Honoring Humanities Work Throughout Michigan |
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Dear Humanities Friends,
Earlier this week, I was taken by the sunshine on my desk in the afternoon. It seemed a welcome respite from the oft-gray skies in a Michigan January. That sunshine was reflective of our optimism for what lies ahead of us.
Michigan Humanities is engaging in exciting grants and programs, and we’ve built strong relationships throughout the state and the country. And while we are present in the work we do now, we look forward to not only “polishing the silver” that we have, but also determining how we can enhance what we do and continue to grow.
2021 will be a year of service and planning. We will host the National Humanities Conference in November. And most importantly, we will ask you, as our important stakeholder, to help us shape the future of humanities in Michigan.
In the words of the magnificent National Youth Poet Laureate, Amanda Gorman, “And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us, but what stands before us.” Thank you for being a part of building understanding and enhancing the human connection.
Shelly Hendrick Kasprzycki
President & CEO
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What makes community life worthwhile? Is it the relationships you build over time with family, friends, and co-workers? What about the good times and memories from attending annual festivals and events? Or is it the experience of working through difficult times that bonds us together? Read more...
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Michigan Humanities has a vision for all people of Michigan to experience and understand the importance of the humanities. Central to this vision are our values of inclusion, diversity, and equity; discovery and understanding; authentic conversation; respectful collaboration and meaningful experiences.
Listening to our diverse statewide community is critical in our commitment to move forward with our Inclusion, Diversity, Equity and Accessibility (IDEA) efforts. We would like to ask you a few questions that will guide our work in demonstrating these principles going forward. This survey is available through February 8.
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Grants & Programs Virtual Workshop |
Last month, we held a virtual workshop highlighting current and upcoming programs and funding opportunities. You can view a recording of the workshop here.
Save the date for February 24 at 10 a.m., when we will host a virtual workshop focused on the process of applying for MH grant opportunities, and provide tips for a smooth and successful application.
Registration is available here.
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Join us on Thursday, February 25 at 7 p.m. as Dr. Amanda R. Martinez, Chair of the Communication Studies Department of Davison College in North Carolina, and Dr. Jayson Dibble, Associate Professor for the Department of Communications at Hope College, discuss the impact social media has on politics and how society consumes information.
This virtual conversation will be the first of a three part series on the psychology of misinformation. The webinar is free, but registration is required. Click here to register and learn more about the upcoming “Why It Matters” events! |
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Are you looking for ways to connect to the Great Michigan Read in your community?
This year's virtual events have kicked off around the state, with more to come in the months ahead. Just last week, Dr. Mona was hosted by Howell Carnegie District Library for a conversation with Jon King of WHMI, and will be joining the Concordia University Ann Arbor community on February 17 at 4 p.m. Find additional details about how you can be part of that upcoming event here and visit the GMR events page to see where Dr. Mona will be later this spring.
A limited number of book copies and educational materials are still available; register here to be part of the current Great Michigan Read program or contact Katie Wittenauer via email for additional details.
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From Amanda Gorman's "The Hill We Climb" to Lin-Manuel Miranda's recent recitation of Seamus Heaney's "The Cure at Troy," it has been uplifting and energizing to see the power of poetry on display at a national level this year.
Poetry Out Loud is underway in more than 20 schools and community organizations around Michigan, and we hope you will join us next month to see high school students from across Michigan share their passion for poetry. Save the date for the 2021 virtual State Finals for Michigan, which will take place on March 11. Event registration will be available in late February.
Questions about how you and your students can be a Poetry Out Loud partner? Contact Katie Wittenauer, MH Director of Programs, via email.
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Bridging Michigan is an event series and grant opportunity that we launched in fall, 2020, to spark in-depth conversation and action around systemic inequities. Grant applications are now open, and available for up to $1,500. Find additional grant details here.
Recordings of previous events and grant application details are available on the Bridging Michigan website.
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Arts & Humanities Touring Directory |
Arts and Humanities Touring Grants opened February 1 -- don't forget to apply! The Arts and Humanities Touring Program is a joint collaboration of Michigan Humanities and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs.
Requests for a grant may not exceed $3,000 per application, and an organization may not submit more than four grant applications or request more than $4,000 during the program period. Applications opened February 1 for performances that will take place between March 1, 2021, and May 31, 2021.
Please refer to our website for other 2021 funding window dates and application deadlines. Be sure to check out the new “Virtual Programming” category.
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Submit your Humanities Grant draft proposal today!
Spring 2021 Humanities Grant draft proposals are currently being accepted with a final application deadline of March 18.
Read about our past grantees by clicking below.
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Join the Michigan Humanities team |
Michigan Humanities is in search of a part-time programs and communications coordinator!
If you are interested in joining the MH staff team, please review the job posting and apply no later than February 28.
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Learn about Geri Alumit Zeldes' new documentary: Breed & Bootleg
This month, we wanted to talk to Humanities Grant recipient Dr. Geri Zeldes about her new documentary, Breed & Bootleg: Legends of Flint Rap Music. Geri first became inspired to pursue this topic when attending a Heritage Grants Convening at the Lansing Center in 2017. The person sitting next to her at the event encouraged her to excavate the legacies of Flint rap music. These stories of collaboration and camaraderie are a testament to the kind of community we foster through Michigan Humanities, and we invite you to read our interview with Geri!
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To inspire us to come together in creative and freely expressed ways to deepen our understanding of ourselves and enrich our communities. |
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For all people of Michigan to experience and understand the importance of humanities to enrich lives. |
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Values
- Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity
- Discovery and Understanding
- Authentic Conversation
- Respectful Collaboration
- Meaningful Experiences
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Pillars
- Build awareness and excitement for humanities in everyday life.
- Achieve best practices and sustainability for all humanities programs and services in Michigan.
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2364 Woodlake Drive, Suite 100
Okemos, MI 48864
517-372-7770
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