Grants & Funding News

Hiawatha Music Co-op is proud to be a 2023 recipient of a Michigan Arts & Culture Council Operational Grant in the amount of $18,750, part of which is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.  These grant funds will be applied to a variety of enhancements to our Hiawatha Traditional Music Festival in 2023, including free admission for Vets and those qualifying under the ADA.  Additionally, Hiawatha will apply a portion of the awarded funds toward attracting an outstanding and diverse group of performers, to improve restroom facilities for all festival-goers and especially the disabled, and to creating a Sensory Aware area in the campground during the Festival.

The Ray & Peg Hirvonen Foundation exists to benefit the quality of life in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and the Treasure Coast of Florida.  Hiawatha is fortunate to have received a $5000 grant from the Hirvonen Foundation for this year's festival, and will put it to excellent use for the benefit children's programming at our Festival as well as establishing our new Sensory Aware Area, which will offer gentle and sensory-aware activities for neurodivergent Festival-goers.  Hiawatha is deeply grateful to the Hirvonen Foundation!

The Michigan Humanities Council awarded Hiawatha a $3000 Touring Artist Grant, which will support a Mainstage artist at this year's Festival.

Hiawatha also received support from the City of Marquette, and these funds will help defray costs of munipal expenses associated with hosting the Festival in City property.

We are very grateful to the Michigan Arts and Culture Council, the Hirvonen Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Michigan Humanities Council, and to the City of Marquette for the generous funding of our 2023 Festival.

Hiawatha has established a giving portal with Give Lively, and is now accepting one-time donations as well as repeating regularly-scheduled donations.  This represents a wonderful new stream of revenue for the Co-op, and will help establish a financial safety net for times when the Co-op  cannot hold a festival (such as the 2 years during the COVID pandemic) or when a bad weather weekend results in below average festival income.

To donate one time or to set up a regular giving schedule, please click on the tab at the far right above labeled Donate.