OTBADA
Old Town Business & Art Development Association (OTBADA) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that catalyzes the revitalization of Lansing's Old Town historic commercial district through promoting community development, preserving historic buildings and producing quality art events and programs.
OTBADA's arts programming includes Studio 1210, Stage 1210, Lansing JazzFest, Old Town BluesFest, and Burning Desires.
Upcoming Events
Now
Old Town Festival SurveyPlease help Old Town improve the quality of its festivals by taking the Old Town Festival Survey.
February 13, 2010
Burning DesiresBurning Desires: An Afternoon of Love Poetry (Erotic and Otherwise) takes the stage for the 18th year on Saturday, February 13 at Studio 1210 in Lansing’s Old Town. Doors at Studio 1210 (1210 Turner St.) open at noon; words begin at 1:00 pm. $5 donation at the door. Refreshments provided. For more information, contact Sam Mills at (517) 290-3929.
The purpose: to turn up the St. Valentine’s Day heat in Lansing. Bringing together some of the best poets and performance artists in mid-Michigan since 1992, Burning Desires is once again gearing up to deliver hot words, music and performance to the stage. Performers this year include:
- Ruelaine Stokes, host of the longest-running open poetry mic in the Lansing area, currently at the Creole Gallery
- Joseph Harris, aka LogicthePoet, MC of the monthly Spitfire Poetry series at East Lansing’s (SCENE)Metrospace
- Tiya Kunaiyi, alumna of MSU’s Black Poets Society and long-time member of the NuPoet Collective
- Robert Rentschler, East Lansing’s unacknowledged poet laureate for the past 50 years
- Dixon, the renowned experimental and improvisational electric violinist (www.dixonsviolin.com)
- Tommye Blount, Detroit native, Cave Canem fellow and recently published in the Cave Canem XI Anthology
- Zachary Jean Chartkoff, part of the "4 Against the Wall" syndicate and huckster of sonnets
- A new puppet show performance written and produced by Fred Englegau, long-time Lansing artist
- Plus: surprise guests!
MC d’Amor Sal Paradise will once again kick off the afternoon’s festivities by reading the Burning Desires Safety Guidelines and distributing Love Rags to the audience.
February 14, 2010
Sailors DeLancey Jazz OrchestraGuest starring artist Rodney Whitaker! Concert held at Perspective2, 319 E. Grand River Ave., Lansing, 6-9 pm. Presented in partnership between OTBADA/MICA and P2.
February 21, 2010
Sailors DeLancey Jazz OrchestraConcert held at Perspective2, 319 E. Grand River Ave., Lansing, 6-9 pm. Presented in partnership between OTBADA/MICA and P2.
February 27, 2010
Mardi Gras in Old TownMICA is the presenting sponsor for the 2010 Gumbo & Jazz Mardi Gras event, held at Perspective2, 319 E. Grand River Ave., Lansing.
March 20, 2010
Old Town StompFestival kick-off and fundraising event, held at Perspective2, 319 E. Grand River Ave., Lansing.
April 16, 2010
Capitol Tax Relief PartySimplified Tax is the presenting sponsor, with OTBADA/MICA, of this event, held at Perspective2, 319 E. Grand River Ave., Lansing.
May 5, 2010
Cinco De MayoDetails to come!
May 22, 2010
Mi-FUNKFundraising concert in Lansing's Lot 56. Details to come!
August 6-7, 2010
Lansing JazzFest
The Lansing JazzFest is a two-day free music festival taking place August 7-8, 2009, that will bring national, regional, and local acts to an audience of 15,000+ people from across Michigan and nearby states. The festival will take place in the streets of Old Town with vendors lining the streets offering ethnic food, beverages, art, clothing, and crafts, and nearby galleries and boutiques opening their doors during festival hours.
September 17-18, 2010
Old Town BluesFest
The Old Town BluesFest is a two-day free music festival bringing local, regional, and national blues acts to an audience of 15,000+ people from across the region. September 18-19, the streets of Old Town will be filled with musicians, festival-goers, and vendors.
News & Releases
Galleries and Art Events Prove to Be Economic Drivers in Lansing
Old Town Arts Supporter and Biggest Booster Recognized as 2008 Outstanding Small Business
Festivities for Revitalization
OTBADA Congratulates Old Town's CiesaDesign on Governor's Award
Art Exhibit Energizes Arts Culture in Lansing
Upcoming Event Addresses Timely Social Issues Through Art
Old Town BluesFest Breaks All Records
OTBADA Congratulates Old Town IKEA Winners
Remembrance: Robert Busby's Quiet Life
Background
The Old Town Business & Art Development Association was incorporated in 1984 as the North Lansing Art Association. In 1992, the name was changed to Business and Art Development Association of Historic North Lansing. In 1994, the name became OTBADA.
OTBADA has been successfully producing arts programming (such as the snake rodeo, art golf, and Burning Desires poetry reading) and music festivals (such as the Lansing JazzFest and Old Town BluesFest) in Old Town since 1984. In 2003, OTBADA was chosen to receive the 18th annual ArtServe Michigan Governor's Award for Arts and Culture in the Business Honor Roll category; in 2004, OTBADA received the Statewide Arts Award from the Michigan Association of Community Arts Agencies.