DUE: 1/15/11!! 2011 Bus Grant Program, up to $500, MI K12 schools eligible

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs Offers the 2011 Bus Grant Program to Help K-12 Students Access Michigan Cultural Institutions

October 20, 2010

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) is offering grantsof up to $500 to Michigan K-12 schools for the transportation cost of an arts andculture-related field trip. The destination or performance must be chosen by theschool from a list of organizations affiliated with MCACA.

This is the second year of this program. In Fiscal Year 2010, MCACA funded146 schools, benefitting more than 17,000 students. The need for this funding isstaggering. Last year’s applications revealed significant decreases or no field tripfunding available in their districts, coupled with increasing inability for parentsto pay for these valuable experiences. Cultural institutions have also seen theiraudience and visitor numbers drop substantially, and research shows that thesingle largest factor in building adult audiences at cultural events is exposure asa child.

This program is an attempt to stem this downward cycle and improveeducational experiences. An elementary music teacher wrote, “I can teach themsongs, I can teach them the beat and the notes and even how to play someinstruments. I can play CDs of famous symphonies and arias, and tell them aboutBach and Beethoven. But what I cannot do within the confines of my classroomis give them a true aesthetic experience of a live performance of top notchmusicians.”

The application and list of organizations can be found at www.themedc.org/artsunder “Grant Program.” Deadline to apply is January 15, 2011, for trips that takeplace March 1, 2011, through May 30, 2011. For more information contactCarolyn Damstra, Program Manager, damstrac@michigan.org, (517) 241-3968or (517) 241-4011.

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs serves to encourage,develop and facilitate an enriched environment of artistic, creative and culturalactivity in Michigan. For more information on our initiatives and programs, visitwww.themedc.org/arts. Become a fan on Facebook: http://on.fb.me/bgeWqP.