The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs announces FY22 grant awards

LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) has approved a total of $10,739,823 million in grants to 507 applicants for arts and culture projects in Michigan. Grants were awarded to organizations in 60 counties around Michigan.

“Michigan’s countless arts and cultural organizations make our communities more welcoming and vibrant places to live and contribute to our high quality of life,” said Gov. Gretchen Whitmer. “The grants from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs provide access to arts and cultural programming in places and to people that may not have access without the work of incredible local organizations.”

MCACA received 594 applications requesting $20,109,063 million for fiscal year 2022 programs. MCACA used a peer review process over the course of 90 days of panel reviews to adjudicate the 594 grant applications and made recommendations to the Governor’s Council. Overall the applications were adjudicated by over 150 peer reviewers during the open panel process. Nearly 500 interested members of the public attended the panels online.

“It is wonderful to see so many great grant applications,” said Alison Watson, Director of MCACA. “Especially during these times, it is a strong affirmation that the field is still vibrant and the value of our programs is appreciated. We really credit Governor Whitmer and the legislature for showing confidence in MCACA by supporting our appropriation.”

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs is dedicated to ensuring that every citizen and community in Michigan enjoy the civic, economic and educational benefits of arts and culture.

Grand Rapids-based West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology received grants for operational support, capital improvement, and new leaders, which all support WMCAT’s Arts + Tech programs.

“MCACA's support of WMCAT’s Arts + Tech programming allows us to provide high-quality creative experiences for teens through funding for professionally-led studios, state-of-the-art equipment, and projects that elevate youth voice,” said West Michigan Center for Arts + Technology Director of Arts + Tech Casey Stratton. “We are grateful to live in a state that invests in equitable access to the arts as an integral part of community and culture.”

The Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Network, based in Traverse City, will use its funding to benefit 46 organizations in the 10-county region it serves in fiscal year 2022.

“MCACA funding is crucial to the Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Network and its ability to serve and support the many artists, organizations and communities throughout our very large ten-county region,” said Network Convener Mary Bevans Gillett. “These grants and minigrants will bring youth programs, history projects, civic theatre, community concerts, public art and so much more. That investment will be multiplied so many times over – in expanding rural access to the arts, cultural economic development, leveraging resources and creating the cultural vibrancy that is so important to building our communities.”

For a complete list of grant awards, visit here. To learn more about the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, visit www.michigan.gov/arts.

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