Northport Performing Arts Center (NPAC) has received a Mission Support Grant from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council and the National Endowment for the Arts in the amount of $17,500.
The money will be used for events, personnel salary, office rent and utilities—anything that furthers our mission of Bringing Home the Performing Arts.
“People don’t realize how hard the COVID pandemic hit the NPAC,” said Joe Thatcher, president of the organization’s Board of trustees. “I’m so proud of the NPAC Board for taking a dramatic leap of faith in planning for our first full season since 2019 with, when we planned it, so little cash reserves.
Thatcher said NPAC needs corporate sponsorships, donations, grants, anything to help rebuild the financial foundation of the organization.
“We had to trust the people of Leelanau County to see the value in or mission, “Bringing Home the Performing Arts” — and they did,” Thatcher continued. “Donations have been pouring in, particularly for Music in the Park and our summer musical “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.” We’re not in the clear yet—putting on the musical alone will cost in excess of $30,000—but with the help of the people who enjoy our programming and the businesses who benefit from it, we are definitely on our way.”
Receipt of the MACC/NEA grant will be a big step in that direction. It provides a financial framework from which to build our largest season in five years. The entire season consists of Cocktails, Canapes & Comedy featuring Full Tilt Comedy March 7, 8, & 9 at Willowbrook Mill; Northern Michigan Brass Band May 4 (all students admitted to this concert for free); nine Music in the Park concerts Fridays (except July 4) from June 27 through August 29; Village Voices summer kickoff concert June 28; “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory,” July 26, 27, 30, 31, and August 2 & 3; Northport Community Band “Spirit of America” concert August 23; Holiday Concert featuring Village Voices & Northport Community Band December 7; and Northwest Ballet Theatre presenting The Nutcracker December 13. We may be adding a Kid’s Musical Theatre Camp like we did last summer.”
NPAC is required to match 25% of the $17,500 grant, or $4,375. Another way to put that is any donations to NPAC up to a total of $4,375 will be matched 4:1 by the grant, but any shortfall in reaching the goal of $4,375 will have to be returned to MACC at the 4:1 rate.
“We are so excited to receive this grant and thank Michigan’s Governor Whitmer and our senators and representatives who continue to vote to fund the performing arts,” NPAC Operations Manager Lisa Drummond said.
Donations can be sent to P.O Box 319 Northport MI 49670, or made securely at www. NorthportPerformingArts.org.
Contact Lisa Drummond at the Northport Performing Arts Center office at 231-386-2009 for more information.
