LANSING – State Representative Mike Lahti (D-Hancock) is pleased to announce that the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) has awarded Gogebic County with $26,000 in arts and cultural funding for fiscal year 2009. Organizations that received grants include:
- City of Ironwood, Ironwood Theatre $17,000
- Ironwood Theatre Inc $9,000
Overall, the agency awarded 290 arts and cultural grants in 53 counties, totaling approximately $7.9 million. All grant applications were evaluated through a process of peer review. Panels, consisting of arts and cultural professionals from throughout the state, evaluated and judged each application based on published review criteria. This process resulted in recommendations for funding consideration to the council. Projects funded by MCACA must be completed within fiscal year 2009, which began Oct. 1, 2008, and ends Sept. 30, 2009.
"This is great news,"Lahti said. "Arts and cultural affairs are very important to the Upper Peninsula. I applaud the organizations involved and the work they do."
"The value of and need for cultural investment has never been greater. State support for grantees and the public they serve has dropped precipitously from $27 million in 2001 to $8 million today," said MCACA acting chair Steve Horn. "Even with limited dollars we are proud that through the peer review process we are able to distribute funds through a majority of counties in the State. Culture counts. It spurs attraction and retention of talent and private investment. It creates jobs. It excites student achievement. It gives communities and individuals a stronger sense of self worth."
A complete list of grant recipients can be found at www.michigan.gov/arts.