2026 Young Creatives Grants

The Arts Council of Greater Lansing, established in 1965, is a nonprofit arts organization serving the capital region of Michigan. Its mission is to foster a vibrant arts and cultural environment by providing leadership, financial support, educational opportunities, and services to local artists and cultural nonprofits. Through initiatives such as grant funding, community engagement, and advocacy, the Council aims to support creative professionals and promote arts as a critical driver of community development and enrichment. The Young Creatives Grant is designed to expand access to arts education for underserved youth between the ages of 5 and 17. The program is made possible through funding from the Arts Advancement Endowment Fund and the Michigan State University Federal Credit Union. The grant supports two types of eligible programming: scholarships for financially disadvantaged youth to attend arts and cultural classes, or funding for free educational arts and cultural programming targeting underserved youth populations. Each applicant may only apply under one of these categories per funding cycle. The maximum award per grant is $1,500, and the total scholarship funding available for FY26 is $7,500. To qualify, applicants must be Michigan-based nonprofit organizations located in the greater Lansing area, with most of their programming dedicated to arts and culture. Priority will be given to organizations whose sole mission is arts and culture. Eligible applicants must be physically located and operate within Ingham, Eaton, or Clinton counties. They must also demonstrate 501(c)(3) status or provide documentation of incorporation under Michigan state law. Public universities and government entities are exempt from nonprofit documentation requirements. All applicants must be current members of the Arts Council of Greater Lansing and have no outstanding obligations from prior grants. The application process is managed online through Slideroom, and all applications must be submitted by 11:59 p.m. on August 1, 2025. Applicants are required to submit a complete application, including a project narrative, proof of nonprofit status, and a current list of board members. The project narrative should describe the programming to be provided, its objectives, outreach strategy for underserved populations, and a plan for evaluation. The programming must occur between October 1, 2025, and September 30, 2026. Projects must be accessible to all and must credit the Arts Council and MSUFCU in promotional materials. Applications are reviewed in a two-stage process: an eligibility review by staff followed by evaluation from a community review panel composed of qualified artistic professionals. Applications are judged based on clarity, educational and artistic merit, accessibility, and use of evaluation for future improvements. Funding recommendations are finalized by the Arts Council’s Board of Directors. All applicants will be notified of funding decisions after September 1. For more information or assistance with the application, organizations can contact the Arts Council of Greater Lansing at (517) 853-7582 or visit their website at www.lansingarts.org.

Incomplete or dual-category applications will be rejected; use Slideroom only.