May 11, 2001

LANSING-Michigan Humanities Council announced that Michigan's Arts and Humanities Touring Program will disperse more than $77,000 in grants to local Michigan organizations in support of 428 live cultural presentations between April 1 and September 30, 2001. The touring program, which consists of a wide diversity of cultural programs from school assembly musical performances to library storytellers, will reach 54 of 83 counties in Michigan. Additionally, the program will reach 20 of 45 counties considered "underserved" by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), as well as other low-income areas throughout the state.

Michigan Humanities Council, a non-profit organization, administers Michigan's Arts and Humanities Touring Program in partnership with MCACA. MCACA considers "underserved" counties as areas in which residents have limited access to arts and cultural programs, services or resources primarily because of location, economic condition and/or cultural background.

Touring program grants support live presenters - musicians, storytellers, theater companies, speakers and dancers - and visual arts programs from the 2000-2003 Arts & Humanities Touring Directory. The programs are hosted and sponsored by community schools, libraries, museums, festivals, art councils and other nonprofit organizations. Grants fall into two categories: those providing up to $250 for programs whose fees and expenses are $725 or less; and, larger grants up to 35 percent of fees and expenses when program costs exceed $725. The 2000-2003 Arts & Humanities Touring Directory is available from Michigan Humanities Council.

Examples of the diversity of programs reaching underserved areas as supported by these grants include: a comedy ventriloquist who will appear in Charlotte; a storyteller to captivate audiences in Iron River; a versatile pianist to perform in Plainwell; and, first-person portrayals of President and Mrs. Lincoln in Cassopolis. Examples of programs reaching low-income and/or far-reaching areas of southwestern Michigan include a Native American dance and cultural program in Inkster as well as an interactive science theatre in Holly. Michigan's Arts and Humanities Touring Program also supports presenters in well-served areas, such as a fur trade history program in Haslett and a modern dance company in Detroit.

For the current period, Touring Program awards totalling $77,829 are being made to 241 of 269 applicants eligible for funding. Awardees anticipate serving more than 120,000 citizens at funded programs. A complete list of second round grants by county is included.

Applications for the next round of grants for Michigan's Arts and Humanities Touring Program will be accepted between August 15 and September 25, 2001. Touring Program Director Jan Fedewa reminds applicants to complete the entire application and include required attachments before submitting it by the September 25 closing date.

* Indicates other counties or other surrounding counties were served