Grants encourage collaboration, new projects in greater Lansing

Source: Katie Robiadek, Arts Council of Greater Lansing

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing recently awarded $17,562 to local arts and cultural agencies for the second year of its Collaborative Arts Grant Program. Funded by the Council's Arts Advancement Endowment Fund, the grants encourage local organizations to work together on new projects that promote arts and culture in the community. Organizations receiving awards for fiscal year 2011 are:

MSU Department of Theatre - $4,000
MSU Department of Theatre will collaborate with the East Lansing Film Festival on a film/theatre symposium. MSU Department of Theatre will produce, "Evil Dead: The Musical" to run Oct. 15-24, 2010 and co-sponsor a free screening of the original film on which the musical is based, "The Evil Dead," by former MSU student Sam Raimi on Oct. 19, 2010, during the East Lansing Film Festival. An artist residency with MSU alumna Betsy Baker (B.A. Theatre, 1977) who appeared in the leading role of Linda, will also take place.

MSU College of Music - $4,000
MSU College of Music will collaborate with Lansing's Allen Neighborhood Center to present a series of eight concerts, followed by lectures, of original compositions by MSU Professors of Jazz at Creole Gallery and Pattengill Middle School from October 2010-September 2011.

Happendance - $4,000
Happendance will collaborate with the Lansing Symphony Orchestra to present, "CONNECT," a modern dance and music performance to be performed at Lansing Community College's Dart Auditorium Feb. 19-20, 2011, and to be offered as a show for secondary schools on Feb. 18, 2011.

MSU Community Music School - $2,781
MSU Community Music School will collaborate with the Michigan Historical Museum to produce, "Cycles - A Musical Journey through Michigan History." During this progressive concert/tour, which will be free for attendees on May 1, 2011, live musicians will perform newly composed music inspired by the exhibits showcasing important periods in Michigan history.

All-of-us Express Children's Theatre - $2,781
All-of-us Express Children's Theatre will collaborate with Lansing Community College to offer Advanced Stage Academy for students ages 14-18 in order to offer meaningful programming to older youth that includes classes taught by LCC's second year theatre students, giving them important teaching and directing opportunities. Classes will culminate in a new, more mature, series of three performances in Lansing Community College's Black Box Theatre the weekend of May 14, 2011.

Founded in 1965, the Arts Council of Greater Lansing is a non-profit organization whose mission is to lead, advocate for and advance arts and culture in the capital region. For more information, visit http://www.lansingarts.org/.