March 2 Deadlines for K-12 Students, Professional Artists, & Art Organizations

The East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC) is pleased to announce 3 funding opportunities! 

ECRAC has funding available for artists of all ages, and for non-profit arts organizations, with an application deadline of March 2, 2020. Applicants should be from Region 7E, the Minnesota Counties of Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine. 

Essential Artist Award Program

The ECRAC Essential Artist Award is designed to recognize, reward, and encourage outstanding professional artists. These Awards will allow artists to set aside time to work, purchase supplies and materials, undertake advanced artistic study with a mentor or to pursue other artistic career goals. Two $8,000 Essential Artist Awards are available. This is an individual artist grant program.

ECRAC K-12 Art Scholarship Program for Kids

Scholarship funding up to $500 is available for K-12 student's specific art or music learning projects, camp, or program. Recent awardees have had special:  dance instruction; music lessons; or individual visual art instruction. Ten K-12 Art Scholarships are available. This is an individual artist grant program.

ECRAC Essential Art Funds  

This program was formerly known as Operating Support. Arts organizations can apply for $3,000 - $5,000 in funding to be used between July 1, 2020 and June 30, 2021 for allowable expenses related to their artistic mission. Organizations must have been providing arts programming for two years and have had their 501c3 determination for at least one year. There are eight Essential Art Grants available. Past grantees are: the Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community; the Old School Arts Center in Sandstone; Paradise Community Theatre in Mora; and the Pine Center for the Arts in Pine City. This is an art organization grant program.

These online application processes are now open! Information regarding the funding opportunities is at the ECRAC website: http://www.ecrac.org/grants, or at the ECRAC office located at 109 Weber Avenue South (in Tobies Mill), Hinckley, MN. 

Grant applicants requesting grant writing assistance, or more information regarding these programs can call 320-591-7034, or email us. We are happy to help out!

Oh, and if these grants aren't right for you, don't worry! There are more art grants for individuals and organizations that have an April 1st deadline. No joke! Go to http://www.ecrac.org/grants

These activities are made possible with funds provided by The McKnight Foundation and also by the voters of Minnesota thanks to legislative appropriations from the general fund and the arts and cultural heritage fund.