REGION- The National Writers Series was recently awarded an $8,750 grant from the State of Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC), including $3,251 from the Council by National Endowment of the Arts for operational support. The grant was awarded through a competitive MACC peer review process that considered nearly 1,000 applicants for the MACC 2023 fiscal year.
“The Traverse City area is famous for its thriving arts scene, and this grant is just the latest recognition of that fact,” said state Rep. Betsy Coffia (D-Traverse City). “National Writers Series does tremendous good in our community through fostering a love of reading and much more, and especially engaging young writers in the craft of storytelling. Congratulations!”
NWS and all MACC recipients are required to match grant money, which is provided for operational support. We count the following people, nonprofits, and corporations as major supporters in 2023: The Green Brick Foundation/Paula Jo and Jamie Kemler; Northguard Technology/Bill Unger; Janet Wolf, Brenda and Ross Biederman, Susie and Bill Janis, Clark and Karen Bunting, the late Robert Giles, Diana and Richard Milock, Lola Jackson and Dilys Tosteson Garcia; an anonymous supporter from Leelanau County; Westshore Bank; and the Northwest Michigan Arts & Culture Network.
The Writers Series also receives significant in-kind support from the community, including the Traverse City Record-Eagle, Northern Express, Interlochen Public Radio, WTCM, and Amical.
The Writers Series hosts about 20 world-renowned authors a year within the region and also offers free creative writing workshops and Battle of the Books (a reading program) to more than 550 students a year, thanks, in part, to the support of MACC and NEA.
A complete list of grant awards around the state is available by contacting MACC at (517) 241-4011, or by visiting the MACC website at www.michigan.gov/arts.
