Lansing will do a mural on the side of a building overlooking the Nuthouse restaurant. Grand Ledge will do a sculpture on the river and in view of the city's opera house. St. Johns will make a new sculpture part of the city's upcoming Splash Park.
They're all new works of art that are joining the growing roster of public art pieces popping up around Greater Lansing. And they're funded through $10,000 grants awarded through the
Lansing Economic Area Partnership's Public Art for Communities program. All three should be finished by November.
"We're hoping we continue to see new communities come to the table for these grants in future years," says Sara Parkinson, director of talent and communications for LEAP. "We're ready to help any community create a public art program to help recruit the world class talent the Lansing region deserves."
Since it's inception in 2012, the LEAP program has awarded 11 grants to mid-Michigan communities. Past recipients include the cities of Mason, East Lansing, St. Johns and DeWitt, as well as the townships of Meridian, DeWitt, Delhi and Delta. St. Johns is the first community to receive a second grant for public art.
Parkinson emphasized that LEAP invests in public art since a vibrant arts and cultural atmosphere can elevate Lansing's ability to attract and retain talent. She says that the grants have become exceptionally competitive, which further shows the region considers "sense of place" or placemaking a priority.
"We want to reward communities that include the arts in their strategic planning," says Parkinson. "Each day, LEAP works to attract and support companies that are looking to thrive in the Lansing area. Attracting the best talent to these companies is a huge piece of the puzzle."
By year's end, the total roster of public art funded through LEAP's Public Art for Communities Grant Program will include 16 pieces of public art, six bike racks, and one mural.
PNC also contributed $10,000 to the yearly program.
Source: Sara Parkinson, Director of Talent and Communications, LEAP
Writer: Ann Kammerer, News Editor
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