University Liggett School receives Michigan Arts & Culture Council grant
University Liggett School has been awarded a $22,650 grant from the State of Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC), standing out among 828 applicants in a highly competitive peer review process. This award highlights the school's commitment to fostering arts and culture, and reinforces its role as a leader in creative education.
“University Liggett School is committed to providing a well-rounded education that emphasizes the importance of the arts in fostering creativity, critical thinking, and cultural awareness among students,” said Matthew Van Meter, director of the Liggett Shakespeare Project and chair of the Academic Research Program at University Liggett School. “This Michigan Arts & Culture Council grant will play a crucial role in advancing these educational goals.”
The grant will fund the following ULS programs:
- The Liggett Shakespeare Project: Spearheaded by Van Meter, this initiative builds on last year’s successful MACC-funded program, enriching students' engagement with Shakespearean literature through performance and study.
- Visual Arts Equipment: This funding will allow for the purchase of essential equipment, including kilns, to enhance the visual arts program. Under the direction of ULS art teacher Kaycee Reed, these resources will provide students with hands-on experiences and improved creative capabilities.
- Professional Development: Funds will be allocated for professional development opportunities at the College for Creative Studies, ensuring our educators stay at the forefront of teaching practices and artistic methodologies.
- Experiential learning: This allocation will support the eighth graders' exploration of Michigan during the first week of school in September 2025. This experiential learning opportunity is designed to immerse the students in a place-based history field trip to learn about the Anishinabewaki and New France during Michigan's 17th and 18th Centuries.
Organizations receiving MACC grant awards are required to match those funds with other public and private dollars.
The MACC peer review process allows each grant application to be competitively considered by a panel of in-state and out-of-state arts and culture professionals. This ensures the taxpayers, who support this project through legislative appropriations, and all other visitors or residents in Michigan will have access to the highest quality arts and cultural Experiences.
A complete list of grant awards around the state is available by contacting MACC at (517) 241-4011, or visit the MACC website at www.michigan.gov/arts.