ESCANABA — The Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance (the Alliance) is looking for volunteers and board members.

Encompassing all 15 counties of the Upper Peninsula, the Alliance has a goal of making arts and culture more visible, more connected, and more celebrated, as part of the broader fabric of the regional U.P. Development.

The Alliance aims to foster and promote creativity through building connections among artists, historians, performers, audiences, arts and culture organizations, as well as the economic development, recreation and tourism industries with which they closely align to create a thriving future for our region.

The U.P. Arts and Culture Alliance is the regional re-granting agency for Region 1b containing the six Central U.P. counties: Alger, Delta, Dickinson, Marquette, Menominee, and Schoolcraft counties.

President of the Alliance Sue Roll said they are trying to grow to include every county in the U.P. She says the Alliance is currently in need of representatives on their Board from Menominee, Baraga, Luce, Schoolcraft, Chippewa, Ontonagon and Keweenaw Counties.

“We need more representation from these areas of the U.P. to continue the goal of the Alliance to foster connections and collaborations between artists, historians, performers, organizations and audiences in the Upper Peninsula, all while encouraging the adoption of arts and culture-sustaining initiatives and policies to enhance the quality of life in the U.P.

To volunteer as a board member, or to give an hour or two of your time to the Alliance, contact Sue Roll at (906) 280-2746 or sue@upacalliance.com.

MACC accepting mini-grant applications; the Alliance offering free workshop

The Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC) is currently accepting mini-grant applications for the 2023 fiscal year.

On Tuesday, June 28 at 6 p.m. CST at First Street Art Gallery in Menominee, the Upper Peninsula Arts and Culture Alliance will present a free workshop to review guidelines and grant writing strategies. The workshop is open to anyone interested; grant writing workshops can be requested for small group or private meetings with the grant coordinator.

Michigan nonprofit organizations, schools and municipalities are eligible to apply for arts and culture projects taking place between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023.

Applications for Arts Projects Minigrants and Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Minigrants are due by August 3, 2022. Individual artists and arts and/or culture administrators are also eligible to apply for PODgrants, in addition to non-profit organizations.

Additionally, minigrant awards of up to $1,500 are available to pay for arts and culture equipment (including repairs of arts equipment) or supplies being used within a classroom or school setting.

Also, bus minigrants (formerly Arts and Culture Trek Grants) awards of up to $500 are available for the transportation costs of an arts or culture-related field trip. Applications for these school-based grants are due on August 3, at 5 p.m.

Guidelines can be accessed online at https://www.michiganbusiness.org/industries/macc/macc-grants/or www.upacalliance.com or by contacting sue@upacalliance.com. All grants must be submitted using the online grant system at macc.smartsimple.com. Award announcements will be made by Michigan Arts and Culture Council in mid-September 2022.

Sue Roll summed up the goals of the Alliance in the U.P.: “We want to connect with arts and cultural organizations, artists, historians, and curators,” she said. “We want to help the Upper Peninsula grow as an arts and culture destination, which will ultimately help us retain young people in the Upper Peninsula and help it to continue being a place they want to visit and stay.”

The Alliance administers the minigrant program for Region1b and offers technical assistance and support to grant applicants.

For questions, copies of the FY2023 guidelines, technical assistance or to be added to the contact list for minigrants, the Northwest Michigan Arts &Culture Network and related opportunities, contact Sue Roll, grant coordinator, at (906) 280-2746 or sue@upacalliance.com.