School starting next week means that local arts nonprofits are ramping up their educational programs for the year.

826michigan will be posting a fabulous slate of free fall writing workshops on Sept. 6. Dzanc Books will be placing writers in schools through their Writer-in-Residence program. The Neutral Zone is bringing staff and teens together to kick off a full schedule of programming in literature, art, education, music, entrepreneurship and social justice.

Funding for education in the arts is in crisis, especially in Michigan. Last January, Michigan Radio's Jennifer Guerra reported that our state leads the nation in cuts to arts funding. In such times, the need for independent organizations to provide artistic opportunities to young people is magnified.

In addition to preparing their programming for the year, these organizations are also trying their best to procure resources essential for their work to continue. Last Thursday, 826michigan promoted an "$8.26 on 8/26" fundraising initiative, and this weekend, Dzanc Books is hosting their third annual write-a-thon fundraiser.

As you prepare to send your children back to school next week, I would encourage everyone to consider making a donation to one of these efforts to help keep arts programming for youth sustainable in our region. And be sure to check out the fall program schedule for the Neutral Zone, and for 826michigan when it gets posted on Tuesday evening.