Lansing’s REACH Studio Art Center surpasses $48,000 goal through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places crowdfunding initiative

Wins $48,000 matching grant from MEDC to support expansion in REO Town

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Economic Development Corporation and REACH Studio Art Center today announced the provider of free and low-cost art programming to Lansing residents has raised over $49,115 (and counting) in a crowdfunding campaign administered by Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity. The dollars raised, along with a $48,000 matching grant from MEDC, will support the center’s expansion along S. Washington Ave. in REO Town. 

“Lansing area residents have shown that community pride can be a powerful catalyst when it comes to creating thriving, sustainable, and unique places where workers, entrepreneurs, and businesses want to locate, invest, and expand,” said MEDC President and CEO Michael A. Finney. “This is a great win for REACH and for Lansing, and I encourage other communities, nonprofits and businesses to utilize the Public Spaces Community Places initiative to transform and strengthen their communities.” 

The REACH crowdfunding campaign runs until 11:59 p.m., October 17. Additional dollars raised above the organization’s $48,000 goal will be used to support additional phases of the expansion. To donate, please visit: www.patronicity.com/reach. 

“We are ecstatic about how well our Patronicity crowdfunding campaign went,” said REACH Studio Art Center Director Alice Brinkman. “The success of this campaign goes far beyond raising our money goal. It has also given me and the entire REACH community an extraordinary sense of encouragement as we witnessed all the sharing and beautiful comments from those we already knew and from a whole new batch of people who have jumped in to get behind what we are doing for Lansing. We are so very grateful to the MEDC for their vision and support in providing this opportunity. And a huge thanks to patronicity.com for their caring and personal support every step of the way to make this such a positive first experience.” 

In 2013, REACH purchased properties along an entire block on S. Washington Ave between Bank and Smith streets in REO Town and began renovations in the fall. Money raised through the crowdfunding campaign will support re-purposing five run-down storefront buildings into a 10,000-square-foot community arts center, four large studio classrooms, media lab, performance hall, the city’s only youth art gallery, and a community-friendly courtyard. The courtyard will provide outdoor recreation space to more than 1000 children who participate in REACH art programs. It will also be used for summer outdoor movies, sculpture exhibits, outdoor art classes, and neighborhood gatherings. 

For more details about the expansion, please go to: www.reachstudioart.org/facility. 

REACH is hosting a crowdfunding wrap up party this evening, Oct. 16, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. at the Midtown Brewing Company at 402 S. Washington Sq. 

Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the MEDC, the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity where local residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of transformational projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC. Communities, non-profits and other business entities can apply at https://patronicity.com/puremichigan. 

REACH Studio Art Center is a nonprofit neighborhood space for arts and civic engagement in REO Town. REACH programs are dedicated to mentoring at-risk youth, urban revitalization, and strengthening community. REACH connects artists with local residents, brings diverse individuals and groups together, and creates an atmosphere of shared pride and creative problem solving. 

About Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC)

The Michigan Economic Development Corporation is the state’s marketing arm and lead advocate for business development, job awareness and community development with the focus on growing Michigan’s economy. For more information on the MEDC and our initiatives, visit www.MichiganBusiness.org. For Pure Michigan® tourism information, your trip begins at www.michigan.org. Join the conversation on: Facebook Instagram LinkedIn, and Twitter.