$39,955 Awarded for Arts & Humanities Programs
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- December 3, 2009
CONTACT: Scott Hirko, Public Relations Officer,
shirko [at] mihumanities.org, 517-372-0029 ext. 25
also in PDF (with complete grant award listing).
Council provides funds to support 67 presentations in 23 counties
(LANSING)-----The Michigan Humanities Council announces it will award $39,995 in grants to Michigan nonprofit organizations in support of 67 artistic and cultural presentations in 23 counties between October 1, 2009 and September 30, 2010. The grants will be awarded as part of Michigan’s Arts and Humanities Touring Program, which consists of an online, juried directory of some of the state’s best cultural offerings including dance, music, storytellers, theatre, tradition bearers, exhibits, and visual artists. Grants of up to 40 percent of the cost of performances are awarded to schools, libraries, cultural centers, and nonprofit organizations to support presentations of those listed in the directory. The Touring Program is a collaborative effort between the Council and the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs.
Based on applications received in September and October, a total of $68,716.50 was requested to fund 108 events. However, the lack of state support reduced the Council’s ability to fund all requests. The Council will award grants for only 58 percent of the total funding requested, and 67 of the 108 total programs. Notably, a total of 18 requests from K-12 schools for arts & cultural programs listed in the directory were among those programs unable to be funded. On November 13, 2009, the Council exhausted its funds to support programs for the next 10 months through September 30, 2010. Funding is no longer available for new applications.
“In these difficult economic times when schools and communities are having difficulty funding quality cultural programs, the Council is pleased to be able to provide some support,” stated Jan Fedewa, executive director of the Michigan Humanities Council. “The overwhelming demand for the program demonstrates that Michigan citizens understand the importance of arts and cultural programs to the education of our youth and its impact on our quality of life.”
A complete listing of touring program events is available here. Examples of the programs funded by Michigan’s Arts & Humanities Touring Program include:
- Ara Topouzian performing Armenian-American music at the William Faust Public Library in Westland at 2 p.m. on December 13;
- Rosie Chapman performing five storytelling programs: three on Saturday, February 20, 2010 at Seymour Square, Yankee Clipper, and West Leonard Branch Libraries; and, two on Sunday, February 21, 2010, at the Grand Rapids Public Library.
- Wild Swan Theater will produce two children’s theater performance at Model Elementary School in Ypsilanti at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. on March 23, 2010;
- Robert Jones and Matt Watroba will perform three musical programs: one on April 11, 2010 at 4 p.m. at Fortune Lake Lutheran Camp in Crystal Falls; and, two on April 12, 2010 at 10 a.m. at Forest Park Schools in Crystal Falls and at 1 p.m. at Kingsford Middle School in Kingsford.
- Eisenhower Dance Ensemble will provide a workshop on April 16, 2010 at 4 p.m. and a dance performance on April 17, 2010 at 7:30 p.m. at the Arts Center for Newaygo County in Fremont.
About the Arts & Humanities Touring Program
The 2009-2012 edition of Michigan’s Arts & Humanities Touring Program features 203 of the state’s most talented performing and visual artists and humanities presenters. The Touring Program, a joint project of the Michigan Humanities Council and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, offers performers and presenters the opportunity to present their work throughout the state and provides grants to Michigan nonprofit organizations to help cover costs of engaging them for arts and cultural programs. The Touring Program has been in existence since 1998 and over its 11-year tenure has reached more than one million residents with quality cultural programs.
About the Michigan Humanities Council
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.
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