our postcard project, and we hope you will participate and drop us a line. Learn more about the project here. And email [email protected] if you have postcards and would like to be added to the list. Big shout out to ALT Printing Co. for providing us with postcards designed especially for the occasion!
going virtual? send us your opportunities
If you are developing online video classes, webinars, holding art sales etc., please let us know. Email the Arts Council at  [email protected]  to list your opportunity in our next Creative Connection.
photo opp! share your creative connections
Now more than ever, we would love you to send us photos of you. Whether it's earlier pics of you or your organization connecting with others or photos of what you're doing now to keep busy and make the best of these quarantined times! We want to keep our communications fresh, fun and full of our members doing what they do best! Send photos to [email protected].
visit lansingarts.org for complete arts info!