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click here for pdf listing of grant awards, Apr. 2005 - Sept. 2005

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -- May 11, 2005
Contact: Scott Hirko, Public Relations Officer
(517) 372-7770 -- shirko [at] mihumanities.org

$42,000 AWARDED FOR ARTS & CULTURAL PROGRAMS

LANSING—The Michigan Humanities Council today announces the awarding of $41,786 for Arts and Humanities Touring Program grants to local Michigan organizations in support of 107 live artistic and cultural presentations between April 1, 2005 and September 30, 2005. The touring program, funded by the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA), consists of a wide variety of cultural programs from school assembly musical performances to library storytellers. The program will reach 38 counties in Michigan, including 15 counties considered “underserved” by 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, an agency within the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries, 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.

Examples of the variety of programs funded by Michigan’s Arts & Humanities Touring Program include: an interactive family comedian and an educational comedy magic show at Albion’s Festival of the Forks on September 17; U.S. National Scottish Fiddle Champion Jeremy Kittel, a mime performance, and a West African inspirational musical performance at the Ypsilanti Heritage Festival from August 18-21; and, the Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra performing at Scidmore Park in Three Rivers at 8 pm on July 14. A complete listing of touring program events is attached and also listed on-line at michiganhumanities.org

Touring program grants support live presenters – musicians, storytellers, theater companies, speakers and dancers – and visual arts programs from the 2003-2006 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 2003-2006 Arts & Humanities Touring Directory is available from the Council.

Nearly $73,000 in funding was requested by organizations and schools across the state; however, lower appropriations to the state’s arts and cultural budget reduced the amount available for Touring Program grants to $41,786. Future grant awards may again be modified to reflect adjustments in the actual state appropriations to Michigan Humanities Council for the Arts & Humanities Touring Program.

Applications for the next round of grants for Michigan’s Arts and Humanities Touring Program will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis from August 15, 2005, to September 15, 2005. Touring Program Director Phyllis Rathbun reminds applicants to complete the entire application and include required attachments before submitting it by the September 15 closing date.

Michigan Humanities Council, founded in 1974, is the state’s independent, non-profit affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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