EAST LANSING, MI — The East Lansing Arts Commission is currently accepting applications for its Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Cultural Arts Grant program. The City’s fiscal year runs from July 1 of the current year through June 30 of the next year.
The Arts Commission has up to $45,000 to allocate for FY26. The process is a competitive one and applicants are encouraged to pursue a variety of funding sources. Applications that request 15% of the total project cost or no more than $500, whichever is more, will be viewed favorably.
The City’s Cultural Arts Grant program supports public art programs and projects that provide high quality art experiences, encourage artistic expression and increase public participation, with an emphasis on promoting cultural appreciation for Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) communities and LGBTQIA+ experiences and understanding through art.
“We are so grateful for the additional funding this year and look forward to seeing all the applications that we will receive,” said East Lansing Art Festival and Art Initiatives Coordinator Heather Majano. “Together, these projects help expand the artistic awareness of our community and their appreciation for cultural arts. All of which continues to make East Lansing such a great place to live, work and play.”
FY26 grant-funded projects and events must take place between Nov. 1, 2025, and June 30, 2026. Applications for FY26 Cultural Arts Grant funding must be received by 5 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 29, 2025, to be considered.
The Commission is interested in supporting as many programs as possible over a wide range of genres. Among the projects that received Cultural Arts Grant funding in FY25 were Pumpstock, a free outdoor music festival at Bailey Park; Little Art Galleries in Glencairn; Page to Stage discussions at the East Lansing Public Library for a play being performed at the Williamston Theater; and the Summer Solstice Jazz Festival, which drew 8,500 festivalgoers to downtown East Lansing last month.
The application is online at https://www.cityofeastlansing.com/CulturalArtsGrant.
