LANSING — Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs has awarded Michigan Humanities two grants totaling $140,000.

These grants will assist with the funding of two programs produced in partnership between MHC and MCACA: the Arts & Humanities Touring Program and Poetry Out Loud.

“We are thrilled to partner with MCACA once again on Poetry Out Loud and the Arts & Humanities Touring Program,” said Shelly Kasprzycki, Michigan Humanities Council executive director. “This funding allows Michigan Humanities to continue to deliver high-quality cultural programming into schools, libraries and museums in communities across the entire state. Support for these two programs from our State Legislators shows their continued support for the Arts and the Humanities.”

The first grant of $80,000 supports the grants offered through the Arts & Humanities Touring Program, which offset the cost of bringing quality performers, musicians, storytellers and humanities presenters into Michigan communities. These grants are open to all Michigan nonprofits and must use performers included in the juried Arts & Humanities Touring Directory.

The second grant of $60,000 supports Poetry Out Loud, a national high school poetry recitation competition that reaches approximately 20,000 students annually. The state competition for Poetry Out Loud is scheduled for Friday, March 1-2, 2018 in Lansing.

This grant also provides funding for administrative services of the Arts & Humanities Touring Program – including grants and upkeep of the directory.

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs serves to encourage, develop and facilitate an enriched environment of artistic, creative and cultural activity in Michigan, officials sad,

It is Michigan’s affiliate of the National Endowment for the Arts. The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs was created in 1991 by Executive Order as the state agency that administers arts and cultural grant appropriations, sets arts and cultural goals, and establishes and facilitates communication networks. For more information, visit michiganbusiness.org/arts or call (517) 241-4011.

Michigan Humanities, the state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, opened its doors in 1974 to begin public humanities programming throughout that State of Michigan. Michigan Humanities has supported nonprofit organizations through grants, programming and leadership over the past 40 plus years.