LANSING— The Michigan Humanities Council, in partnership with the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs, has awarded $62,569 in Arts & Humanities Touring Grants to Michigan nonprofits between September 2011 and March 2012. The councils approved 121 of the 139 received grant requests before funding was exhausted for the current period.
“We are so fortunate to partner with the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs (MCACA) to award these vital funds to local communities throughout the state,” said Katie Wolf, executive director of the Michigan Humanities Council. “I commend the many individuals who work so hard each year to raise local dollars to match the Arts & Humanities Touring grants so local residents and students have the opportunity to experience live cultural performances.”
“The Michigan Arts & Humanities Touring Program is a great example of collaboration at both state and local levels to ensure communities, large and small, have access to wonderful arts and cultural experiences, despite tough economic times. All Touring grants are awarded to local nonprofit organizations to help cover the fees and travel costs for scheduling performing artists who reside in Michigan — so the grants benefit both local communities, as well as Michigan performing artists,” added Wolf.
The Michigan Arts & Humanities Touring program awards grants to schools and community organizations throughout the state to help underwrite the cost of bringing live performances to classrooms, libraries and cultural events.
The Touring grants are awarded on a first-come, first-serve basis and can be used to help pay up to 40 percent of a performer, presenter or exhibitor’s fee and travel expense for an upcoming program. The performer must be listed in the Arts & Humanities Touring Directory, which is an adjudicated listing of some of Michigan’s most-talented performing artists and humanities presenters.
Touring grants became available in September 2011; all funds were awarded by March 2012. The $62,569 awarded helped offset the $214,088 in requested artist fees. Touring grants will be available again this September. All applications are due at least four weeks prior to the event.
For more information on the Michigan Arts & Humanities Touring program, or to see the current Directory, visit www.michiganhumanities.org. You may also call the Humanities Council with any questions at (517) 372-7770.
About the Michigan Humanities Council
The Michigan Humanities Council is a private, nonprofit organization created to foster a better understanding of each other and our state through local cultural, historical and literary experiences for all. The Council was founded in 1974 and is funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities and individual donors. For more information on future programs, upcoming grant opportunities or how you can support these efforts, please visit www.michiganhumanities.org or call (517) 372-7770.
About the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs
The Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs serves to encourage, develop and facilitate an enriched environment of artistic, creative and cultural activity in Michigan. It is Michigan’s affiliate of the National Endowment for the Arts. The Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs was created in 1991 by Executive Order as the state agency that administers arts and cultural grant appropriations, sets arts and cultural goals, and establishes and facilitates communication networks. For more information, visit www.michiganadvantage.org/arts or call (517) 241-4011. |
