A Day of Art in Greater Lansing

Satisfy your senses when you visit one of Greater Lansing's theatres, art museums or shows. Be the first to see cutting-edge, contemporary art at the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum, feel the beat of the drums during a musical performance by the Lansing Symphony Orchestra or smell the aroma of fresh, buttered popcorn when you sit down to watch a movie at the NCG Eastwood Cinema. No matter how you choose to celebrate the arts in Greater Lansing, prepare to come away inspired.

Morning

Start your day in East Lansing, where the campus of Michigan State University serves as a hub for contemporary art and curated private collections.

Visit the Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum

Eli and Edythe Broad Art Museum is an essential first stop, housed in a unique stainless steel building designed by Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid. This museum connects people with art through experiences that inspire curiosity and inquiry. With a focus on the art of our time, the museum encourages engagement with timely issues of local relevance and global significance. 

What to Do at Broad Art Museum

• Explore the permanent collection galleries
• Check for special exhibitions currently on display
• Take in the unique architecture of the building itself
• Consider a guided tour, if available, for deeper insights

Head to Saper Galleries

Find more than 1,500 paintings, original paintings, drawings, sculptures, hand-blown glass, ceramics, wooden boxes, gifts, and other art media at Saper Galleries in downtown East Lansing.  Saper Galleries features exhibitions of artists of international acclaim, such as Dr. Seuss, Rembrandt, Picasso, and Michigan's leading artists. Saper Galleries was voted one of the top galleries in the country. 

What to Do at Saper Galleries

• Check for special exhibitions currently on display
• See the world's largest collection of Hebron Glass in the World
• Discover Michigan artists
• Explore artwork from Dr. Seuss

Afternoon

Local Art Exploration in Old Town

Head to the charming historic district of Old Town. This area is home to several smaller art galleries and studios showcasing local artists. The neighborhood's beautiful Victorian buildings are filled with unique galleries, tasty eateries, quaint boutiques, creative businesses, specialty shops, and more. Old Town is an urban neighborhood with a small-town feel. This arts district hosts festivals, gallery walks, and farmers' markets throughout the year. 

What to Do in Old Town

• Browse art galleries along Turner Street, such as the eclectic Absolute Gallery
• Keep an eye out for public art installations as you stroll through the neighborhood
• Stop by the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art/MICA

Delve into the History and Decorative Arts at the Michigan State Capitol Building

While not a fine arts museum, the Michigan State Capitol Building is an architectural masterpiece. Designed by Elijah E. Myers, one of the foremost architects of public buildings during the Gilded Age (1865-1914), construction of the Capitol Building took six years and contains over nine acres of hand-painted surfaces. 

What to Do at the State Capitol Building

• The eight figures of women ("muses") painted in the dome each represent a field of endeavor important to Michigan's progress as a state.
• Visit the gallery of governors, a collection of gubernatorial portraits displayed in the 2nd and 3rd-floor rotunda.
• The Victorian decorative paintings throughout the building contain examples of "trompe l'oeil" painting, where flat surfaces are meticulously detailed to look like three-dimensional wood carvings or moldings
• The ornate grand staircases and original Michigan-inspired chandeliers

Evening

Catch a Performance

Check the schedule at the Wharton Center on the campus of Michigan State University to catch a performance by touring Broadway shows, orchestras, dance companies, or other musical and theatrical events that have strong artistic merit. 

Looking for local theatre? Instead, check out the Riverwalk Theatre, Stage One at Sycamore Creek Eastwood, The Robin Theatre, or the Williamston Theatre for a more intimate performance.