Below the Stacks Mural Festival is Poised to Transform Lansing. Here’s What You Need to Know + How to Get Involved.

Watch Lansing Transform in 7 Days During Below the Stacks

Has the Below the Stacks buzz reached you yet? If not, it’s only a matter of time before you’ll start to see 8 sites around Lansing transform in one week’s time by artists from around the world + a few from right here in Michigan.

Below the Stacks Artists Sydney James
Photo courtesy of Below the Stacks

All of the Above Hip Hop Academy and Creative, along with MuralMatics, dreamed about this citywide mural project for years.

Their grand dream has become reality after winning the 2019 Arts Grant given by the City of Lansing’s Mayor, Andy Schor, and The Arts Council of Greater Lansing, The Impact Grant from The Community Foundation along with the help of many local business and supporters.

During September 15 – 21, the Below the Stacks artists will create large scale murals based on Lansing’s history and community stories.

In addition, there will be events, workshops, artist talks, live music, pop up galleries, and more. Plus, there are volunteer opportunities.

Great news – the entire festival is FREE and family-friendly.

Jump to find…

Below the Stacks Festival Guide and Where to Start

All of this excitement has Michigan residents asking:

What’s the Below the Stacks Festival Schedule and How can I be Involved?!

All of the fun starts with REO Town Art Attack on Sunday, September 15, 2019, continuing to the Finale Event, Culture Clash featuring special guest ODDISEE on Saturday, September 21 at The Avenue.

Below the Stacks artist Sent Rock
Photo courtesy of Below the Stacks

WHERE TO START
Register here for the festival.

WHAT NEXT
Check-in at the Welcome Center to get your Festival Guide that includes a map of site locations, events list, etc.

1115 S. Washington Ave, Lansing, MI 48910 (The Cadillac Room Parking Lot)

Welcome Center Hours: 12 pm- 7 pm, Sunday through Friday.

TOUR AND WATCH
Go see the murals and artists at work and check back daily to see how the walls are progressing.

As artists are working be sure to respect the boundaries and limit your questions.

HOW TO PARTICIPATE

Go to the special events throughout the week (listed below.) All are FREE and family-friendly and some will be interactive including REO Town Art Attack and the Paint PopUp with the MSU Broad Art Museum.

SPREAD THE WORD

Take pictures of the murals, post, and #belowthestacks to tell more people about this amazing event.

Below the Stacks Festival Schedule

SUNDAY 9.15
Painting begins.
Event: 1 PM – 7 PM REO Town Art Attack, The Cadillac Room Parking Lot, 1115 S Washington Ave, Lansing, MI 48910

MONDAY 9.16
Painting continues.

TUESDAY 9.17
Painting continues.

WEDNESDAY 9.18
Painting continues.
Event: Breakers Pop Up, Welcome Center, The Cadillac Room Parking Lot, 1115 S Washington Ave, Lansing, MI 48910
Event: 6PM – 8PM Artist Talks, Lansing Public Media Center, 2500 S Washington Ave, Lansing, MI 48910

THURSDAY 9.19
Painting continues.
Event: 5PM – 8PM Paint Pop Up with the MSU Broad Art Museum, The Cadillac Room Parking Lot, 1115 S Washington Ave, Lansing, MI 48910

FRIDAY 9.20
Painting continues.
Event: 6 PM – 9 PM REO Block Party with special guest Tall Black Guy & John Beltran, The Cadillac Room Parking Lot, 1115 S Washington Ave, Lansing, MI 48910

SATURDAY 9.21
Painting continues.
Finale Event: 6PM – 2AM Culture Clash with special guest ODDISEE & Pop Up Gallery, The Avenue Cafe’, 2021 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48912

So excited about Below the Stacks Citywide Mural Festival and want to help?

Read on for ways to be involved before and during Below the Stacks.

Below The Stacks Special Events

Follow the BTS facebook and instagram to stay-in-the-know as more details are unveiled as the festival approaches.

REO Town Art Attack:

Enjoy youth competitions, workshops, art vendors, live music, activities including art with REACH Art Studio, painting workshops by AOTA Hip Hop artists, and more!

Sunday, September 15, 2019, 1 PM – 7 PM
1027 S Washington Ave and The Cadillac Room Parking Lot

Artist Talks:

Hear from the artist in a guided panel discussion.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019, 6:30 PM – 8 PM
Lansing Public Media Center, 2500 S Washington Ave, Lansing, MI 48910

Breakers Pop Up:

61syx-breakers-Grand-Rapids-Lansing-Bboys-Bgirls-

AOTA Hip Hop Academy and 61Syx Teknique Street Dance Academy Breaker students and teachers will be dancing and leading workshops for the community during Welcome Center Hours.

Wednesday, September 18, 2019, 12 PM – 7 PM
The Cadillac Room Parking Lot, 1115 S Washington Ave, Lansing, MI 48910

Paint Pop Up with MSU Broad Art Museum:

All of the Above Hip Hop Academy and The MSU Broad Art Museum link up to present a fun day of paint workshops and other fun activities.

Thursday, September 19, 2019, 5 PM – 8 PM
The Cadillac Room Parking Lot, 1115 S Washington Ave, Lansing, MI 48910

REO Block Party with special guests Tall Black Guy & John Beltran:

REO-BLOCK-PARTY-BANNER

Join the fun with live music, watch artist paint, Picnic Food truck, and more!

Friday, September 20, 2019,6 PM – 9 PM
The Cadillac Room Parking Lot, 1115 S Washington Ave, Lansing, MI 48910

Culture Clash & Pop Up Gallery:

CULTURECLASH-BANNER

Outside In’s FREE monthly event, Culture Clash, at the Avenue will send the Festival out with a bang with special guest Oddisee! This month’s event is ALL AGES. Grab some Ruckus Ramen while you’re there, play pinball and other fun games, and enjoy live music. Below the Stacks Festival Artists will have a Pop Up Gallery where you’ll find pieces you can take home with you.

Saturday September 21, 2019, 6 PM – 2AM
The Avenue, 2021 E Michigan Ave, Lansing, MI 48912

I Want to Help with Below the Stacks – How Can I Volunteer?

With all of the excitement brewing about Below the Stacks Mural Festival, many people and families are asking how they can be involved. The Below the Stacks crew has a few ways you can jump on board.

How to Help: Take pictures of the murals, post, and #belowthestacks to tell more people about this amazing event.

How to Volunteer BEFORE the Below the Stacks:

Street teams will be heading out around town and in nearby cities to spread the word. If you’d like to join a team please email: please contact: belowthestacks@gmail.com with your contact info and availability before the week of Sept 15-21

How to Volunteer DURING the Festival:

Volunteers are welcome to help spread the word during the festival with the street teams/embassedors and at the Welcome Center. To sign up for a time slot please contact: belowthestacks@gmail.com with your contact info and availability between the week of Sept 15-21.

Want to Stay in the Loop and Connect With Below the Stacks?

Artist and site reveals, additional information and artist interviews will be popping up as we get closer to the Festival. If you’d like to stay up to date on all things Below the Stacks plus get a chance to win giveaways, connect with BTS on their facebook and instagram pages.

I’m so excited about this festival and will be hanging out at the Welcome Center throughout the week. Stop in and say hello!

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