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Humanities
News
Summer 2008 - .pdf
In this issue: Need Funds for Your Community or School Event? Apply for a Touring Grant Great Michigan Read Winds Down: Council Seeks Input for Next Title Council to Stage Planning Process ... Seeks Input How Reading Made a Difference in Saginaw Poetry Out Loud: Council invites high schools to participate Abraham Lincoln and His Michigan Connections Michigan Minutes on Public TV This Fall $135,000 Awarded to Support Public Humanities Programs |
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Summer 2008 Electronic Newsletter - .pdf (2.12 MB). Literary Big Three Return to Michigan: Authors Ford, Harrison, McGuane to Present at Author Homecoming On July 10, 2008, three friends will sit down for an informal conversation. They might discuss the things that friends usually discuss: food, dogs, or maybe fishing. Perhaps they’ll reminisce about their days at Michigan State University (MSU). Then, maybe they’ll talk about writing, comparing
notes on the 50-odd books they’ve penned. They might discuss membership in the American Academy of Arts
and Letters, or winning the Pulitzer and PEN/Faulkner When authors Richard Ford, Jim Harrison, and
In some way, the three are coming home. In addition to the writers’ days at MSU, Harrison and McGuane grew up in Michigan, and Ford spent additional time teaching in Flint and Ann Arbor. Some of their most significant writing is set in Michigan. “There’s a way in which I – and probably any of us – carry those formative experiences around with us every minute, think about them all the time, are never really away from them,” Ford said. “For me, that’s how I ‘commune’ with Michigan – in my imagination. All of it entirely in the present tense.” The three – each among the preeminent voices in contemporary fiction – will return to Michigan for the Michigan Humanities Council’s premiere Michigan Author Homecoming. The event, commemorating the conclusion of 2007-08 Great Michigan Read, is free and open to the public. “This is an historic event,” said Jan Fedewa, executive director of the Council. “It’s the first time all three will appear on stage together, in public. It’s a remarkable opportunity to celebrate and explore their Michiganconnections.” Bill Castanier, a fellow MSU alumnus, will moderate the discussion. Castanier, who reviews books for the Lansing City Pulse and sat on the Great Michigan Read
book selection committee, hopes to take the audience “I’ve been reading these guys almost 40 years to the point that some of their stories have become my own,” said Castanier. “These are three lifelong friends who also happen to be among the greatest living writers. For me, it’s an honor.” Both Harrison and McGuane grew up in Michigan and became acquainted while attending MSU, where they earned degrees in the 1960s. Ford was raised in Jackson, Miss. and also graduated from MSU in the 1960s, but never crossed paths with the other authors while on campus, meeting Harrison in 1977 and McGuane in 1983. With Harrison’s assistance, McGuane published his first novel, The Sporting Club (set in Michigan), in 1969. After selling the film rights, he joined the Hollywood orbit, with original screenplays (The Missouri Breaks, Rancho Deluxe) and a directorial effort (92 in the Shade). He continued to write short stories and novels, eventually focusing on the American West (in particular, Montana) as his primary setting. His 2006 collection of short stories, Gallatin Canyon, received wide critical acclaim. McGuane currently lives in Montana. Harrison published poetry before his first novel,
Wolf, appeared in 1971. Soon after, his relationship
with McGuane brought him to Hollywood, where
Ford broke into the literary world in 1976, with A Piece of My Heart. He is best known for his three novels
featuring Frank Bascombe: The Sportswriter (1986; partially set in Michigan), Independence Day (1995), “We’re in for a treat,” said Fedewa. “Who knows when these three will be together again in Michigan? I can’t think of a better way to celebrate Michigan literature.” Need Funds for Your Community or School Event? Apply for a Touring Grant
The Michigan Arts & Humanities Touring
Program, a collaborative project between the Michigan
Humanities Council and the Michigan Council for Arts In April, the Touring Program awarded nearly $50,000 to support 142 artistic and cultural presentations in 28 counties between April 1 and September 30, 2008. Grants are awarded to the sponsoring organization to help defray the cost of bringing in one of the presenters listed in the Touring Directory. Up to 35 percent of the presenter’s fee, which can include travel expenses, is supported by the Touring Program. The next opportunity to apply is August 25 through September 10 for programs held October 1, 2008, to March 31, 2009. Examples of cultural programs recently supported
by Touring Program grants include: a pair of storytelling
programs by Jenifer Strauss at the Carnegie Library in
Jackson and the Springport Library in Springport Need more information? The Arts & Humanities Touring Program website is a comprehensive resource at: www.michiganhumanities.org/touring. The website includes recent grant awards, a list of performers, exhibits, and presenters, audio and video clips, grant information, and more! Wanted: Presenters for 2009-2012 Arts & Humanities Touring Directory Free Arts & Humanities Touring Directory
Great Michigan Read Winds Down: Council Seeks Input for Next Title During the 2007-08 Great Michigan Read, Ernest
Hemingway’s The Nick Adams Stories inspired
hundreds of programs in libraries, classrooms, and “The program was successful beyond our expectations,” said Jan Fedewa, executive director of the Michigan Humanities Council. “It provided tremendous inspiration for people to read a classic piece of Michigan literature.” The Great Michigan Read is Michigan’s first statewide reading program for adults. The selected title must be a work of Michigan literature. The Council is already planning the 2009-10 Great Michigan Read, which will be launched July 2009. Communities will play a large role in selecting the next title. “We’re going to work directly with libraries, students, and other groups who will help us choose the book,” said Fedewa. Readers can submit titles for consideration to gparker [at] mihumanities.org. Suggestions must be appropriate for adult-level readers and either written by a Michigan author or take place in Michigan. Council to Stage Planning Process ... Seeks Input
We are asking you to give us your thoughts as we begin to map our future. In 2004 to prepare for the National
Endowment for the Humanities self-assessment of the Council’s work, we developed a new direction, a Through surveys, meetings, and open communications, the board, under the guidance of the Alford Group, determined the most important issues to address were:
The board members along with staff embraced change, boldly charged ahead, and began to implement the plan. Here is a brief summary of the results:
Now that we have had time to reflect, we are pleased with our accomplishments, but realize we cannot rest on our laurels. We must begin to prepare for the future with the goal of achieving a renewed vision, possibly a new direction. We need your input to help us sketch a new plan, a new journey. Please write, call, email, or go to our website How Reading Made a Difference in Saginaw
Rhonda Butler was nervous and anxious before the first meeting. Mind you, Rhonda is a confident, outgoing person, yet she was not so sure her buoyant personality would be enough this time. As the long-time Children and Teen’s Services Coordinator for the Public Libraries of Saginaw, she implemented many reading programs directed at Saginaw youth over the years…but this program was different. PRIME TIME, thought Rhonda, had a real chance to impact families who really needed it. Her confident exterior hid her nervousness. How will the families react? Will they be interested? Will the families bond? What will they learn? Will this change their lives? Walking past the Hoyt Library’s
imposing red limestone façade for the first They headed upstairs, to a room behind the bookcovered
shelves. Rhonda joined her volunteers and team
members to greet the families with a full meal – the
meal was also an important bonding experience. She Tanya Grunwell, children’s librarian for the Hoyt Library, led the storytelling. She injected her flair into Dõna Flor by Pat Mora. Joined by facilitator Dr. Gwen Thompson McMillan of Oakland University, the pair posed questions to the audience about the story. Hands shot up. Dialogue ensued. Everyone had something to say… everyone. And, Rhonda smiled. “Tanya just has a way of connecting people to the
stories,” said Diane, a licensed day care provider and a
PRIME TIME patron. “Tanya’s energy, her enthusiasm,
the way she tells the stories: it makes you really PRIME TIME is not just another literacy
program. It provides a unique opportunity for families
who are not library patrons to share a common experience
in reading and to enhance their cognitive skills by
discussing their interpretations of stories with others.
The six-week-long program, each of which features a pair
of new books, was created by the Louisiana Endowment
for the Humanities and offered in four libraries in
Michigan by the Michigan Humanities Council and the
National Endowment for the Humanities. In Michigan
this year, there is a particular focus in three bilingual
communities. And, you want success: Saginaw families “When you hear the stories, they make you listen,” said Michelle, a mother of four and a behavioral technician. “My youngest child has been trying to get me to read. Coming to PRIME TIME gives me the chance to spend time with my daughter and bond, around reading.” “I have a very shy daughter, and PRIME TIME is opening her imagination,” said Brenda, a single mother of four who works full time. “She wants to read. She prepares every week. I see my other children reading more and checking out books. It gives our family something to look forward to.” Michelle and Brenda stated their employers understood how important PRIME TIMETM was to their families. “My employer even allowed me to leave early so I could prepare with my daughter,” said Brenda. What made the 65-70 people come back to the library each and every week? “It was better each week. It was interesting, nice, and great interaction with people of different cultures,” said Diane. “It was nobody’s business where you came from – we’re all the same.” “The PRIME TIME families are rich in the
things that matter,” said Dr. Janet Rubin of Saginaw
Valley State University, a former Michigan Humanities Fighting back tears, Rhonda shared her thoughts on
the program through the first five weeks. “We wanted
to introduce learning, a multicultural program, a positive
experience, and a better awareness of the library,” Poetry Out Loud: Council invites high schools to participate
The Michigan Humanities Council invites all Michigan high schools to participate in the fourth annual Poetry Out Loud national recitation competition beginning this fall. Poetry Out Loud encourages high school students to learn about poetry through memorization, performance, and competition. School- wide contests lead to a state competition in late winter. The state winner advances to the National Finals in Washington, DC. Prizes are awarded for finalists and their schools at the state and national levels. Participating teachers receive free, standards-based curriculum materials. The materials include print and online poetry anthologies, a teacher’s guide, sample lesson plans, and an audio CD of poetry recitations by famous actors and writers. Poetry Out Loud has proven its success through its first three years as interest and participation grow among students, schools, and the public. In Michigan, participation increased from 481 students in the 2005-2006 school year to 906 students in the 2007-2008 school year. Charles White, the 2008 Michigan champion from Forest Hills Central High School in Grand Rapids, successfully advanced as one of 12 students in the championship round of the national competition in Washington, D.C. Though he did not win the national title, his Poetry Out Loud experience made a lasting impression. “I realized the power of poetry in reading it,” stated Charles. “It is different reading a poem in your mind, then taking the poem and learning it by heart. Recitation helped me to become the poem in and of itself.” Charles’ advice for future Poetry Out Loud performers: “Become one with the poem. Don’t be afraid to express yourself if you feel the poem has a need for that.” To participate, contact the Michigan Humanities Abraham Lincoln and His Michigan Connections By Fred Priebe. Priebe and his wife, Bonnie, have been Chautauqua performers of Abe and Mary Todd Lincoln in Michigan’s Arts & Humanities Touring Program since 1998. You can find them in the Arts & Humanities Touring Directory at www.michiganhumanities.org/touring.
Next year, our nation will celebrate the 200th
birthday of President Abraham Lincoln.
During this celebration we look to find connections Perhaps the best known of Lincoln’s connections
to Michigan is his only documented visit to our state.
In 1856, he traveled to Kalamazoo at the request of
Hezekiah Wells to give an anti-slavery speech at a rally Another connection of Lincoln to Michigan
took place in Congress. On July 27, 1848, he gave a
speech poking fun at Lewis Cass’s military career. The Yet another link between Abraham Lincoln and
Michigan has its beginnings on the Sagamon River in
Illinois. Lincoln was floating a flatboat from Beardstown
to New Orleans when the boat got stranded on a milldam Years later, in October of 1848, Lincoln and his family were traveling home from Niagara Falls on the steamer Globe. The boat got stuck on a sandbar in the Detroit River. The captain ordered all the empty barrels and boxes to be shoved under the boat to lift it off the sandbar. When he returned home, Lincoln built, with the
help of friends with tools, a scale model of a device to
help float a boat over shoals and sandbars without the need
of unloading the cargo. Upon returning to Washington Although there is no record of Lincoln actually setting foot on Michigan soil during the sandbar incident, we can fairly say he was in, or at least very near, Michigan waters at the time. As we begin to observe the 200th anniversary of
Lincoln’s birth, it is our hope that all Michiganders will
take time to read a book or two about him, attend an event
concerning Lincoln and/or the Civil War, or watch one Michigan Minutes on Public TV This Fall
The Michigan Humanities Council awarded Michigan Television at the University of Michigan $15,000 to create seven 90-second stories focusing on lesser-known events in Michigan’s history. The series will debut in late August on WFUM-TV in southeast and mid-Michigan and will be distributed to other Michigan public television stations. “We met with each of our archive partners and our humanities scholar [former Michigan Humanities Council Board Chair James McConnell] and came up with a list of 100 potential topics,” said Chris McElroy, director of production for Michigan Television. The criteria for the final selection of topics included: geographic diversity, representation from different eras, and availability of visual resources. Some of the topics include: the development of the first heart machine in 1952 at Harper Hospital; the Polar Bear Brigade, which fought in northern Russia from 1918-1919; and the House of David, a religious and resort colony in southwestern Michigan which also had a successful barnstorming baseball team in the early 20th century. “It is really a challenge to communicate the essence of a historical event in 90 seconds,” said McElroy, “but our goal is to peak the interest of viewers so they will take it upon themselves to seek out further information about Michigan’s rich history.” Partners for the project also include the Bentley Historical Library at the University of Michigan, the Walter Reuther Library at Wayne State University, and the Library of Michigan. Watch for these short history lessons on your Michigan Public Television station this fall. $135,000 Awarded to Support Public Humanities Programs The Michigan Humanities Council recently awarded $135,774 to help fund public humanities projects. The grants were approved for the Council’s two grant programs: Michigan People Michigan Places … Our Stories, Our Lives and The Great Michigan Read. Among the projects receiving awards are: The Flint Public Library was awarded $2,950 for “Making Memories in Michigan” to incorporate The Nick Adams Stories into the Flint Public Library’s summer reading program. The Kerrytown BookFest (Ann Arbor) was awarded $7,500 for a celebration of Ernest Hemingway’s time in Michigan. The celebration will be September 7, 2008. It will include a book jacket design contest based on The Nick Adams Stories, a panel discussion moderated by a Hemingway scholar, and hand letterpress printing of a limited edition broadsheet featuring Hemingway’s 1923 Michigan poem, Along With Youth. The Nuveen Community Center for the Arts
(White Lake) was awarded $7,491 for “Reflection
of White Lake – Its People, Their Stories.” Local The Pit and Balcony Community Theatre (Saginaw) was awarded $8,000 for the project “Triple Threat: Students adapt, produce, and perform Hemingway’s Nick Adams Stories.” Middle-school students in the summer youth theater program will read and adapt The Nick Adams Stories for a performance on July 5, 2008. Central Michigan University (Mt. Pleasant) was awarded $15,000 to perform The Will, an
interpretive drama about the history of African The Clarke Historical Library at Central Michigan University (Mt. Pleasant) was awarded $14,863 to record and broadcast public radio presentations made by or about authors who live or have lived in Michigan or who have written books on a Michigan-related topic. There will be 12 specials to air once each month from April 2009 through March 2010. The Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park (Grand Rapids) was awarded $15,000 in support of its Jaume Plensa exhibition. The exhibit includes school programs and curriculum, interpretive art lectures, and poetry featuring west Michigan poets. It will occur in October and November, 2008. The Michigan Historical
Center Foundation (Lansing) was
awarded $13,990 for “Following the
West Michigan Pike to Michigan’s
Beachtowns,” a traveling exhibit and
programs that will tour southwest Michigan from Saginaw Valley State University (University
Center) was awarded $11,930 for “Open House:
A Community Celebration of Theodore Roethke’s Wayne State University (Detroit) was awarded $15,000 to create a signature film documentary, Regional Roots: The Birth and Evolution of Detroit and Its People, to premiere November 2008. Strategically Speaking – All Aboard
Time flies, the old saying goes, when you’re having
fun. Well, I must be having a ton of fun because
I remember my Michigan Humanities Council It’s been quite a ride. Early in my term, the board was
mostly academics. Now, there are a wide range of “humanitarians”
from the business world, public program leaders,
public servants, and private citizens. We launched a strategic
plan in 2005 focused on governance, program development, The financial diversification part became my primary
issue. Board and staff recognized that public funding for the
humanities is subject to both federal and state budget whims
and financial soundness. We decided it was time to energetically
seek funds from corporations, foundations, and private The Resource Development Committee, which I
chair, was tasked with developing an annual fundraising
campaign, identifying our constituency, engaging the board
with finding key prospects, cultivating those prospects,
and assigning members to follow-up. Most importantly, we The full board embraced our plans and set us loose. We have been well served by our executive director, Jan Fedewa, and our development officer, Gregory Parker. We have held a series of regional fundraising events, non-events (just send money and you won’t have to come), and mail solicitations. With the onset of The Great Michigan Read, we aggressively
pursued corporations and foundations for support.
The support helped us to engage communities around the
state from Calumet to Dundee, Escanaba to Midland, Sault
Ste. Marie to St. Joseph, and all points in between. These The Michigan Humanities Council budget is still heavily
reliant on funding from the National Endowment for the
Humanities, but as we continue to grow we will continue
to lean more and more heavily on individuals, corporations,
and foundations to bring the highest quality humanities 2009-2012 Michigan’s Arts & Humanities Touring Program: Sign Up to Review Touring Program Applications Reviewers are needed to assist the Arts & Humanities Touring Program’s Reviewers are selected by program staff based on their expertise in the Arts & Humanities Touring Program |
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copyright
2008 - Michigan Humanities Council If you are visually impaired or need assistance with the materials on this website, please contact the Michigan Humanities Council. RSS
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