Grand Rapids Symphony has received a $35,000 grant from the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs for its 2016-17 season.
The state agency has awarded more than $9.6 million for arts and culture across the Great Lake State for the 2017 fiscal year, which began Oct. 1 and continues through Sept. 30, 2017.
MCACA, a division of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, has awarded money to 459 organizations, including music festivals, art centers, school districts, historical societies, art museums and symphony orchestras. The annual grant program attracted 558 applications from a broad geographical and cultural cross section of Michigan.
“This year’s grants are a strong affirmation that the field is growing and the value of our programs is appreciated,” said Drew Buchholz, chairman of the 15-member council, appointed by the governor. “We tip our hat to Governor Snyder and the legislature for showing confidence in MCACA by supporting our appropriation.”
The Grand Rapids Symphony’s award for Operational Support is used to support both artistic and education programming.
Grants were unveiled in September in Lansing. Money awarded to individual arts organizations was given for Arts in Education, Capital Improvements and Project Support along with Operational Support.
“This has been the most difficult season of grant reviews since the days of the great recession,” said MCACA Executive Director John Bracey. “Then, the difficulty was so little money. Now the issue is how to reach as many eligible organizations as possible around the entire state with our increased, albeit still limited, funding.
“The field is vigorous, new organizations are emerging, small organizations are growing, and the state’s largest organizations are expanding their reach,” Bracey said.
Grand Rapids Symphony last year received $45,000 from MCACA for 2016. But its 2017 grant is among the largest to a single arts organization. Near Grand Rapids, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park was given $42,000.
A total of $803,080 was awarded to organizations based in Kent County and $175,930 to cultural entities in Ottawa County.
In the Grand Rapids area, John Ball Zoo received two grants worth $80,000, and St. Cecilia Music Center received two grants worth $53,820
Among other orchestras in Michigan, the Detroit Symphony Orchestra received two grants totaling $99,000. Ann Arbor Symphony was awarded $28,000. Kalamazoo Symphony Orchestra and West Michigan Symphony in Muskegon each were given $20,000.