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Michigan Humanities ~
Michigan Stories
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Greetings!
With spring comes the promise of renewal and growth, and we look forward to many exciting cultural programs across Michigan. On April 12, we will announce the book selection for the Great Michigan Read. Many grants are underway, and we have visits planned as far away as Menominee, and as far south as Dowagiac.
In March, we visited our national’s capitol to visit with legislators. We were gratified by the level of support we have with our representatives in the Congress and Senate and hope that we can see the NEA and NEH maintained as a critical part of the federal budget in 2017 and 2018. Please voice your support for the arts and humanities by contacting your legislator. The programs in your hometown are at stake.
Meanwhile, we will continue to develop and fund quality cultural programs across all corners of Michigan. The Michigan Humanities Council will continue to be a leader in humanities work, and we are so grateful for our wonderful partners across the state.
~ Shelly Kasprzycki, Executive Director
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The proposed elimination of the National Endowment for the Humanities will affect all of Michigan and its citizens. Shortly after our return from Washington D.C. last month, President Trump released a skinny budget that included the elimination of both the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA). Both endowments have supported libraries, schools, universities, museums, and community organizations throughout our state for over 50 years. Many people may not even realize that they have been touched by their work.
Michigan Humanities Council (MHC) is the state affiliate of the NEH. The funds that we receive each year (82% of our revenue in 2016 was NEH funding) are distributed only in Michigan through grants and programs.
The Museum on Main Street exhibition that visited Pickford Library in the Upper Peninsula last summer was an excellent example of reaching out to the small communities in our state to make a difference in our fellow Michiganders lives. Great Michigan Read had 300+ partners from all over the state -- all reading one book together. And high school students from every part of Michigan are invited to be part of Poetry Out Loud. Prime Time Family Reading Time is becoming more important than ever, expanding to 10 locations this fall. The grant funds that we award may provide your local school with the only opportunity for students to hear a professional musician or performance.
Help us to continue the work we do within Michigan by contacting your US Congressional Representative and letting them know that you value what MHC does throughout our state for our students, rural communities, and urban cities. Would you like to help spread the word? Please contact our office -- or visit our
Support the NEH page on our website.
#SavetheNEH #HumanitiesMatter
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2017 Arts & Humanities Touring Grants
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Funding is still available for Arts & Humanities Touring Grants. If you have an event that occurs by August 31, 2017 that includes a performer/presenter from the Arts & Humanities Touring Directory
apply today.
Touring Grants are processed in the order received until funding runs out. Don't miss your chance! Funding is still available.
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HUMANITIES GRANTS
New Opportunity in 2017-18! In order to offer more flexibility in project planning and implementation, MHC will offer two application periods for Humanities Grants during 2017-2018:
Fall 2017 Grants (Awards made in November 2017)
Spring 2018 Grants (Awards made in June 2018)
A draft project proposal form will be available on the MHC website
. Additional Humanities Grant program information can be found at our
website.
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Great Michigan Read 2017-18
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The next Museum on Main Street Traveling Exhibition:
Water/Ways is coming to Michigan!
Visit our website
and see if Water/Ways should come to your community!
Applications are now available - and due July 10, 2017
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Poetry Out Loud National Finals
The 2017 Michigan Poetry Out Loud State Champion, MaryKate Wright of Owosso High School, will travel to Washington D.C. this month to represent Michigan in the National Finals. At the National Finals, which run from April 24-April 26, MaryKate will have the opportunity to meet state champions from across the country, attend a Congressional breakfast, and attempt to bring home the championship for Michigan.
Both days of the National Finals will be live streamed online. For a complete schedule and to watch the competition click here.
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Heritage Grantee Convening will take place in April
This month we will gather in Lansing with all of our Heritage Grant recipients for our final convening. Throughout the day we will reflect on grantee accomplishments, challenges, and plans for the future. The keynote speaker is Levi Rickert, Founder and Editor of Native News Online. The day will also include breakout sessions focused on sharing experiences and strategies for building on the progress initiated in Heritage Grant projects.
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A message from one of our grantee partners...
Today we had one of our culminating projects under the Share My Story program. We had over 50 adults come to share breakfast and stories with 150 African American males at our school. They sat and shared as they ate breakfast, then addressed the entire student body and staff with their high school memories in Detroit over the past several decades. It was one of the best attended events and the gift they shared was heartwarming.
Thank you for the many opportunities you provided us through this project.
Kathryn Gross, Loyola High School
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The 2017 Quick Grant Application is Open
Please allow up to four weeks for your application to be processed.
Quick Grants provide up to $500 to Michigan-based nonprofit organizations in support of public humanities programs.
Visit our website for more information.
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#HumanitiesMatter #SupportNEH
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