Anna Pollock is the Executive Director of the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council and the current Forum of Regional Arts Councils board chair.  She spoke about the regional arts councils, the Legacy Amendment, other funding sources, and the impact of the Emergency Relief Funds on her region (we are trying to promote this program ourselves now with $500 grants).

NWMAC's Emergency Relief Fund. The Emergency Relief Fund (ERF) provides short-term relief to individual artists facing housing, healthcare, income, transportation, legal, or property loss emergencies that impact their wellbeing or ability to work. This program offers one-time awards of $500. In general, payments for emergency assistance are considered gifts and are not taxable income. Individuals must be currently active in a creative practice and live in Region 1: (Minnesota counties of Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, or Roseau). The Artists Emergency Relief Fund Network is stewarded by Springboard for the Arts and supported by F. R. Bigelow Foundation, Jerome Foundation, McKnight Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.
The application process opened May 1, 2026. Application deadlines are June 15, August 15, October 15, and December 1 as funds allow. Read more and download the application here at our website.