The Michigan Humanities Council has awarded 13 public humanities projects with nearly $155,000 in grant money. The funding is supporting programs and exhibitions at museums, heritage festivals, research and publishing projects, theater programs, and other types of arts and culture programming in cities across Michigan. Find out what the 13 arts, cultural, and educational institutions plan to accomplish with the money. Recipients are spread out across the state in Sault Ste. Marie, Hancock, Marquette, Traverse City, Holland, Kalamazoo, Whitehall, Saginaw, East Lansing, Ann Arbor, Detroit, and Dearborn, MI. The money will go a long way towards ensuring that these culturally enriching projects succeed and fulfill their potential.

Also, the Arts & Humanities Touring Program is accepting grant applications for traveling exhibits and performances happening until September 30, 2010. The award supports “touring performers, artists, exhibitors, and humanities presenters listed in Michigan's 2009-2012 Arts & Humanities Touring Directory,” an online directory offered by the Michigan Humanities Council and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs. Eligible applicants include “any Michigan nonprofit organization, institution, school, library, museum, chamber, association, or local government agency” that is “the sponsoring organization,” according to the program’s website. Grant applications will be accepted through September 2, 2010.

Jennifer Eberbach is a professional journalist and writer. Find contact information on her website www.jenthewriter.info

The Michigan Humanities Council is now accepting applications for grants to support arts and humanities programs between April 1 and September 30, 2010. 

The grants will be awarded as part of Michigan's Arts and Humanities Touring Program .  Grants are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis and can be for up to 40 percent of the cost of performances. Grants are awarded to schools, libraries, cultural centers, and nonprofit organizations. 

The Arts & Humanities Touring Program is a collaborative effort between the Michigan Humanities Council and the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs.

Arnold Weinfeld is director of Strategic Intiatives for the Michigan Municipal League. He can be reached at 517-908-0304 or by e-mail.