Have cash, will travel

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing awarded over $100,000 to 14 local nonprofits Tuesday as it announced the 2015 recipients of the Ingham County Hotel/Motel Funds for Arts and Tourism grants.

The grant program was created to support the production of publicity and promotional materials to attract out-of-county visitors to arts events in Ingham County. The grant is funded by a five percent tax of Ingham County hotel and motel revenues. Recipients of the grant are primarily cultural, educational, artistic, historical or entertainment organizations.

"The Arts Council is proud to administer Ingham County Hotel/Motel Tax Funds for Arts and Tourism on behalf of the county,” said Deborah Mikula, the council’s executive director. “We recognize the importance of the arts in bringing tourists into the Lansing area, and we are pleased to support the promotional activities of arts and cultural organizations, which, in turn, attract visitors.”  

The Williamston Theatre was among the 14 recipients of the award, and will use the funding to expand their presence on NPR and NPR affiliates.

“This funding is very important to us,” said John Lepard, executive director of Williamston Theatre. “Cultural tourism is a major economic driver and we are a part of that. There is a thriving live theatre audience in the state and it is vital that we tap into that base, not just in Ingham County but throughout the state. We are incredibly grateful for this support.”

The MSU Community Music School received a $5,000 award, which will go toward promotional activities, informational packets, radio advertisements and a fall 2015 open house for the school, said director Jamie DeMott. The Old Town Commercial Association will use funds to promote the Festival of Moon and Sun, ScrapFest and Oktoberfest.

The full list of agencies that received the 2015 award is:

Capital City Film Festival, Community Circle Players (Riverwalk Theatre), Downtown Lansing Inc., East Lansing Art Festival, Happendance Inc., Impression 5 Science Center, Lansing Symphony Orchestra, Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art, MSU Community Music School, MSU Museum, Old Town Commercial Association, Summer Solstice Jazz Festival, Wharton Center for Performing Arts and the Williamston Theatre