NEA chairman Rocco Landesman noted, “Art works everywhere,” which is why the CAFT program supports projects from primarily small and mid-sized arts organizations that extend the reach of the arts to underserved audiences—those whose opportunities to experience the arts are limited by geography, ethnicity, economics, or disability.

The NEA has consistently supported organizations that provide access and exposure to artistic excellence to surrounding communities. This will be the second time Lansing JazzFest has received this grant, and it is one of only three recipients in the state of Michigan.

“This grant and our dedicated sponsors and volunteers are what make us able to create a cutting-edge slate of jazz musicians and learning opportunities,” said Terry Terry, president of Michigan Institute of Contemporary Art, the festival’s producer. “The Lansing JazzFest creates an open space for everyone in the community to celebrate and imagine new possibilities.”

Entering its 18th year, the Lansing JazzFest has come far from its inception in 1995. In its early days, local musicians donated their time to play at JazzFest and volunteers from the neighborhood and the local community pitched in to see the 4,000-5,000 people in attendance had a good time. Now the festival brings national and regional acts to an audience of roughly 10,000 people from across Michigan and nearby states.

These premiere events continue to be FREE through the dedication of a volunteer committee and hundreds of community volunteers, and the generosity of supporting grantors and sponsors.
This year’s festival will take place Friday, August 3 and Saturday, August 4, 2012 in the streets of Old Town, surrounding by the best of the capital city’s art galleries, as well as unique retail stores and grand architecture.

This year’s headliners include Tim Cunningham (from St. Louis, Mo.), Edye Evans Hyde (from Grand Rapids, Mich.) and Etienne Charles (from Trinidad).

“Taken together, these Challenge America Fast-Track grants provide an extraordinary sampling of the work that arts organizations do to reach underserved communities,” said Chairman Landesman. “With these grants, we are helping to ensure that art works for all Americans.”

The program is called Fast-Track because of its expedited review timeline. Lansing JazzFest producer Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art (MICA) was notified approximately six months after applying. Also, with 375 eligible applications submitted from across the country, there was significant competition for funding for these grants. MICA’s grant award is evidence of the artistic excellence and artistic merit of the Lansing JazzFest.

We’re looking forward to announcing 2012′s acts soon. Stay tuned!

Kick off the 2012 season right with great music—The Alligators, Jeff Shoup Trio, and Brenda Loomis—and the 2-5-1 Volunteer Awards!

$10 donation at the door. 2011 festival volunteers attend free. All proceeds will enhance the Lansing JazzFest, Michigan Mosaic Music Festival and Old Town BluesFest.

RSVP on Facebook.

There will also be a variety of other live bands, cultural performances, fireworks, car and motorcycle shows, the first annual Capital City Dragon Boat Race, the Mayor’s Labor Walk, Lansing Educators 0K 5K Run Back to School, ethnic food and a beverage tent.

Our photo gallery now features some photos from this year’s event. If you know of any footage or coverage of JazzFest 2011 that hasn’t been posted to our Media Room, we’d appreciate you letting us know so we can add a link.

We’ve also drafted a brief JazzFest survey and would love to hear your thoughts on how we can make the festival better.

See you in the streets next year! (Or maybe we’ll run into many of you at our sister festivals Michigan Mosaic Music Festival and Old Town BluesFest.)

There will be some street and lot closures in preparation for the festival this weekend.  City Lot 56/Cesar Chavez Plaza and Turner St. from north of Clinton St. to E. Grand River Ave. will be closed from Thursday, August 4, starting at 5 pm through Sunday, August 7 at noon.  The street will be blocked physically at one end with a stage and on the other by a tent and stage, so no car traffic will be able to enter.

Event organizers are required by the fire department to keep all alleyways open, so it is important to keep those areas free of parked cars or other obstacles in the event of an emergency.

Alternative parking has been secured by the City of Lansing Parking & Transportation office for any displaced residents or employees (those who would normally park on the festival premises) during JazzFest. These locations include the Temple Building at the corner of Cedar and Grand River, the former offices of Fortin & Chunko at 1119 N. Washington Ave, the former Car Wash across from Speedway on Cedar St, and City Lot 17.

If you have any questions regarding any of these parking options, JazzFest street closures or staging, etc., please contact Traci Shell with the City of Lansing Parking & Transportation Office or call the Michigan Institute for Contemporary Art at 517-371-4600.

In order to do that, we’re looking for donations of items for the children’s activities (making instruments and more). Here’s what we’re looking for:

• 100 postal tubes with caps, all sizes
• 300 plastic rings that hold 6-packs of cans together
• Bags of rice, beans, &/or peas
• 100 bracelets, carabiners, or other items to tie ribbon onto
• 100 small wooden rods
• Ribbon: 1″, 1/2″, or 1/4″ (no wire – must be able to float easily when moved in the air)
• 100 aluminum plates
• 100 clear, extra small cups
• Small beads
• 100 soup/deli containers with lids (preferably paper type so the kids can draw on them)
• String
• Hole punch
• 50 2-foot lengths of 1/2-inch/schedule-40 PVC sprinkler pipe
• 300 rolls of pennies
• Duct tape in various colors and patterns (lots)
• 200 glue sticks
• Sparkles, various colors, 6 large jars of each color
• Stickers (all types – puffy stickers go over well)
• Markers
• Crayons
• Other easy-to-apply items: feathers, small jewels, pictures thin enough to affix with a glue stick, etc.
• Large paper (for take-home art)
• Easels
• Buckets of chalk in various colors
• Face paints
• Small brushes
• 100 kazoos
• 100 egg shakers
• 100 pairs of kid-size drumsticks
• Sticks that could be used as drumsticks
• Any kind of musical instrument that you no longer use

If you have donations, feel free to drop them off at 1210 Turner St. labeled “Kidz Beat Donations” during regular working hours. Thanks!