The War Memorial Awarded MACC State Grant to Strengthen Arts, Culture, and Community Impact
GROSSE POINTE FARMS, April 7, 2026 – The War Memorial has been awarded a $52,300 grant from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC), supporting a series of initiatives central to the organization’s growth as a regional center for arts, culture, and history.
The award will support five key areas of work, with primary focus on the restoration of The War Memorial’s historic theater and the continued development of its emerging museum program.
“State support plays a vital role in sustaining a vibrant arts and culture ecosystem,” said Maria Miller, President and CEO of The War Memorial. “This investment represents an important step forward in our long-term vision—advancing our plans to restore our theater, deepen our work as a museum, and expand access to experiences that inspire, educate, and bring people together.”
The War Memorial’s theater, which has remained closed since sustaining significant flood damage in 2021, is undergoing a planning and design process to reintroduce it as a flexible performance and film venue. Planned restoration efforts include enhanced seating configurations to create an engaging audience experience, along with upgrades designed to support a wide range of artistic programming.
This work will allow the theater to once again host concerts, film series, lectures, and live performances—reestablishing it as a cultural gathering space in Southeast Michigan. MACC's investment contributes to the planning work underway to restore and reimagine the theater for future generations.
As part of this broader effort, grant funding will support The War Memorial’s continued evolution into a museum with professionally managed collections and exhibitions. Building on recent progress, the organization is advancing efforts to inventory and catalog artifacts, establish collections management standards, and develop museum-quality exhibitions that interpret both regional and national history.
This work is part of a broader institutional initiative supported through the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) Community Museum Grant Program and America250MI History Grant Program, including the engagement of an interpretive planning consultant, the addition of dedicated curatorial expertise to support collections and exhibitions, and community listening sessions designed to help shape a future museum experience that reflects and serves the public.
Additional elements of the grant will expand access to arts and culture experiences across the community, with a focus on veterans and students. This includes a veteran-focused visit to the Selfridge Air Museum, offered at no cost to veterans, and support for the development of a school partnership designed to connect students with place-based history through arts-integrated learning.
The MACC grant was awarded through a competitive statewide process, with 678 applications submitted for fiscal year 2026 funding. Organizations receiving support are required to partially match grant funds with additional public and private investment, further amplifying the impact of the award.
A complete list of grant awards around the state is available by contacting MACC at (517) 241-4011 or visiting https://www.michiganbusiness.org/arts/.
About The War Memorial
The War Memorial, located on the shores of Lake St. Clair in Grosse Pointe Farms, is a nonprofit cultural and community center dedicated to honoring veterans, enriching lives, and bringing people together through meaningful experiences. For more than 75 years, The War Memorial has welcomed thousands of guests annually for arts and cultural programming, patriotic observances, educational opportunities, community events, and private gatherings across its historic lakefront property.
As a dynamic and forward-thinking hub for southeast Michigan, The War Memorial remains committed to fostering community engagement through accessible programs that recognize the service and sacrifice of veterans and provide opportunities that spark connection, learning, creativity, and civic engagement. The organization proudly upholds this legacy of service while creating a sense of belonging for everyone from everywhere.
CONTACT:
Alex Szwarc, The War Memorial
Patriotic Programming and Communications Administrator
313.881.7514, aszwarc@warmemorial.org