Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs announces grant recipients

Not everyone who applied for a grant from the Michigan Council of Arts and Cultural Affairs got a piece of the pie — which totaled $10.6 million — but those who did were full of praise.

“I give the council a great deal of credit. They really do magic. They don’t have a lot of money to give out but they work very hard to spread it around,” said Lou Fazzini, founder and executive director of the professional theater arts organization, All The World’s A Stage, which received a grant for $10,350.

All The World’s A Stage is a theatrical group that performs at the Macomb Center for the Performing Arts and hosts a variety of theatrical programs for aspiring young actors along with workshops for young people and even teachers. This fall educators in Macomb County will be learning the art of teaching Shakespeare via Shakespearean actors brought to the area via Fazzini’s group.

“I would have liked more,” Fazzini said. “We applied for $23,000 – but who wouldn’t.”

What they did get will go a long way to help with operational support and behind-the-scene expenses such as rent for their facility in Romeo as well as behind-the-scene expenses such as utilities and salaries said Fazzini, who started the organization in 1986 after his two daughters who were passionate about theater arts could not find any educational programs geared for their age group. What began as a father’s quest to help grew into the nonprofit that not only educates aspiring young actors but provides them with a professional stage on which to perform. Several generations have not only taken a bow for ATWAS but have gone on to become members of the arts and entertainment industry.

“We have two studios now so that has doubled our costs and that kind of money is very hard to get,” Fazzini said.

The amount doled out by the council was an increase of 10 percent from last year’s state budget allocation, according to a press release from the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC).

“These grants provide vital support for the ongoing cultural development of communities throughout Michigan,” said John Bracey, executive director of the MEDC. “We appreciate the support of Gov. Snyder and the legislature for increasing funding to groups and events that inspire cultural pride and appreciation for the heritage of our communities.”

This year’s awards were given to 474 recipients from 56 of the state’s 83 counties. Groups and organizations included nonprofits like ATWAS as well as schools and popular festivals around Michigan and bedrock cultural institutions like the Anton Art Center in Mount Clemens. It received four different awards of $19,100, $15,000, $5,470 and $44,000.

Two of the grants are related to the Art Center’s own mini-grant process — helping other Macomb County organizations doing art and cultural programs and the professional development of individual artists. The other two will go to general operating support of the center’s classes and outreach programs for local schools and a new electronic sign.

“I feel great,” said Phil Gilchrist, executive director of the Anton Art Center. “It’s also nice when you’re awarded a grant. This helps to reinforce the Anton Art Center as a cultural institute within our community.”

Both Fazzini and Gilchrist praised the Council for its work in supporting the arts and in maintaining its high standard of expectations when determining grant recipients.

“It’s a highly competitive process,” Gilchrist said. “We’re fortunate to have received the funding that we received and we are certainly thankful for it.”

Other grant recipients in Macomb County included: Richmond Community Theatre ($25,000) and Warren Symphony Orchestra ($11,250).

The annual arts grant program attracted 575 applicants from a broad geographical and cultural cross section of Michigan.