Major Grant Deadline Approaching

The online application is now open for those Michigan nonprofits interested in apply for Major Grant funding toward a public humanities project. Major Grants fund up to $15,000 and require a 120 percent match. Examples of eligible projects include lectures/discussions, exhibits, publications, creative or performing arts in which humanities are central, or development of online projects. Applications are due March 12 – announcement of funded projects will take place in June. For more information, visit the Major Grants page or contact Robbe DiPietro at rdipietro@mihumanities.org or 517.372.7770.

Quick Grants Now Open

If you are in need of assistance toward an upcoming event, a Quick Grant may be the solution for you. Quick Grants – up to $500 – provide support for public humanities programs that fall outside the design and schedule of the Major Grants. Quick Grants can help cover honoraria, cost of printing or promotion, video/audio taping, travel, exhibit rental and much more. These grants are available for a limited time – Michigan nonprofits may apply online by visiting the Quick Grants page here.

Update on NEH Funding

The Michigan Humanities Council has learned that federal funding for the coming year will be restored to 2012 levels. After a year of reduced funding with the sequester cuts, this will allow us to continue making grants and offering high quality cultural programming across the state. Our thanks to supporters for sharing their concern about cultural funding – and to our federal legislators for recognizing the significant impact of the MHC across Michigan.

Poetry Out Loud State Competition in March

Please consider joining us March 14 for the Michigan Poetry Out Loud State Competition at the Hannah Community Center in East Lansing. Students from across the state will compete in three rounds of poetry recitation for the opportunity to be named Michigan's Poetry Out Loud champion. The state champion receives a cash award, stipend for their school and an all-expenses-paid trip to represent Michigan at the National Poetry Out Loud Competition in Washington, D.C. this April. The state competition is open to the public at no charge and begins at 9 a.m. For more information, visit our Poetry Out Loud page or contact Judith Dworkin at jdworkin@mihumanities.org or 517.372.7770.

Journey Stories on Last Stop

The Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit exploring our movement across borders and continents is now on its last stop at the Charlevoix District Library. Journey Stories explores our roles in building a diverse American society and gives viewers the opportunity to relay their personal stories of travel and movement. In conjunction with the exhibit, the library has a series of events planned exploring the history of Charlevoix – including lectures on tourism, author discussions on WWII veterans, and a winter concert. This exhibit can be seen at the library during regular hours. A docent is available each Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information on the history of Charlevoix, the exhibit and planned programming, visit the exhibit page here.

Great Michigan Read Events

In January, the Great Michigan Read discussion continued with a series of three author events in the Saginaw in Midland area. Approximately 135 came out to the Castle Museum for a lunchtime discussion in Saginaw, and 130 filled the auditorium of the Grace A. Dow Memorial Library in Midland for these events on Jan. 28. The next morning, author Steve Luxenberg spoke to the students of Swan Valley High School in Saginaw for an engaging discussion on mental illness. Community discussions of Annie's Ghosts and its topics will continue through May – for a listing of our partner events, please visit the Great Michigan Read calendar. If your organization or book group would like to participate, registration is still available here. Partners may receive free reader's guides, teacher's guides and bookmarks.