2025 Experience Support Grant Program

The Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC) offers the Experience Support Grant Program to expand access to meaningful arts and cultural experiences across the state. This program is designed specifically for organizations whose primary mission is not arts- or culture-centered but that wish to incorporate creative projects into their work. By providing funding for one-year initiatives, MACC aims to foster collaboration between the arts and other community sectors, encouraging innovation, cultural engagement, and community enrichment through creative programming. Applicants may apply for funding in one or more of four categories: Project Support, Facility Enhancement & Equipment Purchase, Professional/Organizational Development, and Transportation. Project Support grants, offering up to $20,000, fund the creation, presentation, or production of arts and culture experiences that are open to the public. These projects may range from single events to ongoing programs throughout the grant period. Funding must be dedicated solely to arts-related activities rather than any of the applicant organization’s non-arts programs, ensuring that each supported initiative creates a direct cultural impact. Facility and Equipment grants provide up to $30,000 to help organizations improve venues, studios, or community spaces used for arts programming, or to purchase necessary equipment for cultural activities. To qualify for facility improvements, applicants must demonstrate either ownership of the property or a long-term lease. Professional/Organizational Development grants, capped at $1,500, support training opportunities for staff, contractors, board members, or volunteers to build capacity and deepen their knowledge in arts and cultural management or practice. Transportation grants, also up to $1,500, assist with the costs of moving participants to and from arts experiences, whether traveling to an organization’s own venue or visiting another site for cultural engagement. Eligible applicants include a broad range of Michigan-based entities such as PreK–12 schools (including home schools, districts, and Head Start programs), colleges and universities, municipalities, tribal entities, and 501(c)(3) nonprofits whose missions are not primarily arts-focused. This inclusive approach allows civic, educational, and community organizations to bring arts and culture directly into environments that may not otherwise have access to them. All funded projects must occur within the grant period of October 1, 2024, to September 30, 2025. Through the Experience Support program, MACC reinforces its commitment to embedding the arts in everyday community life. By empowering organizations from diverse sectors to integrate creative expression into their missions, the program helps broaden public access to the arts, inspire local participation, and enrich Michigan’s cultural identity. This initiative not only enhances the visibility of the arts but also demonstrates their essential role in education, community well-being, and civic vitality across the state.