A quilt that was created by home economics students at Zeeland High School in 1976 in conjunction with that year’s bicentennial celebration is on display in the lobby of the Zeeland Historical Society’s Dekker Huis Museum as part of the current “We The People: Roots of Belonging” exhibit. The historical society has received a grant of $17,762 from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council to be used toward the society’s programming and professional development.
Photo by Greg Chandler
Photo by Greg Chandler
The Zeeland Historical Society has been awarded a grant of $17,762 from the Michigan Arts and Culture Council (MACC), including $5,600 in federal funding from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA).
The grant was awarded through the MACC compliance review process and was one of 678 applications competing for fiscal year 2026 funding.
Audrey Rojo, curator and interim director of the historical society, said the support allows the organization “to continue preserving and sharing Zeeland-area history in meaningful ways.”
“This funding helps us connect residents and visitors with the stories that shape our community while expanding opportunities to engage with local history,” Rojo said.
The MACC grant provides operational support for the Zeeland Historical Society and its work at the Dekker Huis Museum and the historic New Groningen Schoolhouse, where residents and visitors connect with the history of Zeeland and the surrounding West Michigan region. Through exhibitions, lectures, walking tours, research services, summer camps, and community events, the society serves children, families, students, and lifelong learners while strengthening civic pride and understanding of local heritage.
Funding from MACC and the NEA will help expand these programs through new technology that allows lectures and meetings to be recorded and shared digitally, making them available to individuals who are unable to attend in person.
The grant will also support professional development for staff through attendance at the Michigan Museums Association Conference, providing opportunities to gain training in museum best practices, collections care, and community engagement.
Organizations receiving a MACC grant award are required to match those funds with other public and private dollars. Local support for the Zeeland Historical Society includes Plascore Inc., Request Foods, and Walters Gardens, along with in-kind support from 2 Fish Company, Integrity Landscaping, and Disher. These supporters believe in the importance of preserving and sharing Zeeland’s history.
In addition, the historical society also receives significant volunteer support from community members who assist with exhibitions, research, events, and educational programming.
Together, these efforts ensure that the history of Zeeland and the surrounding region remains available, relevant, and meaningful for current and future generations.
The MACC compliance review process ensures that taxpayers who support this project through legislative appropriations, and all residents and visitors in Michigan, have access to high-quality arts and cultural experiences.
A complete list of grant awards around the state is available by contacting MACC at 517-241-4011 or by visiting michigan.gov/ arts.
The grant was awarded through the MACC compliance review process and was one of 678 applications competing for fiscal year 2026 funding.
Audrey Rojo, curator and interim director of the historical society, said the support allows the organization “to continue preserving and sharing Zeeland-area history in meaningful ways.”
“This funding helps us connect residents and visitors with the stories that shape our community while expanding opportunities to engage with local history,” Rojo said.
The MACC grant provides operational support for the Zeeland Historical Society and its work at the Dekker Huis Museum and the historic New Groningen Schoolhouse, where residents and visitors connect with the history of Zeeland and the surrounding West Michigan region. Through exhibitions, lectures, walking tours, research services, summer camps, and community events, the society serves children, families, students, and lifelong learners while strengthening civic pride and understanding of local heritage.
Funding from MACC and the NEA will help expand these programs through new technology that allows lectures and meetings to be recorded and shared digitally, making them available to individuals who are unable to attend in person.
The grant will also support professional development for staff through attendance at the Michigan Museums Association Conference, providing opportunities to gain training in museum best practices, collections care, and community engagement.
Organizations receiving a MACC grant award are required to match those funds with other public and private dollars. Local support for the Zeeland Historical Society includes Plascore Inc., Request Foods, and Walters Gardens, along with in-kind support from 2 Fish Company, Integrity Landscaping, and Disher. These supporters believe in the importance of preserving and sharing Zeeland’s history.
In addition, the historical society also receives significant volunteer support from community members who assist with exhibitions, research, events, and educational programming.
Together, these efforts ensure that the history of Zeeland and the surrounding region remains available, relevant, and meaningful for current and future generations.
The MACC compliance review process ensures that taxpayers who support this project through legislative appropriations, and all residents and visitors in Michigan, have access to high-quality arts and cultural experiences.
A complete list of grant awards around the state is available by contacting MACC at 517-241-4011 or by visiting michigan.gov/ arts.
