The Michigan Arts and Culture Council is a state agency that distributes grants to creative and cultural projects. 

While the core components of the MACC include economic development, education, and engagement, the group also forms strategies on funding, leadership, resources, outreach and research. The MACC answers to The Michigan Economic  Development Corporation.  

Recently, the MACC cut three positions from its staff. According to Nafeesah Symonette, vice-chair of the MACC board, board members were not notified of any proposed staffing cuts. 

As the grant proposal application opened, the seven person team was reduced by three staffers. Four team members remain. Symonette says 17 people from neighboring states have volunteered to help read and process proposals for the 2027 fiscal year.

The MACC currently distributes $11 million in funding through grants.

Symonette, who is also executive director for Detroit Excellence in Youth Arts, is a leader of the Detroit Partnership for Arts Education.  She says the cuts will directly impact the MACC’s ability to process and distribute grants. We may also see smaller, grass roots and rural organizations shuttering due to the cuts.

She joins The Metro to discuss what happens behind the scenes and the waning interest of arts and culture in Lansing.

Hear the full conversation using the media player above.

Listen to The Metro weekdays from 10 a.m. to noon ET on 101.9 FM and stream on-demand. Never miss an episode — subscribe to The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, NPR, or wherever you get your podcasts 

More stories from The Metro

Sudani Shaah is a multi-dimensional artist based in Detroit. A graduate of College for Creative Studies and Detroit School of Arts, Sudani is following in the footsteps of her family. 

Her mother is multi-interdisciplinary artist Sabrina Nelson and her brother is visual and sculptural artist Mario Moore. 

In this episode, we learn how textile artist Sudani is creating her own lane. Let’s get behind the tsunami waves of Sudani and how her work ripples out to tell complex stories.

CONTAINER On The Metro is a WDET produced storytelling series that brings Detroit’s creative heartbeat to the airwaves. 

CONTAINER is a program created by The Love Building. Its goal is to showcase Detroit’s creative talent across music, fashion, fine arts and food. Done in collaboration with WDET Public Radio with major support from the Gilbert Family Foundation.

Subscribe to Container on The Metro on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. 

This week on The Shake Out, high energy soul and rock’n’roll 45s, memorial tributes to Rosalind Ashford-Holmes of the Vandellas and Jerry Green of the Contours, the cover of Jolene you didn’t know you needed, plus a spotlight on Montreal psych rockers Elephant Stone and Matthew Smith of Outrageous Cherry, who will both be playing together in Hamtramck this week.

One hour of soul and rock’n’roll on vinyl, every Tuesday at 8 p.m. with host Dave Lawson, The Shake Out on 101.9, WDET.

The Shake Out Playlist for Sept. 23, 2026

• “Twistin’ Beat” – Phil Flowers
• “Hey Sah-Lo-Ney” – Mickey Lee Lane
• “Meditation” – Sam and the Soul Machine
• “Said I Wasn’t Gonna Tell Nobody” – Sam & Dave
• “Somebody New” – Chuck Jackson
• “How Could It Be” – The Esquires
• “Thompin” – Rufus Jr
• “I’m Holding On” – Betty La Vette
• “Watts Breakaway” – The Johnny Otis Show
• “Boss Sauce” – The Buena Vistas”
• “Maryann” – Rockin Robin Roberts
• “Wild As You Can Be” – Mary Ann Fisher
• “Ooh Little Girl” – Floyd Dixon
• “Swingin’ and Surfin'” – Les Brown Jr
• “Come and Get These Memories” – Martha and the Vandellas (RIP Rosalind Ashford)
• “Just a Little Misunderstanding” – The Contours (RIP Jerry Green)
• “A New Day Dawning” – Bobby Smith
• “The Rabbit Got the Gun” – The JBs
• “Our Love Will Change the World” – Outrageous Cherry
• “Love the Sinner, Hate the Sin” – Elephant Stone
• “The Sea of Your Mind” – Elephant Stone
• “Jolene” – Strawberry Switchblade
• “Hero Takes a Fall” – Bangles
• “Up Above the Rock” – Ray Bryant

The Detroit Board of Police Commissioners is considering eliminating virtual public comment and the option to provide comment via phone during meetings. If the motion is approved, public comment will be restricted to in person only.

District 1 Commissioner Henriette Ivey proposed the idea at last week’s meeting. She told BridgeDetroit in an interview that the goal is not to stifle anyone’s voice, but to build relationships with residents face-to-face.

Organizations Detroit Disability Power, Riverwise Magazine and Warriors on Wheels are speaking out against the motion. They say it would silence the voices of people with disabilities, seniors, and working families. The  board will vote on the motion at the the board’s next meeting on Sept. 3 at 3 p.m. at the Detroit Public Safety Headquarters. 

Additional headlines for Tuesday, Sept. 1, 2026

Sensory-Friendly Concert: Dance Party

Detroit Disability Power is teaming up with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra to present the Sensory-Friendly Concert: Dance Party. The free concert welcomes teens and adults with neurodivergent, intellectual, or developmental disabilities.

Cancel Monday Band will play for the 45-minute concert. The concert will feature a limited audience size for reduced crowds, low lighting throughout the concert, flexible seating, noise-canceling headphones, fidgets, and a quiet break room.

The concert will be held at The CUBE on 3711 Woodward on Sunday, Sept. 13 at 2:00 p.m. For tickets visit DSO.org and look on under the events page. 

Afterschool arts

The national nonprofit ProjectArt is offering free afterschool arts programs in Detroit for K-12 students. The program partners with professional artists and libraries. Registration is open for the 2026-2027 school year. ProjectArt has served hundreds of children in Detroit since 2016 in partnership with Detroit Public Library.  

In Detroit, students will work with Stephanie Mae Howells, Chloe River, Irene Perez, Amber Abboud, and Olivia Eshe Holt.  

Registration is open for September. Classes begin at the end of the month. Visit projectart.org/detroit to enroll. 

Birth Detroit celebration

Birth Detroit, Detroit’s first freestanding birth center, is hosting a celebration to share the impact of five years of service. People will learn about Birth Detroit’s impact report and future plans.  

The event will take place on Sept.18 from 5:30-7 p.m. at the Whiskey Factory—1000 Maple St. in Detroit. 

Listen to the latest episode of the “Detroit Evening Report” on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR.org or wherever you get your podcasts.