Grants
1/17/97
By Art/Cultural LAURA A. POTTS
Capital News Service
LANSING - The Virginia McCune Arts Center may receive some financial
assistance for expansion of its gallery and theater thanks to a few million
dollars left over from the 1996 state budget.
The catch is, McCune Arts Center, which provides art and cultural programs
for Charlevoix and Emmet counties, has less than one month to apply for the
grants.
Michelle Conklin, director of the Crooked Tree Arts Council, said they
hope to build a 5,000-square-foot addition to the existing McCune
structure, but were not notified of the grants.
The deadline for capital outlay grant applications for arts and cultural
institutions is Feb. 14, said Department of Consumer and Industry Services
spokesperson Jan Fedewa.
Maureen McNulty, press secretary of the Department of Management and
Budget (DMB), said the agency expects to allot lapsed money to fine arts
and cultural institutions across the state for capital outlay projects.
"This is money we know exists - we're not borrowing it," McNulty said.
The lapsed money is left over from the balanced fiscal year 1996 budget,
which ended last Sept. 30.
McNulty said the state has been able to lapse budget funds for the last
four years, targeting different recipients each year.
The final book closing in late March or early April will determine the
exact amount of grant money available, McNulty said.
"We'll have a ballpark idea of the amount of money in the third or fourth
week of January," McNulty said. "There is a good chance the numbers can
change. Nothing is set in stone."
McNulty said she is confident that grants will be available to cultural
institutions that need funds for large projects such as roof repairs or
building expansions.
The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs is working with the DMB
to determine where the grants will go. "This is not arts money, per say,
this is construction money," said.
The McNulty first $10 million of lapsed funds is targeted for arts and cultural
institutions and any remaining funds will go to other projects, such bureau
of aeronautics projects.
Art and cultural institutions only may receive grants covering up to 15
percent of total construction costs and grants will not exceed $2 million
per institution.
"No one will receive the lion's share," McNulty said. "The money will be
spread out evenly."
McNulty said the money should help art and cultural institutions that have
difficulty raising funds for physical improvements. "Often they pour all of
their money into the art aspect and have nothing left over for
housekeeping," McNulty said.
That is exactly what is happening at the Virginia McCune Arts Center in
Petoskey, said Conklin.
McCune Arts Center, which provides outreach programs to schools, organizes
exhibits, and has a theater/choral group, needs money to expand the
building, Conklin said.
"We're in the design phase of looking at renovations and expansions,"
Conklin said. "There isn't a lot of money available. Any additional money
is needed."
Conklin said the a...