Traverse City-based Mashup Rock and Roll Musical Theater Company, whose slogan is “Embrace the Weird,” received $24,178 from Michigan taxpayers via Michigan Arts and Culture Council Grants this year to perform Madonnativity, an original “family friendly” musical setting Christmas and Hannukah stories to Madonna’s greatest hits.
It’s as bad as it sounds. Woke amateurs in cone bras, “Material Girl” Santa, the Virgin Mary in Hipster glasses, and a cringeworthy reproduction of “Angel,” and “Cherish.” I’m guessing they found a way to include “Like a Virgin,” though I really don’t want to come across that clip.
The total amount of Art and Culture grants awarded for fiscal 2025 was $10,690,223. You can browse the full list below.
Here are some more grant recipients that stuck out to me:
The council gave $39,450 to Puppetart, a Detroit-based nonprofit committed to celebrating “cultural diversity and valuing artistic professionalism.” The puppets aren’t cute, either—they’re creepy.
$39,150 to Cultureworks, which partnered with Holland Pride to “Support Queer Artists.” Its website shows how it applies a DEI lens towards the teens it serves in a request for more funding.
$37,009 to Grand Rapids Cable Access Center, a West Michigan media outlet.
$34,450 to the Sam Beauford Woodshop of Detroit for woodworking courses that are open and welcoming to women and non-binary individuals.
$34,150 to Tapology, host of the Flint Area Tap Festival.
$33,750 to Accent Pontiac for “social change through music.”
$33,400 to Glass Art Kalamazoo for glass making classes and camps.
$28,950 to Women of Banglatown, a Hamtramck organization that provides “culturally appropriate arts and wellness” to young immigrant women including paper making and yoga.
$24,200 to Temate Institute for Black Dance and Culture, a “social justice organization using dance for community engagement.”
$21,250 to Dzanc Books, whose titles include “Guest Privileges: Queer Lives and Finding Home in the Middle East” and “Be Gay: Do Time.”
$19,980 to Prism Gay Men and Allies Chorus.
$17,750 to Southwest Detroit Environmental Vision Project for “environmental justice for through the arts.” Who knew murals and storytelling could save the planet?
$17,500 to Marquette Fringe, host of Fall Phantasm and Drag Menagerie, and who was recently recruiting Drag Performers
$17,500 for the Secret Society of Twisted Storytellers, whose works include Colorism and Menopause Comedy.
$12,000 to Great Lakes Bay Pride.
$11,400 to Title Track for “water, equity, and youth” to do “climate justice chants.”
$7,500 for Durand Union Station Model Railroad Engineers. While it’s refreshing to see an iconic, wholesome recipient of MACC grants, model trains are a hobby, not a public interest or benefit to a struggling state.
Let’s not forget the Barbershop Quartets. Four separate Michigan chapters received a total of $$76,165 this past year, up from last year’s haul of $61,215 for the groups.
At a time when Michiganders are struggling with high costs, unemployment, broken roads, crime, and illiteracy, the last thing we need to be paying for are glass-blowing classes, tap-dance lessons, puppets, railroad models, drag queens, climate ideology, and woke social-justice initiatives.
Defund Arts and Culture Grants. Pick your favorite local nonprofit and make a donation with the money you save on lower taxes.
Anna Hoffman is a hockey mom of three living in Ann Arbor. Follow her on X @shoesonplease.
