Transportation Grants to Help K-12 Schools Travel to Cultural Events
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- October 6, 2008
CONTACT: Scott Hirko, Public Relations Officer,
shirko [at] mihumanities.org, 517-372-0029 ext. 25
(LANSING)-----The Michigan Humanities Council and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) announce a transportation grant program to help pay for schools to travel to arts and cultural programs or exhibits in Michigan. Eligible schools include any accredited public or private K-12 school in Michigan, with priority given to schools and communities that lack access to arts or humanities programs. Up to $500 will be available per school to attend any Michigan Humanities Council- or MCACA-funded museums, galleries, cultural venues, and programs such as music, dance, theatre performances, and cultural/art exhibits. Only one grant will be awarded per school per year. The transportation grant program is allocating about $20,000 to award to schools for the 2008-09 school year. Grants will be awarded until funding is exhausted. Applications and more information are on the Internet at www.michiganhumanities.org/transportation.
“The Michigan Humanities Council is pleased to partner with the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs to help pay for transportation of Michigan K-12 students to attend arts and humanities offerings,” stated Jan Fedewa, executive director of the Council. “It is important to help find ways for our youth to be exposed to quality cultural programs to help stimulate their creativity and critical thinking skills.”
“As stewards for the arts and cultural sector in the state of Michigan if at all possible it's our job to respond to issues like this that impact our sector,” said John Bracey, executive director of the MCACA. ”We have heard of schools not only struggling with their own arts education programs, but also completely cutting out trips to Michigan's arts and cultural gems, especially as transportation costs have soared. We firmly believe that quality arts and cultural programs are essential to a quality education... period. Hopefully these transportation grants will help schools to travel to these programs."
The Michigan Humanities Council, founded in 1974, is a private, non-profit organization, funded in part by the National Endowment for the Humanities. For additional information, please visit: www.michiganhumanities.org or call 517-372-7770.
The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs serves to encourage, develop and facilitate an enriched environment of artistic, creative, cultural activity in Michigan. It is a state agency within the Michigan Department of History, Arts, and Libraries.
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