The NWMAC Announces Fall Deadlines for Arts Grant Applications.

Applications are open for arts grants to nonprofit arts organizations, communities, schools, individuals, and other nonprofit organizations. Applications are being accepted from our seven county Minnesota service area including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau counties.

Nonprofit arts organizations can apply as of September 1 each year for first consideration of their general operating grant. The grant amount they are eligible for is based on total expenses within the previous two completed years and their history of arts programming. These organizations will be able to add to this grant, as the year progresses, if they need additional funding. Funding sources for these grants come from Clean Water, Land and Legacy funds and general allocation funds from the State of Minnesota.

All other nonprofits and government organizations can apply for one arts project at a time. Grants deadlines for these are August 1 (which has been extended to September 1 this year), November 1 and March 1. Grants are between $500 and $10,000. Funding sources for these grants are Clean Water, Land and Legacy funds and general allocation funds from the State of Minnesota.

Organizational arts activities funded through these two very important grant opportunities include festivals, community theatre projects, folk music entertainment, sponsorship of visual demonstrations, creative writing workshops and many other activities that improve the quality of life of people in our communities.

Schools in our seven-county region can also apply now for an Artist Residency grant of $2,600 plus an additional $400 if the residency needs supplies. Our teaching artist roster is a great resource to view artists available to teach in our area and is available on our website at www.NorthwestMinnesotaArtsCouncil.org under the artists tab. Another resource to view artists available to enhance curriculum is COMPAS.

Schools can initially apply for one residency. Then based on remaining funding, can request up to three additional residencies into spring and summer. Funding for residency activities comes from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in Minnesota.

Schools can also apply for Arts Equipment for their school by November 1 each year. Grants are for up to $3,000 with a 25% cash match requirement. Funds for this arts equipment in schools grant program come from the general fund of the State of Minnesota.

Individual Artist Grants have an October 1 deadline for $5,000 grants and November 15 deadline for $1,500 and an ongoing deadline for quick turnaround grants for $500. These grants are awarded to performing artists, visual artists, media artists, and creative writing artists from our seven county Minnesota service area including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau counties.

Individuals must be out of high school and at least 18 years of age to be eligible. College tuition is not an eligible expense. This is the main category that individuals use to support their artistic business or advance their technical skills. This category is for non-hobby artists who make substantial yearly income from their art. Grants are awarded annually with $1,500 going to four individuals and $5,000 going to four individuals. Support for this program comes from The McKnight Foundation.

Individuals absolutely must reside in our region (for one year prior) and remain living in our region during your entire grant year (2023). In the case of college students, your school or your home mailing address must be in our region. You will have to show proof of residency, usually your driver’s license.

And to Make the Grant Process Easier ....

If you have applied to us before, an easy way to start is with a copy of your previous grant. We strongly recommend that you reach out to our director, Mara Hanel, so she can make a copy within our online grant software. Many data collection fields stay the same from year to year. A copy auto fills those routine fields. It uses your previous answers as a template to begin your next grant.

To learn more about these grant programs and start an application login to the grants application on the top of each webpage. The grant application process is completely online and NWMAC's Director Mara Hanel can help walk you through the process of using the grants portal to get accustomed to it. Please contact her at director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call 218-745-8886.