The Metro: Arts and culture funding preserved in state budget
Arts and culture grants from the State of Michigan have been preserved in the state budget for fiscal year 2026. Lauren Ward, director of the Cultural Advocacy Network of Michigan joined the Metro to describe the programs those funds support.
African World Festival
Updated 12:00 p.m. ET, Friday, October 3, 2025.
Funding for arts and culture grants in Michigan is preserved in the state budget for fiscal year 2026.
Last week, Governor Whitmer, Senate Majority Leader Winnie Brinks and House Speaker Matt Hall announced they had agreed on a framework for the state budget and it would be passed before October 1. The state budget was passed early Friday morning, with state funding for arts and culture grants preserved.
Last month’s budget proposal passed by the Republican-led State House eliminated all funding for arts and culture grants from the state.
The entity that administers arts and culture grants for the state is the Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC). In 2025, MACC grants awarded totaled over $10.5 million.
The council distributes grant funds to arts and culture programs throughout the state, providing funding for things like K-12 arts programs, cultural festivals and museums.
To better understand what arts and culture grants from the state fund, Cary Junior II spoke with Lauren Ward, director of the Cultural Advocacy Network of Michigan. They spoke on Thursday, before the final state budget had been passed for fiscal year 2026.
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