BREAKING NEWS: Lifetime MI Arts Activist, E. Ray Scott Passes Away

From Jennifer H. Goulet, President of ArtServe Michigan:

I just learned that E. Ray Scott passed away this morning. As many of you know, he was the Executive Director of the Michigan Council for the Arts, from its inception in 1966 to 1985. He was a tireless and determined advocate for the arts – a voice that will truly be missed. This is a very sad day for the arts and cultural community in Michigan indeed.

I understand that there will be plans for a memorial service several weeks from now and we’ll share more information as details unfold.

Jennifer H. Goulet, President
ArtServe Michigan
1 Clover Court, Wixom MI 48393
248-912-0760
248-912-0768 (fax)
734-834-4288 (cell)
www.artservemichigan.org


Bio from 2007 Guvvy’s where E.Ray Scott was honored as Michigan’s “Arts Advocate of the Year”:

E. Ray Scott is the embodiment of an arts advocate and has demonstrated so over the course of a lifetime. Among his many accomplishments is the founding of Artrain USA. As noted by his long-time friend Robert O’Leary III, “If there is one defining moment in which Ray takes the most pride, it is the establishment of Artrain.” Launched in 1971 as a rail car equipped as a travelling art gallery with the mission of bringing art to low-income youth throughout Michigan, Artrain USA now brings art to over 300,000 visitors in 120 communities around the country during each of its three-year touring exhibitions.

Scott is perhaps best known and loved, however, for having served for 25 years as the first executive director of the Michigan Council for the Arts, allocating funds for artists in schools, community art councils and other forms of arts outreach. During his tenure as executive director, he was known for his passionate, intelligent and persuasive lobbying for stat support of artists, cultural institutions and arts in education programs.

Scott also served as the director of the Michigan Commission on Art in Public Places and over the years has played leadership roles on numerous other commissions and boards of arts and cultural organizations throughout the state.

In 2004 after state funding for individual artists was eliminated, Scott used his own resources to work with ArtServe Michigan to establish the Michigan Artist Prize which awarded $3,000 prizes to three Michigan artists each year. The primary purpose of the prize was to provide artists with a level of economic freedom that would allow them to concentrate their energies on their work.