NEA/NEH to Hold Free 50th Anniversary Event at Michigan State University

In recognition of the founding of the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), Michigan State University and the College of Arts and Letters will host a community-wide 50th Anniversary Gala Celebration at 7:00 P.M. on October 23, 2015 at Wharton Center for the Performing Arts on MSU's campus. Can't attend? Watch LIVE at http://dptv.org/nehnea

This important event involves the Michigan arts and culture community including the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) and the Michigan Humanities Council (MHC), and is FREE and open to the public. Detroit Public Television is proud to be a supporting partner on the important events.

Tickets are required for this general admission event, and are available for free from the Wharton Center box office including Will Call. You can also purchase them online here: http://bit.ly/1MDJfUN

The celebration will include entertainment, artwork displays, and the telling of inspiring stories tied to past NEA and NEH grants. It will feature Nathan Triplett, mayor of East Lansing and master of ceremonies; and guest speakers Margaret Plympton, deputy chairman of the National Endowment for the Humanities; Bill Ivey, former chairperson of the NEA; Barry Bergey, former folk and traditional arts director of the NEA; Dr. Beth M. Bienvenu, Haslett, Michigan native and NEA director of accessibility; and Joshua Davis, MSU Theatre alumnus and 2015 The Voice TV show finalist, who will also perform.

In addition to the above speakers, attendees will be treated to various video presentations, featuring welcoming remarks by Michigan Governor Rick Snyder; a video from the Michigan Humanities Council; and a testimonial from local artist Craig Mitchell Smith on the tremendous impact of grant funding on his life.

Additional performances by Michigan artists and Heritage Award Winners:

Coral Brantly, of Petoskey High School, the 2015 Michigan State Champion of the national Poetry Out Loud competition. http://www.michiganhumanities.org/poetry-out-loud/

Nadim Dlaikan, 2002 NEA National Heritage Fellow http://arts.gov/honors/heritage/fellows/nadim-dlaikan

Yvonne Walker Keshick, 2014 National Heritage Fellow http://arts.gov/honors/heritage/fellows/yvonne-walker-keshick

Tickets to the event are FREE and available at http://bit.ly/1MDJfUN.