The Michigan Humanities Council, based in Lansing, is a statewide cultural agency, supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The Council coordinates several humanities programs in addition to grant giving.
In the past few months, the Council has launched a statewide literary discussion program – the Great Michigan Read, announced that they have awarded more than $300,000 in major grant funds to financially assist Michigan nonprofits with programming opportunities, and has wrapped up one statewide tour of a Smithsonian Institution exhibition while another is just kicking off.
MHC currently staffs eight; four of which were hired in the past year. The Council plans to hire at least one more in the next year, filling the Fiscal Officer position.
The Council stays innovative by being resilient in making sure it shows the impact of need for the humanities.
"The humanities don’t always receive much attention and that means it is a constant battle for us to prove that there is a need for cultural programming in our state," says Executive Director, Erik Nordberg.
MHC has great relationships with local nonprofits and organizations, including the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs, the Library of Michigan and Michigan Historical Center, and the many branches of the Capital Area District Library.
"Lansing is an arts and culture community – there is an appreciation here and that has positively impacted us in many ways," offers Nordberg.
Source: Erik Nordberg, Michigan Humanities Council
Writer: Veronica Gracia-Wing, Innovation News
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