Travel grants offered to arts centers
By JANE NORDBERG, DMG WriterHANCOCK - The Michigan Humanities Council and the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs have announced a new transportation grant program. The $20,000 program is designed to defray travel costs for students to attend arts and cultural programs or exhibits in Michigan.
Eligible schools include any accredited public or private K-12 school in Michigan, with priority given to schools and communities that lack access to arts and humanities programs.
Up to $500 is available per school to attend any MHC- or MCACA-funded museums, galleries, cultural venues and programs.
While $20,000 has been allocated for the program, competition will be stiff.
MHC Public Relations Officer Scott Hirko said since the first announcement last week in the council's online newsletter, it has received 16 applications. However, none of those have been from schools in the Upper Peninsula, he said.
"This is a first-come, first-served program with funding preference given to underserved communities," he said. "We would love to be able to have some applications from U.P. schools and share the wealth across the state."
Carol Kreher, 4-H Program Associate with the Michigan State University Extension office in Hancock, called the grant program an "awesome opportunity" for local schools.
"We have some great resources here but it's also good for local students to be exposed to large cultural events and galleries elsewhere in the state," she said. "I would encourage the local schools to help support bringing art to our children in a variety of media."
Hirko said the flurry of grant applications is a larger indicator that schools are continuing to look for ways to provide art and cultural programming in the face of declining state revenues.
"The fact there was such an overwhelming response so quickly says a lot about the economy right now and that teachers are pouncing on this opportunity as soon as they hear about it," he said.
Only one grant will be awarded per school per year. Grants will be awarded until funding is exhausted.
Grant applications and additional information can be found online at michiganhumanities.org.
Jane Nordberg can be reached at jnordberg@mininggazette.com.
