Upcoming Arts Grant Application Deadlines

 November 1 Deadline for Arts Grants of up to $10,000.00! 

Arts Legacy Grants Up to $10,000

Arts Project Grants Up to $3,000 

November 15 Deadline for Individual Artist Grants of $1,500

The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council is pleased to announce that applications are open for Arts Legacy and Arts Project grants. Arts Legacy grants of up to $10,000 and Arts Project grants of up to $3,000 have a November 1 deadline. 

Applications funded by the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, through these important grant opportunities include festivals, community theatre projects, folk music entertainment, sponsorship of visual demonstrations, creative writing workshops and many other activities that improve the quality of life of people in our communities.

Grants are awarded to nonprofit arts organizations, communities, schools, and other nonprofit organizations. Applications are being accepted from our seven county Minnesota service area including Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake and Roseau counties.

The Arts Legacy Grants is a main category for funding artistic activity within the seven-county service region. Funding for the grants comes from the Minnesota State Legislature through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. These grants are a maximum of $10,000 with a required cash match. To apply, complete the Arts Legacy regular application.    

Schools in our seven-county region can apply for an Artist Residency grant of $2,600 plus an additional $400 if the residency needs supplies. This application is streamlined and easy to complete especially if you use an artist from our teaching artist roster online. Our roster is a great resource to view artists available to teach in our area. To apply, complete the Arts Legacy school residency application.  

Arts Project Grants are used primarily for small budget arts projects and the sponsorship of performances of touring companies and artists. These grants are a maximum of $3,000 with a required cash match. These grants have substantially less reporting requirements than Legacy grants.  

November 1 is also the yearly deadline for our Arts Project grant called Arts Equipment for Schools. This special grant allows schools to purchase artistic equipment for their art room, theater, band room, etc. Equipment that is used solely for the pursuit of arts like a kiln or theater lights, or a band instrument has a better chance of being funded. Grants of up to $3,000 are awarded with a 25% cash match requirement.

The grant application process is conveniently online and NWMAC's Executive Director Mara Hanel can help walk you through the process of using the grants portal. You can also request a paper application or come, with an appointment, to our office in Warren, MN to fill out the paperwork at our grant writing station. Contact her at 218-745-8886 or director@nwartscouncil.org to learn more.  

Individual Artist Grants of $1,500 November 15 deadline 

Individual adult artists can apply by November 1 for $1,500. Performing artists, visual artists, media artists, and creative writing artists are all welcome to apply.

You absolutely must reside in our service region -- Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, Roseau counties in northwestern Minnesota (for one year prior) and remain living in our region during the entire grant year (2022).

Also available on a first come-first served basis are Quick Turn Around Grants for $500. These grants can be used for artistic training, arts marketing, and equipment purchases related to creating a body of artistic work, as well as recent loss of income from canceled gigs, due to the pandemic. Use the Quick Turn Around application in the Individual Artist grants. Who is eligible? Performing artists, writers, media artists, fine craft artists, and visual artists can apply if they are a permanent resident of our seven-county service area of Northwest Minnesota.