EAST LANSING, MI—The Michigan Traditional Arts Program (MTAP) at Michigan State University recently announced the recipients of the 2025 Michigan Heritage Awards (MHA). Established nearly 40 years ago, the awards recognize individuals who masterfully uphold their family, community or cultural folk
traditions.
“The Michigan Heritage Awards are presented to master tradition bearers who continue family and community traditions through practice and teaching,” said Marsha MacDowell, director of MTAP. “The annual call for nominations extends throughout the state to ensure award recipients reflect a variety of skills, traditions and cultures of Michiganders.”
Recipients of the 2025 MHA include:
• The Flint African American Quilters Guild of Flint in Genesee County for
quilting;
• Ed and Cindi John of Northport in Leelanau County for tribal fishing;
• Rev. Robert Jones of Detroit in Wayne County for blues music, storytelling and education; and
• Kay Seppälä of Houghton in Houghton County for Finnish folk dancing.
MTAP is a statewide program designed to advance cross–cultural understanding through the documentation, preservation and presentation of traditional arts, folklife and everyday culture in Michigan. The program is housed in the Office of University Outreach and Engagement and supported by MATRIX: Center for Digital Humanities and Social Sciences, with collections displayed at the Michigan State
University Museum.
Learn more by visiting MTAP’s website at traditionalarts.msu.edu
