REACH Studio Art Center 

REACH Studio Art Center is a vibrant non-profit community art center offering creative out-of-school engagement in the arts for all ages and abilities with classes and workshops taught by local teaching artists. Free and sliding-scale fee programs in a variety of arts media and disciplines happen at REACH, a campus of seven studios located in the REO Town district of Lansing, Michigan, or around town through the REACH Art Truck program.

Our Mission

Foster equitable access to the arts through educational opportunities and creative engagement.

Our Vision

Be an imaginative, vibrant space where all are welcome to make art and connect with neighbors, inspiring hope and pride across our community.

History

REACH Studio Art Center began in one small rented storefront building along South Washington Avenue in REO Town, just a half mile from Downtown Lansing in November 2003 by local textile artist, Alice Brinkman. REACH received its 501(C)3 charitable non-profit status in February 2004 and since then has served thousands of community members with free and affordable out-of-school arts programs for children and adults. Alice’s original vision was to create a community space in the heart of the City of Lansing for providing accessible out-of-school art-making experiences, mainly for youth, integrating a variety of arts disciplines. That vision continues today because of the hard work and generosity of many people, donors, and businesses in our community.

In 2013 the REACH board of directors approved the purchase of the block of five adjacent storefronts surrounding and including the original REACH building, using an Impact Grant awarded by the Community Foundation. The seven-year, 1.3-million-dollar redevelopment project from 2013-2020, transformed the original building with just one 400-square-foot studio classroom into a 10,000-square-foot facility with seven studios, a gallery, offices, a courtyard, and a welcome area.

REACH has received numerous local and statewide grants and awards since its inception in 2003, including local, state, and federal funding. REACH is a member of the Arts Council of Greater Lansing, and an affiliate of the Capital Area United Way and is grateful for many programming and funding partnerships throughout the region.