Frequently Asked Questions
FAQs About Grants
Frequently asked questions about Individual Artist Grants
For a printable version of this information click here.
What is a typical project? Often, grant proposals are to buy items that directly relate to your art like upgrading an instrument or replacing worn out visual art equipment. Sometimes proposals are to attend a workshop that is important for your artistic growth then create a new body of work as a result of that learning. Some grants are to allow artists to create a new body of work, then promote and showcase the result.
What is hard to get funded? It is difficult to receive funding for items that are part of daily life like computers, printers, cameras, cell phones, etc. It is also difficult to receive funding to travel to destinations for art training that have the appearance of a vacation. It is difficult to receive funds to start a new arts medium since your current work sample is important to the application process and must show work within the medium you are applying.
Can I pay myself while I work on my project? Yes, the McKnight Foundation, encourages established artists to be able to use grant funds to pay themselves to work on the project. If awarded a grant however careful tracking needs to occur on the form provided. If awarded all receipts for expenses need to accompany the final report or full or partial funding will be returned including the completed time tracking form.
Support for our Individual Artist Grants comes from the McKnight Foundation. The McKnight Foundation in Minneapolis awards the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council $70,000 annually to provide grants and services to artists. If you have questions about qualifying for this grant, call 218-745-8666 or email director@NWArtsCouncil.org.
Quick Tips for Individuals
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council has several grant categories for adult artists in our region.
Who is an artist? When we say artist we mean musicians, actors, dancers, writers, painters, photographers, and the list goes on and on. Although it does not include everything. We use the National Endowment for the Arts guidelines in determining what constitutes arts.
Do I have to live in the NWMAC service region? You absolutely must reside in our service region in northwestern Minnesota. In the case of college students, your school or your home mailing address must be in our region. Our region covers the Minnesota counties of Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau.
All application forms and guidelines are available by emailing director@NWArtsCouncil.org and on our current grants page. Read the descriptions below to see which category may work best.
McKnight/NWMAC Individual Artist Grants for Projects
Who is eligible? Project grants are awarded to individuals. To be eligible you must be out of high school and at least 18 years of age. 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 artist. Grants are awarded annually with $1,500 going to four individuals and $5,000 going to four individuals. Support for our Fellowship program comes from The McKnight Foundation. The deadline this year for $5,000 level applicants and for $1,500 level applicants is November 15.
McKnight/NWMAC Quick Turn Around Grants for Adult Artists
This grant has a primary purpose of helping artists secure a small amount of funds to attend a training or to purchase some equipment (that is used over and over again) that has proven essential to their professional advancement. We understand that opportunities come up quickly and this grant should help artists get quick access to funds.
Grants are for up to $500. They are awarded on a first come, first served quarterly basis.
We also provide leadership training experiences in our region for interested individuals. Sign up for our e-newsletter for updates and opportunties for fun training and networking with other artists!
Arts Legacy Grants
Some projects for individuals work well as Arts Legacy Grants these include projects that have a very strong community focus. Examples include cooperative groups of artists that have retail location or an artist focusing on offering workshops to community members. Arts Legacy Grants have deadlines throughout the year almost monthly and can be for up to $10,000 with a 25% cash match.
What about students?
Due to low numbers of applications, we no longer offer our student training grants. However, if a group of students are attending a camp in Minnesota, the Arts Council is open to requests to give funds to the camp to offer scholarships to the youth in our area. Please send a letter to the Arts Council for them to consider a scholarship location.
For more information, contact director@NWArtsCouncil.org
Quick Tips for Organizations
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council has several grant categories for organizations and cities in our region. Our main focus is on funding non-profit arts organizations. We do receive applications from cities, counties, and other social non-profits in our region in both our Arts Project regular and our Arts Legacy regular categories. Our region covers the Minnesota counties of Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau. If your organization or city is within one of these counties then you can apply! All application forms are on-line in our grants management system. Guidelines are available by emailing director@NWArtsCouncil.org and on our Grant Forms Quick List page. Read the descriptions below to see which category may work best for your project or organization.
Arts Legacy Grants: regular
Arts organizations should apply in our main Arts Legacy Grant category if they are requesting between $3,000 and $10,000 in grant funds. This category is best suited for a series of projects and equipment expenditures that that arts organizations will need to make. Grants are for up to $10,000 with a minimum 10% cash match. We encourage one larger grant rather than several small grants for arts organizations. Main deadlines are July 31, October 31, and February 28; then on-going 1st of the month deadlines as funds remain.
This is also the main category to fund public art projects within communities such as murals and sculpture. There are many ideas for public art. We have worked with Forecast Public Art to develop a toolkit related to conducting a public art project in your community.
Examples related to public art projects that we have funded are on-line.
Arts Project Grants: regular
This is the category for arts projects that would benefit from $500 – $3,000 in grant funds. Some examples are a specific theatrical play or the sponsorship of a few folk artists to entertain at your festival. Main deadlines are July 31, October 31, and February 28.
Arts Legacy Grants: General Operating
Arts organizations can apply for general operating grants. The application form is within the Arts Legacy Grant form. See the form for specifics about amounts awarded. Talk to the Arts Council Director (218-745-8886) about timeline for applying.
The Login button is in the upper right corner of our website to register and start an application or Preview the application form.
If you still can’t determine which program is the right fit email director@NWArtsCouncil.org for more help.
If you have decided which program is right for you go back to the Grants page for links to the applications.
Quick Tips for School Districts and Schools
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council has several grant categories for school districts and private schools in our region. Our region covers the Minnesota counties of Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau. If your school is within one of these counties then you can apply!
All application forms and guidelines are available in our grants portal. Click Login in the upper right corner of our website or request a pdf copy by emailing director@nwartscouncil.org. Read the descriptions below to see which category may work best.
Arts Legacy Grants: School Artist Residency
Starting in 2010, this special program for school districts has been available. School districts may apply for one residencies in their schools on a first come, first served basis. Music, dance, theater and writing residencies are funded at $2,600. Visual and photography residencies are funded at $2,600 + $400 extra for supplies. Artists come to the school for one week exposure to a core group of students. It is highly recommended that schools work with artists who are on the juried roster by COMPAS or trained in our Teaching Artist Roster Program (TARP) Residency program. See our TARP roster list. Visit the COMPAS website here to find more Teaching Artists. Deadline is on-going as funds remain.
Arts Legacy Grants: Regular
School Districts and schools can apply in our main Arts Legacy Grant category. Schools have applied for a series of artist residencies in their school or a summer youth camp that features a group of residency artists. Grants can be for up to $10,000 with a 10% cash match (25% match if you have sponsored the artist or group within the last three years). Main deadlines are July 31, October 31, and February 28; then on-going 1st of the month deadlines as funds remain.
Arts Project Grants: Arts Equipment for Schools
The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council offers schools the opportunity to apply for arts equipment grants. Grants are up to $3,000 with a 25% cash match. School districts have purchased light equipment, microphones, musical instruments, kilns, and display racks. October 31 deadline.
Remember …
February 28 each year is our Art Exhibit entry deadline for high school visual artists. Cash prizes!
Teachers can apply as individuals for grants to further their artistic training and development. See our current grants page on our website for details.