SMAC Arts Needs Assessment 2026

We want to hear from YOU!

SW MN Arts Council is hoping to receive input from individuals, organizations, and communities in the SW Minnesota region, whether you have been participating in SMAC programs over the years or you are just hearing about us now.

Please spend a few minutes evaluating your needs & challenges as well as our grant programs and services, and telling us about yourself and/or your organization. Let us know how we’re doing and what else we can do to help with your arts needs and the needs of your community. Your answers are anonymous.

You will have the option to be entered in a drawing for a $50 gift card!

If you would prefer to fill out a physical copy of the survey, you can pick one up from the SMAC office at 509 West Main Street in Marshall during our normal business hours or request that we mail you a copy. Contact us to request or with any questions.

Surveys must be completed by Tuesday, November 30, 2026. SMAC will draw for the gift cards on December 1st.

Please pass this survey on to other individuals and groups in your community. Everyone’s feedback is vital in helping us better serve your arts needs.

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

For more opportunities and resources be sure to check out our latest news posts on SMAC's website

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!

SW MN Arts Council BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Big Stone -Dan Wilson

Cansa'yapi/Lower Sioux - OPEN

Chippewa - Georgette Jones

Cottonwood - Michelle Hooker

Jackson - Eunice Woodberry

Kandiyohi - OPEN

Lac qui Parle - Kristine Shelstad

Lincoln - Mark Wilmes

Lyon - Dr. Tetta Askeland

McLeod -Lisa Hill

Meeker - OPEN

Murray - Tiffany Holmes

Nobles - OPEN

Pezihutazizi/Upper Sioux - OPEN

Pipestone -Mark Thode

Redwood - Charlene Graff

Renville - Joseph Evans

Rock - Cody Henrichs

Swift - Cindy Hendrickx

Yellow Medicine - Tim Pehrson

SW MN Arts Council

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.