Lansing’s glitterati

Arts Council honors four leaders of local culture at annual awards presentation

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The Arts Council of Greater Lansing honored four key contributors to the mid- Michigan arts and culture scene at the 35th Annual Holiday Glitter gala Tuesday night. The Applause Awards were given in three categories: the Individual Leadership Award, which was presented this year to Nancy and Gary McRay; the Business Leadership Award, presented to Lansing Community College and its president, Brent Knight; and the inaugural Civic Leadership Award, which was given to East Lansing Mayor Nathan Triplett.

Founded in 1965, the Arts Council of Greater Lansing is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to lead, advocate for, and advance arts and culture in the capital region. The theme this year was Holiday Glitter Spectacular, and featured a performance by gypsy folk rockers Lansing Unionized Vaudeville Spectacle. The event was held at the University Club of MSU. Each honoree was presented with a handcrafted glass award created by Arts Council artist member Craig Mitchell Smith.

"We are proud to honor those individuals and businesses that make a difference in the arts,” said Arts Council Executive Director Debbie Mikula. “This year’s recipients follow the Arts Council´s mission to support, strengthen and promote arts, culture and creativity in the capital region. We are grateful for their dedication and their passion, as it is these things that keep the arts at the forefront in strengthening and growing our cities and communities.”

Mikula said Triplett was honored for his strong support and advocacy of the arts, and his recent accomplishment in passing the Percent for Art ordinance in East Lansing. She said she was fortunate to be able to work closely with Triplett this spring during the development of the 517artwalk mobile app, and again during the proposal phase of East Lansing’s newly adopted Percent for Art ordinance, which Triplett authored and championed.

“Nathan is a longtime supporter and advocate for the arts, throughout his seven years on the East Lansing City Council and in his cur rent role as mayor,” Mikula said. “He has been promoting and advancing the arts as one of his top priorities. He has formed strong relationships with the Eli and Edythe Broad Museum and the arts community at large.” Triplett’s wife, Sarah Triplett, accepted on his behalf.

Mikula said Lansing Community College and Knight were recognized with the Business Leadership Award for making a commitment to the arts as well as extensive renovations to the college’s grounds and buildings.

“Lansing Community College has undergone significant changes in the last year under the leadership of Dr. Knight, including the installation of 19 student-designed public art works,” Mikula said. “This major outdoor sculpture initiative was implemented throughout the campus with the crowning jewel — the Red Ribbon in the Sky.” There was a maquette of the piece (which is actually called “Education and Community”) at the event. Knight was accompanied by his wife, Risé, and his mother, Esther, who turned 100 last month.

“For years, LCC has been a champion of the visual and performing arts in Greater Lansing,” Knight said. “Community colleges are inherently about community. We’re just reinforcing the values we teach and fostering art appreciation.”

Finally, Mikula presented the McRays with the Individual Leadership Award for “their generosity, contributions and many years of dedicated service to the Arts Council and the arts community.” Nancy McRay is a fiber artist and co-founder of former art gallery Woven Art; Gary McRay, an attorney with Foster, Swift, Collins and Smith, has been a long-time member of the Arts Council’s advisory committee and was one of the early developers of the 49-year old organization.

“(The McCrays) support the community, they support the arts and they support each other in their individual and collective creative pursuits,” Mikula said. “We are proud to call them our own.”

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