Programs

The Michigan Humanities Council brings scholars and the public together to create enlightening programs that help us better understand our nation, our state, our community, and ourselves.

The Great Michigan Read

The Michigan Humanities Council’s Great Michigan Read is a community reading program for the entire state, featuring the memoir Stealing Buddha's Dinner by author Bich Minh Nguyen, a Grand Rapids native. The program encourages Michiganians to learn more about their state, their history, and their society by focusing on a single work of Michigan literature.

Arts & Humanities Media Project

The Michigan Humanities Council and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs partner with Michigan Public Media to create and broadcast radio and television reports exploring the importance of arts and culture in Michigan life.

Arts & Humanities Touring Program

The Arts & Humanities Touring Program, provides Michigan nonprofits with a wide variety of cultural programming including dance, music, storytelling, theater, tradition bearers, and visual arts. A joint project of the Michigan Humanities Council and Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Picturing America in Michigan

Picturing America in Michigan is a collection of programs for Michigan schools participating in Picturing America, a National Endowment for the Humanities initiative the helps students gain a deeper understanding of America history through the study and understanding of art.

Poetry Out Loud

Poetry Out Loud embraces the resurgence of poetry as an oral art form, encouraging youth to learn about great poetry through memorization and performance. The program helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about their literary heritage. Poetry Out Loud is a partnership of the Michigan Humanities Council, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Library of Michigan, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Poetry Foundation.

PRIME TIME Family Reading Time®

PRIME TIME®is a humanities-based family program focusing on reading, discussion, and storytelling that takes place in public libraries. This six- to eight-week program helps parents and children become better readers and active public library users. PRIME TIME® is a partnership the Louisiana Endowment for the Humanities and the American Library Association.

Council Programs

Author Bich Minh Nguyen participated in a five city tour of lower Michigan in October 2009 as part of The Great Michigan Read.

The Arts & Humanities Touring Program features cultural performers and presenters.

2009 Michigan Poetry Out Loud champion Daniel Bellomy of Cass Technical High School (Detroit).