Grand Rapids Symphony has received a $25,000 grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs for its 2017-18 season.
The state agency has awarded more than $10.6 million for arts and culture in 2018, a 10 percent increase from the $9.6 million awarded last October 2017.
The Grand Rapids Symphony’s $25,000 award for Operational Support is used to support both artistic and education programming.
“The Grand Rapids Symphony’s mission is to perform great music that moves the human soul, but it’s also our goal to serve our entire community,” said Peter Perez, President and CEO.
“We’re well aware that the money that comes to us from the MCACA is money that comes from the people of Michigan,” Perez said. “Through such programs as Symphony Scorecard and Free for Families, which provide free tickets to concerts, and our Music for Health initiative, which sends musicians into area hospitals, we hope to give back to the community that helps support us.”
MCACA’s 474 grants to music festivals, art centers, school districts, historical societies, art museums and symphony orchestras across the Great Lake State cover costs associated with operations, projects, capital improvements, arts-in-education residences, services to the field, and regional re-granting initiatives.
The 84 awards to organizations headquartered in West Michigan total $2.5 million in the counties of Allegan, Kalamazoo, Kent, Muskegon and Ottawa Counties.
“These grants provide vital support for the ongoing cultural development of communities throughout Michigan,” said John Bracey, MCACA executive director. “We appreciate the support of Gov. Snyder and the legislature for increasing funding to groups and events that inspire cultural pride and appreciation for the heritage of our communities.”
The 15-member council, appointed by the governor, is an agency within the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, which serves to attract business and jobs, foster community development, and promote Michigan’s image. Grand Rapids is represented by Christian Gaines, exec of ArtPrize, and Pamella DeVos, a past GRS board member and current honorary board member.
Funding approved on Sept. 15 in Lansing to individual arts organizations was given for Arts in Education, Capital Improvements and Project Support along with Operational Support. Other money was provided to regional re-granting initiatives.
Grand Rapids Symphony last year received $35,000 from MCACA for 2017. The previous year, the state agency awarded $45,000 to the orchestra for 2016.
Among other orchestras in Michigan, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra received two grants totaling $124,000. Ann Arbor Symphony was awarded $36,000. Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and Lansing Symphony Orchestra each were given $28,000, and West Michigan Symphony in Muskegon received $18,000.
A total of $1.125 million was awarded to organizations based in Kent County and $223,800 to cultural entities in Ottawa County for the 2018 fiscal year, which began Oct. 1 and ends Sept. 30, 2018.
In the Grand Rapids area, John Ball Zoo and Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park both were awarded a $70,000 for capital improvements, the largest grants to organizations based in Kent County. John Ball Zoo received a second grant of $35,000 for operational support, and Meijer Gardens was given a second grant for $54,000 for operational support.