The 2009 Michigan Story Festival will receive $15,000 in support from the Michigan Humanities Council.

The funding is part of the Michigan Humanities Council’s “Michigan People, Michigan Places . Our Stories, Our Lives” program, which awarded $151,581 to 12 organizations across the state.

Scott Hirko, public relations officer for the Michigan Humanities Council, said that in order to be considered for a grant, organizations had to submit an application showcasing their involvement in the public humanities.

“We wanted to see community collaboration presented to the public in the best way to learn,” Hirko said about the selection process. “It’s important that the public was able to both learn and participate in the program.”

Hirko said that the Michigan Story Festival has done an excellent job supporting the public humanities in the past. Its proven track record helped the Michigan Story Festival receive the maximum amount awarded by the council, he said.

“We knew the content from the 2009 Michigan Story Festival would be first-rate and adhere to the humanities,” Hirko said. “The community collaboration is outstanding.”

According to michiganstoryfestival.org, the festival is a two day event that offers performances, exhibits, workshops and lectures from national, regional, and local storytellers.

“The Michigan Story Festival is very different from other festivals,” said Nancy Eddy, communication and dramatic arts assistant professor and member of the Michigan Story Festival committee. “It looks at story in all of the arts.”

Eddy said the funding will go toward covering the costs of running this year’s festival, which includes a performance from national storyteller Beth Horner.

“Traditionally, most the events at the festival have been free for the public,” Eddy said. “This grant will help to keep most of this year’s events free as well.”

Hirko said the Michigan Humanities Council was able to award the funding to organizations across the state because of a grant from the National Endowment of the Humanities.

As part of this grant, the council agreed to award a percentage directly to non-profits in support of public humanities programs.

The 2009 Michigan Story Festival is scheduled to be held October 23 and 24.

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E-mail the author: Ray Nelson