June 9, 2006

Dr. William Anderson, director of the Michigan Department of History, Arts and Libraries (HAL), today announced personnel changes, effective Monday, June 12, designed to better support the department's efforts to strengthen the state's cultural economic development strategy.

Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs (MCACA) Executive Director Carol Culham, with the council in various roles since 1995, will now assist Betty Boone, HAL's director of Cultural Economic Development (CED).  Dr. Anderson said that Culham additionally brings to this assignment five years as assistant general manager of the Michigan Exposition and Fairgrounds (Michigan State Fair), experience and expertise that will greatly assist the department as it seeks creative new opportunities for leveraging the state's cultural resources.

"We would like to thank Carol for her transition year with the council while we were building our new cultural economic development agenda," said Dr. Anderson.  "During that time she successfully managed the fiscal year 2006 grants process, led the development of the MCACA strategic plan and programming framework for 2007, repositioned the Rural Arts and Culture Program, secured National Endowment for the Arts American Masterpieces Program funding and helped implement the department's 11th annual conference, The Art of Cool." 

Cultural economic development is HAL's top priority.  HAL's CED office works to build partnerships among local, state, regional and national cultural organizations and coordinates the department's cultural economic development initiative, as well as leading the implementation of the cultural economic development strategy for Michigan.  To learn more, visit www.michigan.gov/ced.

"Our department and its many partners are working diligently to deploy cultural resources strategically to help transform and strengthen Michigan's economy," said Dr. Anderson.  "There are lots of opportunities for the cultural sector to increase its contributions to the economy and adding Carol to the HAL cultural economic development office will strengthen that effort."

John Bracey, director of programs for MCACA for the last eight years, will become executive director of the council.

Carolyn Damstra, currently assistant editor of Michigan History magazine, will become MCACA's program officer.  Damstra has a bachelor of fine arts in studio art and a master of fine arts in art history, both from Michigan State University.  She has served as an adjunct instructor in art history at Olivet College and is a practicing artist, working mainly in acrylic landscape painting and illustration.

"John brings heartfelt passion and a tremendous depth of knowledge to his work for the arts council and Carolyn has a wide range of experience in history, arts and libraries," said Dr. Anderson.  "I have no doubt that MCACA staff and members, our grant applicants and recipients, and Michigan's arts and cultural community as a whole will be very well served by their leadership and commitment to the field."

The Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, an agency within the Department of History, Arts and Libraries, serves to encourage, develop and facilitate an enriched environment of artistic, creative, cultural activity in Michigan.  To learn more, visit www.michigan.gov/arts.

The Department of History, Arts and Libraries is dedicated to strengthening the economy and enriching the quality of life for Michigan residents by providing access to information, preserving and promoting Michigan's heritage and fostering cultural creativity.  In addition to the arts council, it includes the Michigan Historical Center, the Mackinac Island State Park Commission, the Library of Michigan and the Michigan Film Office.  To learn more, visit www.michigan.gov/hal.

Read more press releases from the Department of History, Arts and Libraries.