Crowdfunding campaign launched for ARTpath 2020 in Lansing

$7,500 goal to win matching grant through MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places initiative

LANSING, Mich. – The Lansing River Trail will again be brought to life in a new series of public art through a crowdfunding campaign, the Michigan Economic Development Corporation and the Lansing Art Gallery and Education Center announced today. The campaign is being offered through the Michigan-based crowdfunding platform Patronicity.

If the campaign reaches its crowdfunding goal of $7,500 by July 26, the project will win a matching grant with funds made possible by MEDC’s Public Spaces Community Places program. For project details and to donate, please visit: patronicity.com/artpath2020.

“Public art has the potential to bring people to public spaces and help them engage with those spaces and the community,” said MEDC Senior Vice President of Community Development Michele Wildman. “We are pleased to bring this project to life and provide resources for this effort through our Public Spaces Community Places program.”

Through this campaign, the Lansing Art Gallery and Education Center is partnering with the city of Lansing for the third annual ARTpath River Trail Exhibition. More than three miles of the Lansing River Trail will highlight the work of talented Michigan artists at locations within historic art districts from Old Town to Downtown, REO Town and beyond. Last summer more than 62,000 visitors enjoyed the River Trail during the duration of this project.

“Public art creates a sense of place, can bring beauty to unexpected spaces and brings art out of the gallery walls for the community to enjoy. ARTpath has brought the work of nineteen talented Michigan artists to the Lansing River Trail, an important thruway that connects multiple neighborhoods in Lansing,” said Lansing Art Gallery and Education Center Exhibitions and Gallery Sales Director Katrina M. Daniels. “The crucial role of Patronicity and the matching grant from the MEDC will help create awareness for ARTpath and for Lansing Art Gallery and Education Center. We are grateful and excited to bring public art to the Lansing River Trail again this summer.”

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

“Filling public spaces with art is key to great placemaking,” said Dan Gilmartin, CEO and executive director of the Michigan Municipal League. “Bringing art outside to the ARTpath River Trail increases the accessibility and enjoyment of works by Michigan artists.”

The Public Spaces Community Places initiative started in 2014 with MEDC providing matched funding of up to $50,000 for community improvement projects throughout Michigan. As of June 8, MEDC has provided more than $7.4 million in matching grants. Since the launch of the program, 240 projects have been successful in reaching their goal, with $8.65 million raised from 43,759 individual donors.

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.