ESCANABA, Mich. (WZMQ) – The Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC) recently awarded $34,622 in mini-grants to U.P. arts and cultural organizations and individuals for the 2024 fiscal year.
The Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance promotes MACC grants—including operating grants, capital improvement grants, mini-grants, arts in education grants, bussing grants, arts and culture supplies and equipment grants, and arts project support grants—to U.P. organizations and individuals. Mini-grants are evaluated by local arts and culture panelists.
The following mini-grants, totaling $23,622, were awarded to the Central U.P. Counties:
· Alger: Julie Highlen (Costs related to Artist-in-Residence experience in Isle Royale National Park)
· Delta: City of Escanaba (Music Monday 2024 Concert Series in Ludington Park);
Maple Ridge Township (“Rock” the Park Seven-week Concert Series in downtown Rock)
· Houghton: Copper Country Suzuki Association; Thomas Oliver (Professional development—attendance at Aurora Summit in Red Cliff, WI)
· Marquette: Friends of the Historical Thunder Bay Inn (Local historians’ presentations for the public, school children, and health camp participants, and restoring antique photograph display); Marquette Fringe (Fall Phantasm performing arts festival—flagship event at Lakenenland Sculpture Park)
· Schoolcraft: Kiwanis International, Inc. (Manistique Area Kiwanis—assist elementary and middle school children learn how to express themselves through drama and help high school students continue to grow in their experience in arts and develop leadership skills); Lake Effect Community Arts Center (Hiring of structural engineer to study exposed, decayed brick walls to find out if structurally sound and repairable)
The following mini-grants, totaling $11,000, were awarded to the Eastern U.P. Counties listed:
· Chippewa: DeTour Village (2024 Summer Concert Series); Bay Mills Indian Community (BMIC Mural Project); Soo Locks Children’s Museum (Mural for Children’s Museum Interior); Sault Area Arts Council (Enhancing SAAC Board Health)
· Luce: Tahquamenon Logging Museum (TLM Summer Festival)
All U.P. regions (1a, 1b, and 1c) will take part in round two for project and professional/organizational development mini-grants. The deadline to apply for that funding is Monday, January 15.
To assist applicants in the process, The Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance presented a series of free grant information workshops last summer in Marquette, Escanaba, Munising, Manistique, and Menominee. For guidelines and other information, click here or contact grant coordinator Sue Roll at sue@upacalliance.com or (906) 280-2746. All grants must be submitted through the online grant system at macc.smartsimple.com.
