Essential Arts Newsletter

Arts funding available for Youth, Professional Artists, and Arts Organizations

The East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC) is accepting applications for the March 1st grant deadline. Funding is available to artists, k-12 students, and eligible arts organizations located in Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine Counties. Available grants include:

K-12 Student Art Scholarship: this up to $600 ($599) arts scholarship funding is for special arts learning projects or programs for youth. 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.

Essential Artist Award: this $9,000 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.

Essentials Support Grant: This program provides general operating support to high quality, established 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 $10,000 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. NEW! This year up to half of the organization's grant request can be used for staffing expenses.

In addition to the above grants the April 1st grant deadline will be here soon. Applications will be open mid-February for the April 1st deadline. These grants for artists include Resiliency Grant – up to $600; Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund Grant – up to $2,000; and the Mid-Career Artist Grant – up to $3,600. Grants for organizations include Resiliency Grants - up to $600; Art in Our Schools Grant – up to $5,000; Small/Arts Project Grant - $500 to $5,000; and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund Grant - $5,000 to $20,000. Or, if you don't want to wait until April, all of these grants are open to applications now, due Monday, February 3rd at 11:59 pm.

ECRAC hosts online zoom and in person grant information sessions 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. Check out the ECRAC Events Calendar for dates and times for these grant information sessions and to register. https://www.ecrac.org/art-community/events-calendar

For more information, please contact Katina Eklund, Grant Program Officer, East Central Regional Arts Council, at grantinfo@ecrac.org or by calling 320-336-0200.

For further details on eligibility and how to apply, please check out the ECRAC website at ecrac.org. If you have questions about which grant application is a good fit for your art project please don’t hesitate to reach out.

Interested in being part of the ECRAC decision making & art show processes?

The East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC) is currently welcoming new and former Board Members and Grant Review Panelists to join the team! Applicants residing in the Minnesota counties of Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs and Pine, (known as region 7E) are encouraged to apply. As you probably know, ECRAC provides arts funding to artists, culture bearers, arts organizations, nonprofits, and local units of government, or organizations sponsoring art events, located in region 7E. We also sponsor at least 2 Art Shows annually including the renowned IMAGE Art Show. Please consider applying by May 15 to be considered at the June annual meeting. Thanks for your interest! Questions? Email Executive Director Mary Minnick-Daniels at director@ecrac.org or call 320-336-0200 x 2.

ECRAC Office and Gallery construction update

Please be advised that our building is currently under construction including a new roof and windows and access to our building is limited. These are needed updates, and we will keep you posted as we learn more about when this work will be completed. This will not affect the ECRAC grant deadlines. ECRAC staff is available during construction. You may contact them by emailing grantinfo@ecrac.org or director@ecrac.org. If you call, please leave a voicemail. Check the office hours calendar for updates on when the office and gallery space will be open.