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

I knew it!  And I can prove it.  What am I talking about?  Well…Ann Arbor has been named one of the best college sports towns by Forbes Magazine.  Check out the article by clicking here.

How did I know it?  Well, I went to school at the University of Michigan (93-97) and have been to so many different sporting events.  I have been to football, basketball, hockey, swimming, and other sports.  Watching sports at U of M is so much fun.

Not only have I watched sports at U of M, though, I have also been to games at EVERY Big 10 stadium (Ohio State, Wisconsin, MSU, Minnesota, Penn State, Iowa, Illinois, Purdue, Northwestern, Indiana).  Add to that attendance at games at the following Universities: Notre Dame (South Bend), Syracuse, Oregon (Eugene), Central Michigan (Mt. Pleasant), the Rose Bowl (Pasadena), and the Outback Bowl (Tampa Bay).  So, I have been to many cities and experienced many different places with awesome energy and cultures.

I, of course, am biased, and would say that the University of Michigan is the best of them.  Although different cities had different awesome traditions, to me Michigan is the best overall place to be.  It was a great city to spend four years of my life – wonderful downtown, great bars and restaurants, movies, theater, shopping, and always something to do.  I am glad that Forbes recognizes this as well!

Andy Schor is the Assistant Director of State Affairs for the Michigan Municipal League.  Contact him at (517) 908-0300 or by email.