Michigan Arts & Culture Council to Host NEA Chairman Mary Anne Carter for Public Arts Policy Forum

The Michigan Arts & Culture Council (MACC) is honored to announce that it will host Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, for a special public event on Thursday, July 16, 2026, in Jackson, Michigan.

This visit offers Michigan’s creative community, educators, regional subgrantees, and community advocates an extraordinary opportunity to engage directly with a national arts leader regarding agency initiatives, federal funding priorities, and the overarching community impact of the arts.

The afternoon’s programming will take place at the Jackson Symphony Orchestra’s Weatherwax Hall and will feature a public forum followed by a community networking reception.

Event Details

• Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026
• Location: Jackson Symphony Orchestra – Weatherwax Hall, 215 W. Michigan Ave., Jackson, MI 49201
• Registration: Free to the public, but registration is required. Attendees can register online via the registration link: “On the Couch” Public Forum: Arts Policy in Focus

Itinerary

1:30 PM – 2:30 PM | “On the Couch” Public Forum: Arts Policy in Focus

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Mary Anne Carter will join Michigan arts leaders for an informal, moderated conversation. The dialogue will focus on national and state arts policy, emerging cultural initiatives, and the critical role of federal partnerships in strengthening local arts ecosystems.

2:30 PM – 3:15 PM | Community Networking Reception

Following the forum, attendees are invited to enjoy light refreshments and connect directly with the National Endowment for the Arts Chairman, MACC leadership, and fellow state cultural advocates.

“I am delighted to be back in Michigan to meet with artists, educators, cultural and community leaders whose work brings creativity to life across the state,” said Mary Anne Carter, chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts. “Through our partnership with the Michigan Arts & Culture Council, the Arts Endowment helps support priorities shaped by Michigan communities—strengthening opportunities for all people throughout the state to experience, create, and benefit from the arts.”

Chairman Carter, currently serving her second tenure leading the Arts Endowment following her confirmation in late 2025, has a distinguished track record of expanding access to the arts for all Americans. Known for her hands-on dedication to public service, she has been a tireless champion for national programs like Creative Forces—which uses creative arts therapy to support the health and well-being of veterans and service members—as well as rural arts investments, youth education, and localized community enrichment.

“We are absolutely thrilled to welcome Chairman Carter back to Michigan,” said Alison Watson, Director for the Michigan Arts and Culture Council. “Her deep understanding of public policy and her unwavering commitment to ensuring federal arts resources reach every corner of the country make her a powerful ally for our local artists and cultural organizations. This forum is a unique chance for our state’s creative advocates to voice their experiences and help shape the dialogue driving the future of arts funding.”

Members of the media are invited to attend. Interview requests with Chairman Carter or MACC leadership must be submitted in advance to the media contact listed above.

About the Michigan Arts & Culture Council

The Michigan Arts & Culture Council (MACC) serves as the state’s key conduit for arts and cultural information, grant funding and more. The Council guides the distribution of resources to ensure that Michigan communities thrive from the civic, economic, and educational benefits of arts and culture.

About the National Endowment for the Arts

The National Endowment for the Arts is an independent federal agency that is the largest funder of the arts and arts education in communities nationwide and a catalyst of public and private support for the arts. By advancing opportunities for arts participation and practice, the Arts Endowment fosters and sustains an environment in which the arts benefit everyone in the United States. Learn more at arts.gov.