Congressional District: 8

Floyd J. McCree Theatre’s ArtsHERE grant will support the creation of a new strategic plan and community outreach initiatives to increase participation from younger audiences.  Floyd J. McCree Theatre offers educational and cultural programs to enrich the community of Flint, focusing on producing works that reflect the African American experience, including an annual Black History film series and mainstage productions that address the historical and cultural experiences of African Americans

The Inner Harmony project is a series of visual art and movement meditation workshops for adults with mental and physical disabilities at Vista Center in Flint, Michigan. Participants work with two professional artists to explore artistic themes of inner harmony to transform responses into movement, and present a film performance that displays their visual art and movements with live piano music.

We will work with area artists and local clays to build a clay oven and work with traditional Ojibwe clay forms.

Youth Activism Project will be reading Fahrenheit 451 for Big Read 2025. We will examine the theme, Where We Live, and the aspect, Alternate Realities, in the context of questions like: What would our community be like if we had fought censorship more effectively in our past? What could our community become if we resist censorship that currently exists and censorship which may come in the future?

Working alongside community partners from multiple counties throughout the Wabash Valley, the Vigo County Public Library will present numerous programs and literacy initiatives that promote inclusivity, embrace diversity, and encourage conversations about building a more accessible and compassionate community.

Sandy Spring Museum will collaborate with Montgomery County Public Libraries, Olive Branch Community Church, MoCo Underground Writer’s Showcase, and other partners to present public programming using the novel Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi as a cornerstone. This programming will provide opportunities for the public to connect with local Black history and the work of regional BIPOC scholars and creators.

“Shakesprov” is a series of weekly educational workshops held in a short-term juvenile detention center in Flint, MI. Led by 2 experienced teaching artists, “Shakesprov” explores themes and illuminates Shakespeare’s texts in a modern context through improvisation, theatre exercises, and storytelling. Youth learn acting skills, gain confidence, and develop an appreciation for theatre and the arts.

The Great Nordic Shakespeare Festival in Ely, MN is a month-long event featuring one Shakespearean play and one contrasting contemporary production. Through free youth access, tours to schools, and educational workshops, our goal is to make Shakespeare's work accessible to rural and low-income households of Northern Minnesota, nurturing a lasting love for the Bard's legacy in our community.

CSC will share a fully staged production of MACBETH with some 6,000+ Boston area students, through 8 student matinees, as part of its annual Stage2 production in spring 2025. The play will be tailored to a student audience, feature a diverse cast of early career actors, and be enhanced with educational elements including school workshops and post-show conversations.

Dovetail will create a print publication with stories about Midwest-based artists contributed by Midwestern writers. The publication will cover a range of visual art and diverse perspectives from artists and writers in rural or semi-rural areas. Dovetail will feature creatives who explore themes of immigration or displacement, and/or facilitate creative opportunities in their communities.