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• Grants Awarded: $14,864 to local schools & artist
• Recap: SMAC Annual Celebration
• Give to the Max Day 2024
• In the SMAC Gallery
• Upcoming SMAC Workshops & SMAC Grant Videos
• & More!
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Pictured: Kerkhoven Arts Council's summer youth musical, The Lion King, which they received a SMAC Art Project grant for in 2024. | |
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SMAC Awards $14,864 to local schools & artist
The SMAC board voted on October 22 to award $10,864 in grant funds to three schools and $4,000 to one artist
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The following schools were awarded SMAC Arts in the Schools grants. These grants provide public schools with up to $4,000 for projects such as artist residencies, arts field trips, juried student art exhibits, etc.
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Dawson-Boyd Schools were awarded $3,864 for folk musician Ross Sutter to spend one week at Stevens Elementary School in Dawson in the spring of 2025 to teach fourth grade students to build and play a one-string dulcimer.
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Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU)'s music department in Marshall has been awarded $4,000 for a March 2025 Kate Skinner (vocals & piano) residency with the SMSU Jazz Ensemble, including two performances. It also includes clinics with the bands at Luverne High School and Lakeview High School.
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Willmar Senior High School was awarded $3,000 for a jazz festival for junior and senior high jazz ensembles in Southwest Minnesota in March 2025. Members of the Jason Minke jazz combo will serve as the professional artists/clinicians and give a concert for all students and directors at the end of the festival.
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The following artist was awarded a SMAC Artist Equity grant. These grants provide up to $4,000 to aid Black, Indigenous, and other artists of color with projects that will advance their skills and artistic career.
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Shyanna Johnson of Redwood Falls has been awarded $4,000 for materials and time to create traditional beaded jewelry (one of Shyanna's work samples pictured left).
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Thanks for supporting the Art & Artists of SW MN by attending SMAC's Annual Celebration for 2024! | |
Other tour sites included art activities at the Artmobile (pictured above) and various artists featured at the Nobles County Art Center (artwork from Kelly Henkels and Dawn Bishop pictured below). | |
The celebration started with Hispanic food tastings and the unveiling of the two commissioned larger-than-life-sized catrina figures by artist Gustavo Boada, followed by "Skeletons in the Closet: A Day of the Dead Story" by Little Coyote Puppet Theatre. | |
Artists Gustavo & Julie Boada lead a puppet making workshop in the afternoon as well (pictured below). | |
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The evening wrapped up with lovely music from the band La Banda Bandante, performances from the Worthington Azteca Dancers, and the announcement of the "Sprit of the Region" raffle basket winners. To learn more about all the festivities of the day, visit: swmnarts.org/annualceleb
Check our social media on Facebook & Instagram; we'll share more pictures soon!!
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Thank you for supporting rural art!
We'll see you again next year highlighting another one of our counties! | | |
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The giving can already begin November 1st!
Join SMAC in fundraising and giving to the non-profits and schools that mean so much to us on Give to the Max Day this year:
Thursday, November 21st!
With your support, we can provide more arts opportunities and grants for students, artists and organizations bringing us the arts in rural SW MN.
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What IS Give to the Max Day? It is a Minnesota-based initiative started by GiveMN in 2009 to help raise money for participating nonprofit organizations and schools. GiveMN adds incentives starting on November 1st, and especially on Give to the Max Day itself (Thursday, November 21), for giving to your favorite MN causes. Each time a gift is made during Give to the Max, it is eligible to help organizations win part of the $100,000+ Prize Pool. In fact, there are nearly 150 chances to win during Give to the Max Day and Early Giving, beginning November 1. The Bush Foundation is sponsoring the prize pool again in 2024. Learn more about the prize incentives, such as Golden Tickets and Power Hours! | |
In the Gallery: Ferman Woodbury | |
Please help SMAC welcome our next gallery exhibit featuring the art photography of Ferman Woodberry (Jackson). This exhibit will be in the SMAC Gallery in downtown Marshall at 509 West Main Street from November 7 - December 20, 2024. Woodberry received an Artist Equity grant in 2023 to take advanced photography classes and purchase equipment that would take his photography to a new level. | |
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Events
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In-Person Artist Reception: Thursday, November 7th from 5-7 pm at the SMAC Gallery in downtown Marshall
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Virtual Artist Talk & Gallery Tour: Thursday, December 12th at 5:30 pm Zoom Link, ID: 860 6160 8673 PC: 836829
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Please let us know of any accommodations needed for you to enjoy any of our events, virtual or in-person: info@swmnarts.org. Visit SMAC's Access Page for more information and resources. | |
These activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
Funding provided by the McKnight Foundation. Minnesota thrives when its artists thrive. The McKnight Foundation supports working artists to create and contribute to vibrant communities.
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Upcoming Virtual Grant Workshops
**Workshops are free, but registration is required**
Grant Goals & Evaluation (Register here)
Monday November 4, 7-8 pm
Organizations and individuals will learn how to create goals for their grant projects and how to plan for measuring impact.
Q&A Sessions
Join us for an overview of SMAC grant opportunities for Fiscal Year 2025 (July 2024 – June 2025), with time to ask questions about any of the grants or your specific projects. This year we’ll have grant program videos available instead of interactive workshops for each grant, so these Q&A sessions are your opportunity to get your questions answered. Register for the session(s) you prefer by clicking on the linked dates:
**Workshops are free, but registration is required**
| Upcoming In-Person Grant Workshop: Walnut Grove | |
Q&A Session: November 12 2024, Walnut Grove, 6-7 pm (Register here)
Join us for an overview of SMAC grant opportunities for Fiscal Year 2025 (July 2024 – June 2025), with time to ask questions about any of the grants or your specific projects. This year we’ll have grant program videos available instead of interactive workshops for each grant, so these Q&A sessions are your opportunity to get your questions answered.
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This year we have grant program videos available for each grant program instead of interactive workshops for each grant. Learn about the guidelines, application questions, online grant system, and granting process for each of our grant programs for fiscal year 2025 (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025). All videos include an introduction, overview of SW MN Arts Council, grant guidelines, website resources, grant system and application questions, and the grant process.
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1st of the Month August 2024 through May 2025 or until funds are expended: | |
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Options for Grant Assistance:
Visit SMAC's Workshop & Assistance page
SW MN Arts Council grants administrator Caroline Koska (pictured left) is available to meet with you by phone, web conference, or in person to answer your questions on grant eligibility and using the application system or to review a draft of your application. Schedule a time with Caroline Koska.
Every month we hold "Open Office Hours" for grant support on the second Tuesday of the month. The office hours are from 10 am to 2 pm and the next one will be Tuesday, November 12th. You can use this time with SW MN Arts Council staff to talk through project ideas or get help with finding the right grant program, filling out your application, preparing work samples or budgets, or completing your final report.
You can also call 800-622-5284 or email us info@swmnarts.org with your questions. Please let us know of any accommodations needed for you to attend any of our events, virtual or in-person. View SMAC's Access page for more information.
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Getting tactile signage is a fairly simple accessibility action you can do for your space! There are many companies out there that can make general and custom tactile signs. SMAC went with a Minnesota company who was easy to work with called justbraillesigns.com. When hanging the tactile signs, there a few easy rules to follow: Tactile characters on signs shall be located 48 inches minimum above the floor or ground surface, measured from the baseline of the lowest tactile character and 60 inches maximum above the floor or ground surface, measured from the baseline of the highest tactile character. Where a tactile sign is provided at a door, the sign shall be located alongside the door at the latch side. To learn more, visit Braille Sign Information & Resources | |
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Will you join us as a voice from your county or sovereign nation?
SMAC is seeking community members from two counties and two sovereign nations to serve on our board of directors: Big Stone, Yellow Medicine, Upper Sioux and Lower Sioux
Do you live or work in one of these communities? Do you want to volunteer in a meaningful way? Are you interested in helping your community? Are you passionate about arts awareness & funding and where & how those funds are distributed?
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The SMAC Board of Directors continually seeks artists, arts administrators, arts teachers, arts volunteers, and arts appreciators to serve on its board and to keep all 20 board positions filled. SMAC encourages and seeks a diverse mix of individuals from across our Southwest Minnesota region, from all communities – including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and People of Color), people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals – and representing all artistic disciplines - to be present on our board. Board members share their knowledge and expertise in the arts and/or nonprofit management and their ability to grant funds equitably and fairly.
SMAC's Board of Directors currently has four vacant board seats. We are seeking a community member from each of the counties and sovereign nations listed above to serve.
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The Board meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday evening at the SMAC office in Marshall or on Zoom to set policies, make final decisions on grant awards with input from grant review panels, share ideas and information from their representative communities, and to design programs that enable SMAC to best serve our communities.
Other opportunities include serving on several grant panels a year to evaluate applications, attending a yearly board retreat in January, learning opportunities and trainings on Access, Equity, Inclusion & Diversity and more!
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Would you like to help SMAC review and score grant applications?
The SMAC Board of Directors continually seeks panels of artists, arts administrators, arts volunteers, and arts appreciators representing multiple artistic disciplines from throughout the SMAC geographic region and from all our communities including BIPOC, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals. Being a grant panelist is a positive way to strengthen your grantwriting skills by understanding the process as a whole. It's also a great way to learn and support what exciting projects are happening in rural SW MN!
Panelists are compensated $75 for a panel. More details on being a SMAC panelist
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For more opportunities and resources be sure to check out our latest news posts on SMAC's website.
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Looking for arts events to attend? Check out our regional arts calendar!
We are continuing to post both in-person and virtual arts events in our region on our website calendar. If you have events to let us know about, please email the details to info@swmnarts.org! Remember, these don't have to be SMAC grant funded events, just arts events in our 18-county region!
Have something that's not an event, but an arts opportunity, like a RFP or call for local artists? We'll add it to our opportunities posts! Send us those, too!
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Lets work together to create a robust arts calendar for our region!! | | |
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Memberships
From September 27 to October 28, 2024
Contributors: Minnesota Pottery Festival, Hutchinson • Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra, Willmar • John Kellen, Willmar •
Supporters: Mary Meneely, Arco • Madison Art Gallery, Madison • Milan Village Arts School, Milan • Agnes Alsgaard Lien, Rushmore • Worthington Public Arts Commission, Worthington • Beth Habicht, Worthington •
Sustainers: Diane Ladner, Granite Falls • Pipestone Performing Arts Center, Pipestone • Margaret Erickson, Worthington • Brett Lehman, Worthington •
| SMAC Members will get an "I Love Rural Arts" Sticker! (pictured left) | |
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Would you like to become a contributing member of SMAC or make a donation?
You can help by contributing online or by mail, for more information, visit Become a SMAC member!
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THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS! | |
2024 SW MN Arts Council BOARD OF DIRECTORS | |
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Big Stone - OPEN
Jackson - Eunice Woodberry
Lincoln - Mark Wilmes
Meeker - Darlene Kotelnicki
Pipestone - Erica Volkir
Rock - Shawn Kinsinger
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Chippewa - M E (Maggie) Fuller
Kandiyohi - Ana Serrano
Lower Sioux/Cansa'yapi - OPEN
Lyon - Dr. Erin Kline
Murray - Tiffany Holmes
Redwood - Su Kyung Lee
Swift - Jessica Mata
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Cottonwood - Anna Johannsen
Lac qui Parle - Kristine Shelstad
McLeod - Lisa Hill
Nobles - Cheryl Avenel-Navara
Renville - Pending
Upper Sioux/Pezihutazizi - OPEN
Yellow Medicine - OPEN
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Executive Director - Nicole DeBoer
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Grants & Financial Administrator - Caroline Koska
Accessibility & Marketing Coordinator - Krystl Louwagie
Communications Assistant: Jessica Stölen
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The Southwest Minnesota Arts Council (SMAC) is a non-profit organization committed to promoting and encouraging the development of the arts in the eighteen counties and two sovereign nations of southwestern Minnesota by serving as a source of funds and technical services which enable local organizations, educational institutions, and individuals to sponsor and/or create and promote the arts in their communities.
SMAC receives funding from individuals, businesses, organizations, schools, cities, counties, private foundations including the McKnight Foundation, an allocation from the State of Minnesota, and a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, made possible by the voters of Minnesota.
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