Essential Arts Alert

Arts Advocacy Week 2022 (March 14-18th)

JOIN YOUR FELLOW ARTS ADVOCATES FROM ACROSS MINNESOTA TO CREATE ACTION FOR THE ARTS

In addition to protecting Minnesota's Legacy Amendment and state grant funds, this year they are supporting passage of a bill that would grant $100 million to arts and cultural groups who were deeply hurt by the pandemic. We want you to be the first to know that this year they need all your help! Mark your calendar for March 14-18, 2022. The kickoff rally will be March 14 at 8:30 am! ALL PROGRAMS AND MEETINGS WILL BE VIRTUAL. Pre-Register to receive links and attend those meetings.

Click here to attend Arts Advocacy Week and help protect the arts funding you love.

WHAT ART GRANTS ARE OPEN NOW?!

The East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC) is currently accepting applications for the March 1st and April 1st deadlines. Funding is available to artists, k-12 students, and eligible organizations located in Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine Counties in Minnesota (Region 7E).

Available grants include:

Essential Artist Award due March 1st: this $8,000 Essential Artist Award program is designed to recognize, reward, and encourage outstanding professional artists. The Council will fund artists at various stages in their professional careers. The Essential Artist Award will allow artists to set aside time to work, purchase supplies and materials, undertake advanced study (not related to a degree) or to pursue other artistic career goals.

K-12 Student Art Scholarship due March 1st: this $500 arts scholarship funding is for special arts learning projects or programs for kids. The program provides at least one student award annually, based upon a competitive review of submitted applications. Applications must be for a specific art project that will advance the skills of the student in their art form. The Arts Council is interested in funding projects such as training with a mentor or summer art programs such as music or visual art camps. All young artists in kindergarten through 12th grade who strive to improve their artistic abilities can apply with their parent's help.

Essential Support Grant due March 1st: This program provides general operating support to arts organizations that produce, present, or exhibit works of art; to organizations that provide a broad range of services to artists; and to community arts groups that make arts learning available to regional individuals of all ages and abilities. The Essential Support grant program offers $3,000 to $5,000 of funding to qualified organizations to maintain their ongoing organizational operating needs. This program recognizes that organizations with an established record of programmatic service and administrative stability should have access to funds to support their organizational goals and objectives, and to maintain their ongoing programs, services, and facilities without any emphasis on new initiatives or programs as justification for funding.

Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund Grant for Artists due April 1st: up to $1,000 grants available for arts projects by individuals residing in Region 7E. This category provides support to individuals for a wide variety of arts projects involving the creation, sponsorship, performance, and/or exhibition of art. Arts producing activities and an arts activity which is open to the public should result from the project. 

Mid-Career Artist Grant for Artists due April 1st: up to $2,500 for a specific art project designed to: enhance artistic skills, artwork, experimentation, collaboration, or an art business career. Applications are encouraged from artists in all disciplines. What is a Mid-Career Artist? Mid-career artists are recognized by their peers and arts professionals, have produced an independent body of work and have a record of commissions, projects, or exhibitions.

Art in Our Schools Grant for schools due April 1st: up to $3,000 to supplement an existing school arts curriculum with such programs as artistic residencies, arts related field trips, or special arts events or projects. No match is required. Grants can be used to support all K- 12 students and/or student groups such as drama club, band or choir, visual art classes, community education, entire grades, or gifted and talented students.

Small/Arts Project Grant for organizations or government entities due April 1st: $500 to $5,000 grants available for local or regional arts projects sponsored or organized by groups, organizations, nonprofits, and units of government. This category provides support to organizations for a wide variety of arts projects involving the creation, sponsorship, publication, performance, and/or exhibition of art. Arts producing activities or services for artists or arts organizations should result from the project. 

Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund Grant for organizations or government entities due April 1st: $5,000 to $15,000 grants available for arts projects sponsored by groups, organizations, nonprofits, and units of government located within the Region 7E service area. This category provides support to organizations for a wide variety of larger arts projects involving the creation, sponsorship, publication, performance, and/or exhibition of art. Arts producing activities or services for artists or arts organizations should result from the project.

WHAT ELSE DO I NEED TO KNOW?!

Grant Info Sessions: ECRAC is hosting online grant information sessions via zoom for anyone interested in learning more about ECRAC and these grant programs. These sessions cover basic information about ECRAC grant programs, as well as recent changes to the grant application processes.

• Grant Information Sessions for Artists who want to learn about funding available for the upcoming grant deadlines will be online via Zoom on Tuesday, March 8, 2022 from 10 to 11 a.m.
• Grant Information Sessions for Organizations who want to learn about funding available for the upcoming grant deadlines will held on Wednesday, March 9, 2022 from 10 to 11 a.m.

For further details on eligibility and how to apply or to register for an info session, or if you have questions about which grant application is a good fit for your art project, please contact the Grant Program Officer at grantinfo@ecrac.org or call 320-591-7034.

For more than 40 years, the East Central Regional Arts Council has been funding the arts in region 7E. A visit to the website will provide a depth of information about the grant applications and guidelines for the grants listed above, past successful grant projects funded in region 7E, ECRAC art show information, local arts resources, a calendar of upcoming events, ECRAC’s permanent art collection and more. Even if you are not interested in applying for a grant with ECRAC a visit to their website is must for any art enthusiast.

These activities are funded in part by appropriations from the Minnesota State Legislature, with money from the State's general fund and its arts and cultural heritage fund. This fund was created by a vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008. These activities are also funded in part by The McKnight Foundation.