In Wednesday’s (12/21) Detroit News, Michael Hodges reports, “On Tuesday, the Michigan Council for the Arts and Cultural Affairs—the state agency that distributes funds to arts organizations—announced $2.09 million in 2012 awards, in 218 grants in 41 counties. Larger grants include $20,000 to the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, $12,000 to the Detroit Zoo and $15,000 to the University Musical Society. The council’s grants are valued because the lion’s share goes for operating support that can be applied to salaries or the light bill. Other grantors, like foundations, often prefer to limit giving to specific programs or brick-and-mortar projects such as expanding a performance space. The 2012 allocations are tiny compared to the old days. In 2001, the council gave out $25.6 million—over 10 times this year’s bounty. In the early 1990s, the Detroit Institute of Arts alone pulled in $16 million annually.”
Posted December 21, 2011
