The Michigan House of Representatives recently passed a budget proposal that removes all funding for the Michigan Arts and Culture Council. The council is the state agency that distributes grants to nonprofit arts and cultural organizations across Michigan, including many in the Upper Peninsula.
Philip Rice, executive director of the Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance, says the loss of funding would have widespread consequences. A study conducted by the alliance found that nonprofit arts and culture organizations in the U.P. contribute about $40 million annually to the regional economy. Many of these organizations rely on state support to operate, from theaters and arts councils to festivals such as the Emberlight Festival in Ironwood.
The impact would extend beyond cultural events. Arts and culture nonprofits support jobs and tourism throughout the region, and in Michigan as a whole, the sector accounts for more than 150,000 jobs. Local schools also benefit through arts education programs, while preservation projects depend on the expertise of artists and craftspeople funded in part through these grants.
Listen to Rice speak with Public Radio 90's Kurt Hauswirth about the situation:
Rice notes that the budget process is ongoing and must still be finalized between the House, Senate, and the Governor. The future of state arts and culture funding remains uncertain until an agreement is reached.
For more information about the Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance, visit their website here.
