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The Great Michigan Read Grants

$50,000 AWARDED TO 14 LIBRARIES FOR LITERACY PROGRAMS

(June 25, 2005. LANSING)-----The Michigan Humanities Council (MHC) announces it has awarded $50,000 in grants to 14 libraries in support of literacy programs. The grants were awarded as part of the “Arts and Libraries Community Literary Partnership Program,” a collaboration between the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA), the Library of Michigan, and MHC. The goal of the program is to provide funding to libraries across the state for projects that infuse new arts and cultural resources into community-based literacy programs that address literacy, celebrate our literary and cultural legacy, and foster the joy of reading.

“The Michigan Humanities Council and our partners, the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and the Library of Michigan, are pleased to fund these outstanding projects that connect individuals to literary programs and services,” said Janice Fedewa, executive director of the Michigan Humanities Council. “We are excited that libraries throughout the state will offer these literary opportunities and programs to Michigan citizens.”

The Council awarded grants ranging from $2,000 to $4,750 to libraries in ten different counties, four of which the MCACA classifies as “underserved,” defined by MCACA as having limited access to arts programs, services or resources. The libraries awarded grants are:

The University of Detroit – McNichols Campus Library has been awarded a $2,000 grant for “Shout Out! Young Poets Rising.” The project is a juried spoken word competition as part of the 40th Anniversary Celebration for Broadside Press, to be held in late September.

The East Lansing Public Library has been awarded a $2,850 grant for “One Book, One Community.” The project is partnering with Michigan State University (MSU) and will feature a visit on August 24 by Khaled Hosseini, author of The Kite Runner. Hosseini will speak at two sessions at MSU on August 25.

The Chippewa River District Library in Mount Pleasant has been awarded a $2,550 grant for “2005 Reads-for-Rewards & Kid Stuff Summer Program.” The project, scheduled for June 13 – July 22, is for children (ages 0 - 18 years old) to read toward six goals and complete craft projects which will be displayed at the library for the summer.

The Northfield Township Area Library in Whitmore Lake has been awarded a $4,750 grant for “Documentary – Young Poet Incarcerated.” The project will include the production of a short documentary film which profiles one 18-year-old African-American student at Maxey Boys Training School to showcase his poetry from a creative writing class. Filming will begin on July 11, completed by July 22, with an official release date of September 6.

The Alpena County Library in Alpena has been awarded a $4,750 grant for “Authors in the North.” The project will expose northern Michigan residents to noted authors Judith Guest on September 13 and Jodi Picoult on September 27, and include workshops and panel discussions.

The Alcona County Library in Harrisville has been awarded a $3,220 grant for “Moving thru Michigan History with Native American Storytelling.” The project will include performances from August 9 – 12 by Native American storytellers Reg Pettibone, Tim Kent, Ken Miller as well as cultural artifacts.

The Detroit Public Library Frederick Douglass Branch has been awarded a $4,490 grant for “Puppet Pizzazz.” The project will pair sighted individuals with blind and physically handicapped persons in storytelling, writing, puppet making and performances.

The South Haven Memorial Library has been awarded a $2,600 grant for “Wishes and Dreams.” This is an outreach project to migrant workers to provide literacy programs that celebrate the cultural diversity of the South Haven School District, including six storytelling programs in English and Spanish from June 20 – August 2, another storytelling program and free paperback giveaway to at-risk students, and the purchase of books, books on tape and literacy videos to add to the library’s collection.

The Big Rapids Community Library has been awarded a $2,920 grant for “Summer Reading Fun!” This project will extend a Michigan Humanities Council-funded project, “One Book: Eleven Communities” by bringing three Michigan authors to 16 libraries in Mecosta, Osceola and Lake counties. The Organization for Bat Conservation will make presentations from July 25-29; Tim Smith, author of the Buck Wilder outdoors series, will make presentations (dates have yet to be determined); and, David Anthony and Charles David, authors of the children’s fantasy books “Knightscare,” will make presentations from August 16-19.

The Curtis Township Library in Glennie has been awarded a $4,375 grant for “Book Bingo Literary Adventures.” This project will be a series of six events celebrating American’s Cultural Heritage (July 4), Children’s Literature (July 16), Michigan History (July 21), Michigan Flora & Fauna (July 23), Michigan’s Nocturnal Animals (date to be determined), and Michigan Geography (date to be determined). Participants will receive a bingo card to connect the events, with the winners receiving the books used at the events.

The Ypsilanti District Library has been awarded a $4,500 grant for “ArtMatters@YDL.” This project is a summer reading program building on the “Cool Cities” initiative, including hands-on craft activities, performing artists, an in-house gallery, five weekly art-related story times over the course of 11 weeks (for a total of 55 story times), and two art-related book discussions in June, July and August (a total of six groups).

The Bayliss Public Library has been awarded a $3,880 grant for “Centennial Celebration 1905-2005.” This project will feature an author series and special events in celebration of the Carnegie Library’s 100th anniversary. Authors with Michigan roots involved in the speaker series are Judith Guest, Steve Hamilton and Moira Wilson.

The Saugatuck-Douglas District Library has been awarded a $3,935 grant for “’Meanderings’ Show-and-Tell.” This project will feature an intergenerational, interdisciplinary exchange of stories with local writers, professional authors and illustrators, and middle school students. The stories of discussion will be those published in a weekly local newspaper column over the past 38 years entitled “Meanderings.” A book will be published and a school curriculum will be written. A series of three professional storytelling workshops will be provided for students on September 23, and a Readers Theatre interactive performance-workshop of local stories from “Meanderings” will celebrate storytelling on September 23.

The Niles District Library has been awarded a $3,200 grant for “Readers’ Theatre Workshop.” In August and September, the library and the Four Flags Players will offer seven three-hour classes to discuss character, motivation and plot, and learn the use of voice, facial expressions and hand gestures to interpret characters. In mid-July, a performance by “The Recyclables,” a readers’ theatre troupe from Bay City, will provide an opportunity to recruit participants.

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Arts and Libraries Community Literary Partnership Grants Program 2005

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), in partnership with the Library of Michigan and the Michigan Humanities Council (MHC), has developed the Arts and Libraries Community Literacy Partnership program. The goal of the program is to provide funding to libraries across the state for projects that infuse new arts and cultural resources into community-based literary programs that: (1) address literacy, (2) celebrate our literary and cultural legacy, and (3) foster the joy of reading.

This program will support projects that engage arts and cultural resources in literary landmark programs, community reads programs, and other literary programs presented by Michigan’s libraries. Supported projects may include a poetry reading or concert series based on the theme of the community reads program and/or around the literary landmark, creative writing masters classes, arts and cultural festivals, after-school programs, early-childhood story hour programs, community lectures, film series, reading and discussion programs, etc. It is being funded in part through the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Challenge America Program and compliments the NEA’s Reading in America Program.

The program will support grant requests from $2,500 up to $5,000. Applications must be postmarked no later than June 3, 2005. Hand delivered applications must be in Michigan Humanities Council offices by 4:00 p.m. Late applications will NOT be accepted. Applications may be downloaded by linking here. Guidelines may be downloaded by linking here. (both in pdf formats).

The State of Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, an agency of the Michigan Department of History, Arts & Libraries, serves to encourage, develop and facilitate an enriched environment of artistic, creative cultural activity in Michigan. Through its program of services and matching grants, MCACA demonstrates the importance of arts and culture in daily living; provides broad public access to arts and cultural activities; supports arts and culture as a catalyst for community revitalization and economic development; strengthens arts education; supports those who create, present or produce quality arts and cultural projects; encourages innovation; celebrates diversity; facilitates delivery of arts and cultural resources statewide; and enhances the state’s quality of life.

The Michigan Humanities Council is an independent non-profit organization and the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. Through it various grant programs and Council-conducted projects, the Council encourages and supports a variety of activities which bring together humanities scholars, cultural institutions, and the public to explore and conserve cultural traditions and engage Michiganians of all ages in the challenges to mind and spirit presented by the humanities.

Program At A Glance

To be Eligible:

• Applicants must be a recognized Library by the Library of Michigan
• Applicants with unmet obligations on prior grants i.e., late/incomplete reports, may not apply. (Please contact MCACA staff if you are
  concerned about a prior grant.)
  

Program Goals:

To infuse new arts and cultural resources into community-based literary programs that:

1) address literacy,
2) celebrate our literary and cultural legacy
3) foster the joy of reading

Funding Basics:

• Funding between $2,500 and $5,000 is available in projects categories.
• Request amounts may not exceed 1/2 of the project’s total cost.
• A 1:1 match of grant funds is required. The Match may be cash and/or in-kind services.
• Funded projects must be completed between June 13, 2005 and September 30, 2005.
• Notification date of the award is on or after June 13, 2005.
• Applicants may apply to more than one Council program. The Council however, reserves the right to limit the number of grant awards to any one applicant.
• Only one application may be submitted for the same project or activity in a fiscal year.

Deadline:

• Applications must be postmarked no later than June 3, 2005.
• Hand delivered applications must be in Michigan Humanities Council offices by 4:00 p.m.
• Late applications will NOT be accepted
• Metered mail IS NOT acceptable.

Send your completed application to:

Arts and Libraries Community Literary
Partnership Program
Michigan Humanities Council
119 Pere Marquette Drive, Suite 3B
Lansing, MI 48912-1270