$ City of Lansing Mini Pocket Grants 

$ MACC Bus Trek and Arts Equipment and Supplies Grants

$ MACC Grants (Operational Support, Capital Improvement and more)

$ Creative Capital x Skoll Fund

$ Creative Capitol Wild Futures Awards

$ The Andy Warhol Foundation Arts Writers Grant Opens April 12, 2022

$ Sony Alpha Female+ Grant Program

$ Arts Midwest Gig Fund DEADLINE APPROACHING

$ NEA Challenge America DEADLINE APPROACHING

$ Kars4Kids Small Educational Grants

$ Adolph & Esther Gottlieb Emergency Grant Program

$ Black Artist Fund (ongoing)

Long Hair Utopia Art Show is seeking artists who would like to participate in this upcoming special show as part of "Williamston's Weekends: Retro 50's - 80's." Some genres include psychedelic, feminist, protest, anti-war, Alphonse Mucha resurgence, concert poster styles, blacklight poster style, new age, nature, earth art, hippie art, tie dye, 70's California styles, disco scene, 70's New York City vibes, 70's cartoon styles and more. Interested artists should contact Matt Mulford here. Deadline: March 30, 2022.

Capital City Film Festival of Lansing, Michigan, is seeking entries for its Fortnight Film Contest, a competition for teams of amateur, student and professional filmmakers in Michigan to create a short film for a chance to win some BIG cash prizes! Registration is now open and requires an $100 entry fee which includes two all-access passes to the Festival. Deadline: March 31, 2022.

The Shelby Township Art Fair Committee and Parks & Recreation Department in Shelby, Michigan, seek artists for the 39th annual juried art show and fair held at River Bends Park in southeast Michigan. A variety of mediums will be accepted including, art, fine crafts for this Michigan Made Market. Deadline: April 1, 2022.

The Leigh Yawkey Woodson Art Museum in Wausau, Wisconsin, invites submissions to its annual juried "Birds in Art" exhibition. Artists working in all mediums other than photography can submit original, 2D and 3D artworks interpreting birds and related subject matter for jury consideration. Deadline: April 15, 2022. 

The Toledo Zoo in Toledo, Ohio, is seeking creative artists and skilled makers to take part in their two-day art fair, "Wild about Art." Accepted mediums include ceramics, drawing, painting, glass, jewelry, mixed media, metal working, photography, printmaking/graphics, sculpture, textiles and wood. Deadline: April 25, 2022.

The North Dakota Horse Expo seeks entries for its "Art of the Equine" juried art show at the North Dakota State Fair Center in Minot, North Dakota. Art must depict any member(s) of the equine family and/or the equestrian lifestyle. Open to all artists 18 years and over. Deadline: April 25, 2022.

The Greater Brighton Area Chamber of Commerce invites submissions from artists and fine crafters in all media and categories for the Brighton Art and Music Festival held in Brighton, Michigan. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

Lowell Arts is seeking proposals for its 2023/2024 exhibitions.

Artists, curators, artist groups and instructors are encouraged to submit a proposal for an exhibition at LowellArts between the winter of 2023 and fall of 2024. Approximately 6-8 exhibitions slots are available. Deadline: May 1, 2022.

Arts Council Greater Lansing presents it's Open Group Grant Consultation. This month's chat will be held at Foster Coffee Company in East Lansing. Drop in for casual conversation regarding grants and share your creative ideas with Arts Council membership & program manager, Taylor Haslett. She can provide grant opportunity info and assist you in planning your grant applications. Bring some friends! Virtual option via Zoom is also available. Date & time: April 7, 2022, 12:00 - 2:00 p.m. 

Arts Council of Greater Lansing presents its April smARTS workshop, "Elevating Stories in the Fresh Coast State." In this workshop, marketing and communications professional Josh Holliday will detail his work as founder and editor of the statewide digital storytelling platform. Come learn about this unique publication that shares stories of the artists, creatives and innovators who are making Michigan a vibrant and exciting place and find out how you or your organization can be featured. Date & Time: April 27, 2022, 9:30 - 11:00 a.m.

MSU Broad Art Museum, MSU Museum’s Science Gallery, The Writing Center, and the Creative Writing Program present "Science of Grief: Poetry Workshop" with Natasha T. Miller & Lauren Russell. In this workshop, attendees will create new poems from old medical records, in conversation with the exhibition Kahlo Without Borders. There will then be an open-mic style reading of the poems created in the workshop. Date & Time: March 24, 2022 from 6:00 – 8:00 p.m. on Zoom.

Creative Capital presents "A Sustainable Creative Life: Community and Opportunities." In this two-part workshop, Sharon Louden will offer visual artists strategies to engage their communities and demonstrate pragmatic approaches to sustaining a creative life. Louden will share the expertise she has gained through collaborations and conversations with gallery owners, museum professionals, critics, curators, nonprofits, residencies, academics and others in different art communities. Date & Time: April 4 & 11, 2022, 7:00 - 8:30 p.m.

Make sure you mark your calendars for our 2022 Creative Exchange. Join us and learn how you can add impact to your donor letters and build stronger relationships with your community and your funders.

On May 12, 2022, from 1:00 - 3:30 p.m. we will virtually welcome internationally-known fundraising communications expert Tom Ahern. Tom will share with us the ins and outs of writing successful donor communications and creating more engagement. Get the secrets and tips you need for increasing funding and building authentic realationships. Learn more! Follow the event!

Art Juice: a podcast for artists, creatives and art lovers, Episode 157: "Stuck in a Desert of Blah...what to do when you lose your mojo." Intro: "Maybe there are artists who are always inspired, always energised and always making fantastic work... but if there are, we don't know them. This week we're talking about those times when inspiration seems to desert us. These are the times when we either can't face making art, or can't make anything we like." Have a listen!

Greater Lansing Inspiration Guide by the Greater Lansing Convention and Business Bureau. Intro, excerpt by Julie Pingston: "Our goal is to inspire visitors to love Lansing like a local, and I would personally like to invite you to experience all that Greater Lansing has to offer. From world-class attractions to colorful festivals, Greater Lansing has something to offer everyone." Check out this guide to see all the amazing things you can see in our region, some that you didn't even know existed! Have a look.

WHAT YOU'RE UP TO (Mark your calendars and support your fellow members!)

We are so grateful for all of you and happy to have you as part of our membership!

Ari Simeone, Densie A. Hummel (Focus on Love), Judy Walgren, Laurie Lonsdorf

In the last edition of the Creative Connection we annouonced that it was the last week for membership renewal, and unfortunately some of our friends didn't hear the call! This means lots of missed opportunities and connections, no more editions of this newsletter and losing touch with our awesome arts community and all the people in it. We know everyone has busy lives, and sometimes things get missed, so please check in on your artist and arts org friends and remind them to call us, and we can help them renew or join! Arts friends are the best friends, lets stay connected. Send them a link!

We want to feature you here in this opportunities newsletter that is being read biweekly by ALL our members! We want to share your stuff--your events--your faces and happenings!

Let your fellow arts & culture creators see what you are up to so you can support each other! So come on and share the love! Email Dawn at dawn@lansingarts.org with all the goods!