On Tuesday, Nov. 4, 2025, area Arts Organization representatives joined Governor Gretchen Whitmer and Senator Sarah Anthony and team to sign the arts and culture bill for the 2026 budget.

Advocacy Matters

Yesterday was an important day for arts and culture, as Governor Whitmer, Senator Anthony and her team, honored and celebrated the importance of the arts in Michigan.

Honoring the Arts

Joined by several arts and cultural sector representatives, and Arts Council members, our executive director, Meghan Martin was honored to be present at our Michigan State Capitol for Governor Whitmer’s ceremonial signing of the 2026 bill, keeping important arts and cultural funding in the budget.

Commitment to Arts and Culture

This moment proved a commitment to the arts and a recognition of their importance in our economy and our wellbeing as a region. This act ensures that our artists, and arts and cultural organizations, will have the support they need to create and provide excellent arts programming, beautiful art experiences, and arts jobs for our creative sector and our communities.

Every Voice Matters

We are so grateful to Governor Whitmer, Senator Anthony, and her team, for their efforts in protecting the arts and arts funding. We also extend that gratitude to everyone in our amazing arts community who sent emails, called legislators, attended advocacy day, and truly displayed the tenets of what advocacy is about. Your unwavering support of arts and culture in our region, and our state, ensured that the arts remained a central component of the 2026 budget. Your voices were heard and they mattered.

Join Us in Advocacy

We invite you to stay connected to arts and cultural issues by joining our advocacy efforts. Follow our social media channels, join our Articulate Activators group, become a member, and encourage others to join our mailing list, so we can grow our advocacy for the arts and keep it strong and consistent.

Your Contribution Matters

Thank you again for all you do. Please consider donating to the Arts Council; your contribution helps us do our work in the community to ensure arts and culture remain central to the growth of our Greater Lansing Region.