...artists with children, ekphrastic poetry, comic art
january 1, 2020 edition
Creative Connection is your exclusive, bi-weekly source for current creative opportunities in the arts and cultural sector. Want more news and happenings? Visit  lansingarts.org , and watch for our monthly ARTS NEWS newsletter in your inbox the first week of every month. 
january's word
ek·​phra·​sis  
a literary description of, or commentary on, a visual work of art. What is ekphrastic poetry? Read about it here. Go deeper here .
grants ● funding
Act now! Opportunities are time sensitive!
$ MCACA Round 2 Minigrants 
$ Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Film Festivals & Filmmaker Grants
$ Kresge Foundation Equitable Creative Placemaking
$ Actors Equity Foundation Theatre Grants  
$ MI Realtors Lighter, Quicker, Cheaper Neighborhood Grants  
$ Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation USArtists International Application
$ The Awesome Foundation Grants 
$ Foundation for Contemporary Art CA Artist Emergency Grants 
$ CERF+'s The Artists Safety Net Emergency Funds
$ National Endowment for the Arts FY 2021 Grants 
$ Sustainable Arts Foundation grants for writers and artists with children
$ Money for Women/Barbara Deming Individual Artist Grants for Women Writers
$ New Music USA Project Grants
work ● intern ● volunteer
jobs
Impression 5 Science Center   is seeking a guest experience team member to lead and deliver opportunities in a classroom setting and on the main exploration area, deliver hands-on workshops and more. The team member also supports and contributes to the growth of operations at the Science Center. This is a 20-30 hr. per week position. Application deadline: Jan. 17. Learn more.

The State News currently has multiple position openings for photographers, videographers, reporters, editors and more. Learn more.

Internships
Arts Council of Greater Lansing  is seeking interns in a variety of positions for the winter semester! Students with administration, general programming, public relations or graphic design experience are encouraged to submit an application.  Learn more.

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 ● conferences ● classes
Calls to artists
Delta Dental , the  MLK Jr. Commision of Mid-Michigan  and the  MSU Broad Art Lab announces a call to artists for the second annual Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Art Contest. Open to all ages with cash awards for each age group from adult to grades 6-12. Works must be relevant and consistent with the theme "There comes a time when silence is betrayal." Application deadline is Jan. 3. Learn more.

Capital City Film Festival   (CCFF) announces a call for submissions for its 2020, 10th Annual film festival. Submit your project on   FilmFreeway  for CCFF happening April 9-18, 2020 all around Lansing. Application deadline: Jan. 12. Learn more.

City of East Lansing  announces a call to artists for its annual  East Lansing Art Festival   to be held on May 16-17, 2020. Fee to apply is $35. Application deadline is Jan. 31. Learn more.

Kalamazoo Institute of Arts   announces a call to artists for its 69th annual Kalamazoo Institute of Arts Fair held in June 2020. This juried show features up to 190 fine artists. Application deadline: Jan. 31. Application fee is $35.  Learn more.

The 57th Street Art Fair  invites artists with high quality, handmade, original work to apply to be part of the 73rd annual juried event in Chicago's Hyde Park neighborhood, June 6 - 7, 2020. This two-day event showcases a range of original work in glass, jewelry, leather, photography, printmaking, painting, sculpture, wood, ceramics and fiber art entirely designed, created and produced by artists from around the country. Application deadline: Jan. 14, to be considered for the jury.  Learn more.

Silvermine Galleries Fiber 2020   looks to exhibit the best of contemporary fiber art. Artists are invited to submit work that reflects the breadth of functional or non-functional works using fiber and/or fiber art techniques in traditional or innovative ways. Open to all artists age 18 or older living in the U.S. $45 entry fee for up to five entries. Application deadline is Feb. 7.  Learn more.

Ding Tea is seeking a muralist to paint human-sized butterfly wings on an inside wall of their Grand Rapids location. Interested artists should contact Ding Tea owner, Rober Duong at Rduong517@gmail.com to learn more.

Competitions
Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center  announces a call to artists for the 2020 Michigan Collegiate Art Exhibition, a competitive exhibition to be held in March 2020. Artworks of all medias are eligible, including but not limited to the following: paintings, sculpture, mixed media, photography, graphic design, installations, short film and video games. Deadline to apply is Jan. 23.  Learn more.

The Lansing Poetry Club  announces a call to emerging poets for the Ritzenhein Emerging Poetry Competition. Local poets from Ingham, Eaton, Ionia, Barry, Calhoun, Jackson, Shiawasee, Livingston and Clinton counties as well as students attending colleges in those counties, who have not yet published a book or chapbook are eligible to enter the contest. For info contact Mary Fox, Ritzenhein Emerging Poet Award Contest Coordinator at  mary5447fox@yahoo.com .

The Foundry Art Center   is seeking submissions for "Voting Daughters," celebrating the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment. This exhibition calls on artists, regardless of their gender identity, to comment on the ways women's voices affect our contemporary landscape. All media and expressions are welcome for submission. International deadline is Jan. 27.  Learn more .

Boynes Emerging Artist Award  call for entries for paintings, drawings and photography of any size or support. Artwork must have been completed in the last three (3) years. Work will be judged based on skill, composition, impact and originality. Open to all artists regardless of country of origin/residence, sex and age. Purpose is to give a platform to talented artists around the world who remain unrecognized for their brilliant work, as well as to support artists at the beginning of their artistic careers.  Learn more.

Education — Artists
Arts Council   announces  Open Group Grant Consultations . Consultations are held monthly with the next one happening on Jan. 7. from 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at  Ding Tea (970 Trowbridge Rd. East Lansing, MI 48823) .  Grant consultations are free of charge and offer an opportunity to ask questions and discuss grants in a casual, relaxed setting. Let us know you are coming on our  Facebook Event.

Lansing Poetry Club   announces The Poets Roundtable-- a day of free writing workshops, plus an Open Mic and Authors' Alley in which local authors display recent publications. The "Roundtable" will run from 10:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the East Lansing Public Library, 950 Abbot Road, East Lansing.  Learn more.

Ekphrastic Poetry Workshop with former Lansing poet laureate, Dennis Hinrichsen. This two-part workshop will explore writing poetry about art by considering work on display at Lansing Art Gallery & Education Center. The two-week sequence will focus on the entire writing process—from gathering ideas and drafting to revising and performance. Please note that this workshop meets twice- January 14 and 21, 6 - 8 pm. Learn more.

Michigan State University and the Residential College of Arts and Humanities present the 2020 MSU Comics Forum , a multi-day, annual event for scholars, creators, and fans of the comics medium. Events include keynote address from an award-winning creator and scholar of the field, an artist alley, academic panel discussions, exhibition of comic art, comic book discussion groups, and more. Feb. 21-22 at MSU Main Library. Learn more.

SBDC Capital Region Office presents Build Your Own Business Website You know your business should have a website - but you have no idea where to start! Jessica from the Capital Area District Library will introduce you to Weebly, a free tool that will enable you to build your website with an easy drag-and-drop interface. Tues. Feb. 18 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Learn more.

Education — Organizations
Nonprofit Legislative Day at the Capitol Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel is confirmed as the event's keynote speaker. She will discuss the state’s plans for safeguarding Michigan's census from disinformation campaigns and cybersecurity threats. Hear from elected officials and public policy experts and learn how to effectively advocate on behalf of the people you serve. Feb. 5, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. Learn more.

Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo presents Arts Justice and Equity Training attend this one-day Justice and Equity training specifically geared for Arts Organization staff, volunteers and board members. Facilitated by consultant and educator Mia Henry of Freedom Lifted to Kalamazoo. Jan. 22, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Learn more.

Sphinx Organization presents the fourth annual Sphinxconnect 2020 featuring over 30 sessions designed to inspire and ignite action, participation of more than 60 speakers, keynote addresses by luminaries and trailblazers, a special session for entrepreneurs, and much more.The convening will celebrate and empower leadership as we welcome hundreds of musicians, industry leaders, educators, funders, diversity advocates, and administrators for this transformative experience! Feb. 6 - 8, 2020.  Learn more.

Additional resources
Writing Contests
Songwriting Competitions
Grants for Writers
Alliance of Artists Communities

Send Us Your Creative Opportunities
If you are currently hiring for a part- or full-time position, offering an internship, looking for volunteers or have a competition or call to artists, please let us know. Email the Arts Council at  dawn@lansingarts.org  to list your opportunity in our next Creative Connection.

Are you making creative connections? We'd love to share them here. Take a photo of you or your organization's creative interactive moments and send it to dawn@lansingarts.org.
Visit Lansingarts.org for complete arts info!
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