Cheboygan arts council receives two grants, totaling more than $17,000

CHEBOYGAN — The Cheboygan Area Arts Council was the recent recipient of two grants. 

The largest of the two came from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC), which awarded the council $16,250 in operational support. The grant was awarded through the MACC peer review process and was one of 639 applications to compete for MACC fiscal year 2023 funding.

According to the Cheboygan Area Arts Council, organizations receiving a MACC grant award are required to match those funds with other public and private dollars. Local support of Cheboygan Area Arts Council programs includes the City of Cheboygan and many individual members of the community. The Cheboygan Area Arts Council also receives significant volunteer support from the community.

“We are so thankful for the support of the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, especially with all of the challenges that the pandemic has posed to the performing arts,” said Cheboygan Area Arts Council Executive Director Owen Goslin. “This state grant provides critical support for our mission, which includes offering educational classes, performances at the Cheboygan Opera House by visiting artists and local talent, and new initiatives to bring public art into the Cheboygan community through our volunteer committee Art Vision Cheboygan. We thank the governor and our state legislators for funding the arts in the state budget. The arts are an important contributor to our local economy, but more importantly they enrich the lives of our community members.”

The Cheboygan Area Arts Council also recently received a smaller grant of $1,700 from the Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op. The money will be used to purchase specialized Marley flooring for the Cheboygan Opera House dance studio, to replace the existing floor surface that is in poor condition with areas of some buckling.

According to a press release from Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op, the new flooring is more durable, will enhance protection against slips and falls and offers greater shock-absorption and cushioning. It will provide a safe and professional surface for participants in the growing local dance program, as well as visiting dance performers at the Opera House.

The Presque Isle Electric & Gas Co-op grant to the Cheboygan Area Arts Council was among $12,648 awarded to organizations in its service area.