Power of We Keeps Lansing Art Gallery in Town

A $15,397 grant from the Power of We Consortium for Ingham County helped the Lansing Art Gallery keep its doors opened this summer. The donation was a key element in the in the $25,200 the gallery raised this summer to stay in business.

According to excerpts from the article:

Catherine Babcock, the gallery’s executive director, said the gallery has raised 63 percent of its goal, or about $25,200, since the board of directors sent letters to members and gallery supporters in May requesting financial help. Babcock said the money will be used for operating expenses.

Babcock called the response “heartwarming” and said board members and staff are looking hard at what needs to be done to keep the gallery alive downtown.

In addition to fundraising efforts, the gallery has also received a $15,397 grant from the Power of We Consortium. The gallery was one of 25 organizations selected to receive funds, as well as training in areas including Web design, database management and program development.

Babcock said the grant money will be used to help make the gallery run more efficiently, whether that means bringing in a new fax machine or restructuring the board of directors.

Some of the funds will be used to hire a consultant to help beef up the gallery’s board and fund development. “It’s really unusual when a grant allows you to hire a consultant,” Babcock said. “To me, that’s the most exciting news. Instead of just going to people for support and saying ‘we need your help,’ we can say, ‘This is what we’re doing to avoid this happening in the future.’”

Read the entire article here.