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June 2019

SMAC logo. Two curved blades of grass to the left with three blue dots above them. The words "Southwest Minnesota" are written in black, "Arts" is written in blue and is bigger than the other words and all capital letters, "Council" is in black under.
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Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Seeks Board Representatives for Lincoln County & Meeker County

by SMAC
written by SMAC
Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Seeks Board Representatives for Lincoln County & Meeker County
SMAC seeks a representative for Meeker County and Lincoln County to serve on it’s Board of Directors. The Board meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday evening at the SMAC office in Marshall to set policies, make final decisions on grant awards with input from grant review panels, share ideas and information from their representative counties, and to design programs that enable SMAC to best serve our communities. To learn more and to fill out an application, go to www.swmnarts.org/about/become-a-board-member/
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SMAC logo. Two curved blades of grass to the left with three blue dots above them. The words "Southwest Minnesota" are written in black, "Arts" is written in blue and is bigger than the other words and all capital letters, "Council" is in black under.
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Southwest Minnesota Arts Council seeks panelists to review grants 2019-2020

by SMAC
written by SMAC
Southwest Minnesota Arts Council seeks panelists to review grants 2019-2020
For grant programs in fiscal year 2020 (July 2019 – June 2020), the SMAC Board of Directors seeks panels of artists, arts administrators, arts volunteers, and arts appreciators representing multiple artistic disciplines from throughout the SMAC geographic region.
You may apply to serve on one or more of the following panels:
Grant review panel dates for 2019-2020
Round I: August 17, 2019
Round II: January 4, 2020
Round III: April 18, 2020
Round I: October 12, 2019
Round II: March 7, 2020
November 9, 2019
Arts in the Schools Round I: October 2, 2019
Arts in the Schools Round II: February 15, 2020
Art Study Opportunity for Youth: April 21 (Tuesday Evening)
Round I: September 7, 2019
Round II: February 1, 2020
Round I: September 7, 2019
Round II: February 1, 2020
TO APPLY:
  1. Please read the Grant Panel Responsibilities.
  2. Read and sign our Conflict of Interest policy.
  3. Download, print, or fill out a copy of the Grant Review Panelist Application (pdf) or word document (you can also fill out an online form here).
  4. Email your completed application, resume, and signed Conflict of Interest document to info@swmnarts.org or use the submit button below, or mail to SW MN Arts Council, PO Box 55, Marshall, MN 56258.
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Accessibility in the Arts Workshops Available Across the State

by SMAC
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Accessibility in the Arts Workshops Available Across the State

VSA Minnesota, the statewide organization whose mission is to create a community where people with disabilities can learn through, participate in and access the arts will be closing its doors at the end of September.  This will mean that the “one-stop shop for arts access” for which the organization has been known will no longer be around.  Therefore, over the next nine weeks, Craig Dunn, the Execuitve Director of VSA, will be in five communities to do a final “brain download” of arts access and disability awareness information as a service to the state arts community.  He will be in the following five locations from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. on the following dates:

Wednesday, July 17
Gremlin Theatre, Annex Building, Vandalia Crossing, 550 Vandalia Street, St. Paul  55114

Tuesday, July 30
St. Cloud Central Library, Bremer Community Room 104, 1300 W St Germain Street, St. Cloud 56301

Wednesday, July 31
Rochester Civic Music, Rochester Government Center, Conf. Rm. 104, 201 4th Street SE,  Rochester  55904-3778

Tuesday, August 13
Historic Holmes Theatre, 806 Summit Avenue, Detroit Lakes  56501

Tuesday, August 20
Reif Arts Center, 720 NW Conifer Drive, Grand Rapids  55744

The workshops will be designed to share accessibility and disability information that has been collected, compiled and developed by VSA Minnesota staff over the past 33 years and to answer questions about audience accommodations, disability etiquette and emerging trends in the field of arts access.  Electronic resource lists, internet links and suggestions of people to contact will be made available to all attendees at the three-hour gatherings.  They will also provide light refreshments at each location.

The target audience is arts administrators, board members and any others interested in access to the arts for people with disabilities.  There is no charge to attend but, so that they know how many might attend and so that they can meet the various communication needs of participants, they will ask that people provide them with the responses to the following three questions:

  1. What is your name & what organization(s) do you work/volunteer with?
  2. Which workshop will you be attending (St. Paul, St. Cloud, Rochester, Detroit Lakes, Grand Rapids)?
  3. Does your participation require an ASL interpreter, a deaf/blind interpreter, or Real-time captioning (CART)?

These workshops are supported by a services grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board to assist them in transferring their organizational knowledge to the Minnesota arts community.

Should you have any questions about these presentations, email or call Craig Dunn at the numbers below.

Craig J. Dunn
Executive Director
VSA Minnesota
528 Hennepin Av  Suite 305
Minneapolis, MN   55403
612-332-3888
www.vsamn.org

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Webinar Opportunity: Creating a State Data Culture to Inform Investments in Arts Education

by SMAC
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Creating a State Data Culture to Inform Investments in Arts Education

This webinar is brought to you by the National Endowment for the Arts and Education Commission of the States, in association with Grantmakers for Education and Grantmakers in the Arts.

Tuesday, June 25, 2019 | 2:00pm EDT / 11:00am PDT

  • Ayanna N. Hudson, director, Arts Education for the National Endowment for the Arts
  • Claus von Zastrow, Ph.D., principal, Education Commission of the States

Register Now!

Join a webinar to examine a collaboration between the National Endowment for the Arts and Education Commission of the States to build states’ capacity to report on the arts education data they collect. The webinar will focus on the current climate for such work in states, strategies and tools for supporting state-level data efforts, and the value of incorporating arts education data into broader efforts to promote a culture of information in states.

Hear from Ayanna Hudson, director of Arts Education at National Endowment for the Arts, and Claus von Zastrow, principal of Education Commission of the States, on June 25 as they discuss how this work complements and reinforces ongoing efforts to track arts education data at the state level.

Ayanna N. Hudson is the director of Arts Education for the National Endowment for the Arts where she presides over the grant portfolio devoted to arts education, works with national service organizations on policy initiatives, and serves as the spokesperson for arts education at the federal level. Director of arts education with the Los Angeles County Arts Commission for more than ten years, Hudson developed and led the implementation of the Arts for All collaborative, ensuring equitable access to arts education for 1.6 million students in the county’s 81 school districts, the largest educational system in the country. Arts for All was cited in 2008 by the RAND Corporation’s study, Revitalizing Arts Education through Community-wide Coordination, and received the Arts Education Award from the national service organization Americans for the Arts. Hudson is a sought-after expert in arts education having testified before the U.S. House of Representative’s Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee and the Aspen Institute’s Blue Ribbon Committee on the impact of No Child Left Behind. She has a BA in psychology from Spelman College and a specialized master’s degree in education in risk and prevention from Harvard University.
 

 

 

At Education Commission of the States, Claus von Zastrow oversees efforts on a range of initiatives including improving state education data and strengthening STEM education. He has held leadership positions in education policy and research for more than 17 years and has spent much of that time helping diverse stakeholders find consensus on important education issues. His reports and analysis have been cited by dozens of media outlets, including The Washington Post, The New York Times, PBS NewsHour, Politico, USA Today, and US News & World Report. Von Zastrow is dedicated to ensuring that state leaders have the information and guidance they need to make the best possible decisions affecting young people.
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MN State Arts Board Arts Education Support Webinar

by SMAC
written by SMAC

Community Arts Education Support Webinar     

The Minnesota State Arts Board is offering a free one-hour Webinar to help applicants prepare to apply for the FY 2020 Community Arts Education Support grant program. This session will be particularly helpful for first-time applicants.

Program officer Richard Hitchler will walk through the program overview and instructions, and provide background information about what the review panel looks for in an application. At the end of the session, there will be an opportunity to submit questions online.

The session is offered as a conference call with an option to view a PowerPoint presentation online. The presenter will be located in an office that cannot accommodate visitors, so please note that it isn’t possible to attend the session in person.

To make the session more useful, read the overview and application instructions in advance and print out a copy for your reference. This document can be found on the Community Arts Education Support program page.

Session date 
Thursday, June 27, 3:00 p.m.

If you are unable to attend, but would like to view the PowerPoint used in the Webinar, it will be posted on the Arts Board Web site following the session.

To register
The Webinar is free of charge, but advance registration is strongly encouraged. Register here.

To join the session

  • On the day of the session, you must listen to the audio portion by phone, with the option of viewing a PowerPoint presentation online.
  • The following browsers are recommended: Mozilla Firefox or Google Chrome.
  • The presentation starts promptly at 3:00 p.m. Please plan to join the session five minutes early.

Dial into the telephone portion to hear the audio.

  • Call the conference host at (800) 920-7487
  • Enter the conference code: 8443 522 #
  • When prompted, say your name

Log into the Web portion to view the PowerPoint presentation:
https://www.anywhereconference.com/

  • Select I’m a participant
  • Enter your name
  • Enter Web Login 415420830
  • Enter Participant PIN Code 8443522
  • Select Sign in

 

Minnesota State Arts Board: Ensuring all Minnesotans have the

opportunity to participate in the arts

 

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SMAC Adopts Equity Statement

by SMAC
written by SMAC
On behalf of the SW MN Arts Council (SMAC) board of directors and staff, we are pleased to share our recently adopted Equity Statement.
Through its grant programs & services, SMAC provides arts access for communities across our 18 county region. We are committed to a concentrated effort to have more diversity in both applicants and arts audiences, to practice inclusivity in our practices and to work towards building more equitable systems and processes.
SMAC’s board and staff have been working internally over the past two years to better understand our own biases, to look at our programs, practices and policies and to learn more about how we can improve our grant programs & services.
The (below) Equity Statement reflects the value that SMAC places on diversity, equity & inclusion. This statement will be available in the ABOUT US section of the SMAC website at www.swmnarts.org, as well as linked in the “Reaching the Underserved” section of each of our grant program applications.

SMAC Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Statement

FINAL – Approved 5-28-19
We believe that all people deserve art and culture in their lives – from a moment of personal inspiration, to a neighborhood musical gathering, to a glorious production that brings thousands to their feet, to the greatest of all: uniting people through creative expression.
Tackling the issues of equity and inclusion requires commitment, respect, patience, determination, and flexibility. SMAC understands that there is no one single way to achieve equitable results, however we are committed to a sustained effort in breaking down the barriers and building bridges across communities.
The Southwest Regional Arts Council acknowledges the Dakota Nation as the original people of the land in which we live and work.
SMAC recognizes we can build increased connectivity and economic strength through supporting cultural and artistic expression of all social identities including race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sexuality, religion, ability, socioeconomic background and the intersectionality of these identities.
SMAC acknowledges that systems currently in place have historically marginalized and underserved indigenous people of the Americas and communities of color. We are committed to closing access gaps in the arts with urgency and accountability.
As stewards of public funds, SMAC embraces the unique opportunity to ensure that all residents of our designated eighteen county region have access to quality arts experiences. SMAC is committed to engaging in the relationship building, self-reflection, community discourse, and hands-on work imperative to make our region a place where all artistic communities can thrive. Our willingness to engage in participatory processes requires trust to be built, and that visioning, ideas, and feedback will be incorporated and credited/attributed appropriately. SMAC will focus our resources to educate ourselves, modify our practices and shift our own organizational culture to challenge disparities as we move toward equitable arts communities. We embrace our responsibility to lead equity work in funding, while informing and learning from equity and inclusion in the artistic practices and programming of our constituents.
DEFINITIONS
Diversity. The presence of difference within a given setting which may include race, ethnicity, gender, age, religion, language, abilities/disabilities, sexual orientation, marital status, socioeconomic status, education, geographic region, national origin, and more.
Equity. Equity is the act of identifying and eliminating the barriers within the procedures, processes and distribution of resources by institutions or systems that have prevented the full participation of marginalized groups while guaranteeing the fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement for all people.
Inclusion. Inclusion is the act of creating environments in which any individual or group can feel welcomed, respected, supported, and valued. An inclusive climate embraces differences and offers respect in words and actions so that all people can fully participate in the organization’s opportunities.
Underserved / Underrepresented. Refers to a population of individuals who have historically been outside the purview of arts and humanities programs due to factors such as a high incidence of racial discrimination, income below the poverty line or to geographic isolation. Being underrepresented means to have insufficient or inadequate representation in decision-making or program support.

SMAC EQUITY TASKFORCE

*New Opportunity*

Do you represent an underserved community? Would you like to build relationships and increase arts access in an underserved community?
First, maybe it’s best to define what “underserved” or “underrepresented” means:
Underserved refers to a population of individuals who have historically been outside the purview of arts and humanities programs due to factors such as a high incidence of racial discrimination, income below the poverty line or to geographic isolation. Being underrepresented means to have insufficient or inadequate representation in decision-making or program support.
SMAC recognizes we can build increased connectivity and economic strength through supporting cultural and artistic expression of all social identities including race, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sexuality, religion, ability, socioeconomic background and the intersectionality of these identities.
We are starting an EQUITY TASKFORCE to work with our board and staff members on bridging the gaps and improving our systems and processes. We are searching for six individuals to fill paid positions that will meet 4 times over the course of a year starting in August 2019. We are seeking arts-leaders and/or culture-bearers from underserved communities in our 18 county region as defined above.
If interested, please contact SMAC Director Nicole DeBoer at nicole@swmnarts.org or 800-622-5284.
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 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.
Thank you for supporting the arts in the southwest Minnesota region!
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Apply for a County fundraising coaching opportunity

by SMAC
written by SMAC

 

 

An invitation for Greater Minnesota

Last week, RaiseMN  opened applications for their 2019-2020 Cohort of the RaiseMN Campaign Institute. Though it’s the third year of this program, this is the first time they’ve been able to make this opportunity available to nonprofits in Greater Minnesota.

That’s right! They are looking for nonprofits all across Greater Minnesota who want to focus their board and staff around a year of fundraising coaching and training to help you build your fundraising strategy. Learn more about the program and requirements on our applications page.

Because it’s the first time offering the Institute outside of the East Metro, they’ve been asked in the last week about how we’ll work with a cohort across the entire state.

Their answer: we work really hard to meet organizations where they’re at. We’ve tried not to be too prescriptive in the Institute language because this is our first time and we know part of our growth will come with the feedback of our first statewide cohort.

At a basic level, we hope you and your three-person RaiseMN team could join the cohort in the Twin Cities at least once, and that we’d visit your team at least once. Beyond that, we’re willing to work with you on remaining meetings and learning opportunities which may be done via video or phone conference.

We certainly don’t expect nonprofits to come to the Twin Cities every month, and look forward to finding the right mix of in-person and remote meetings to keep this program a worthwhile experience for all involved!

We hope you’ll consider applying for the Campaign Institute if you think it’s a good opportunity for your organization. We’re thrilled to be able to expand outside of the Twin Cities this year, thanks to our friends at the Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundations.

We hope to see your application soon!

 

LEARN MORE AND APPLY

 

RaiseMN in the news

 

RaiseMN featured on MPR’s All Things Considered

MPR’s Marianne Combs sits down with Cancer Legal Care and Pilgrim Baptist Church, two nonprofits taking part in the RaiseMN Campaign Institute, and talks with GiveMN Executive Director Jake Blumberg about the importance of building individual giving strategies.

Listen to the story

 
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Openings Available Now for Local Creative Minnesota Economic Impact Studies

by SMAC
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Openings Available Now for Local Creative Minnesota Economic Impact Studies

We know nearby restaurants are busier when there is a performance at the local theater. We know creative events enliven city centers and engage residents. Over 23 Million Minnesotan’s attended an cultural event produced by a nonprofit organization in 2016. The impact of that activity was $671 million in spending across the state of Minnesota. If you’d like to know how the arts impact your area – so you can better grow and expand that positive impact – we invite you to participate in the next round of arts and cultural economic impact studies produced by Creative Minnesota! 

Creative Minnesota has conducted 65 studies for cities, counties, and regions throughout the state, jump starting important conversations with local civic and business leaders and arts organizations about the importance of arts and culture to local restaurants and retailers, the workforce, and local government revenues. For the low cost of $1,750 your chosen ‘geography’ can participate in the creation of a customized report. The data will establish a baseline for understanding about the economic benefits of arts and culture in your area. You can use this knowledge to plan for your best arts and cultural future.

Creative Minnesota can only accept 15 new study requests for this upcoming study period. Contact us now to get the details and contract so you can enroll by July 10, 2019. Openings will be filled on a first-come, first-serve basis. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 651-251-0868 – staff at artsmn.org, or my research associate, Brenda Kayzar, at 612-730-7913 – Brenda at artsmn.org.

The arts give back, and we’ll show you just how much!

Sincerely,

Sheila Smith
Executive Director
 Minnesota Citizens for the Arts

 

661 LaSalle Street #220 St Paul, MN 55114 | 651-251-0868 | fax 651-917-3561
staff at artsmn.org & www.artsmn.org | @MnCitizenMCA is a nonpartisan statewide arts advocacy organization whose mission is to ensure Minnesotans have access to and involvement in the arts. MCA organizes the arts community to lobby the Legislature and Congress on issues important to the nonprofit arts community. If you are interested in advocating for the arts, or want to learn how to activate people in your arts organization or community, please contact us. FYI, MCA is not a grantsmaker. For access to state funding, contact the Minnesota State Arts Board www.arts.state.mn.us or your local Regional Arts Council.

 
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Minneapolis Seeks MN Artists for Utility Box Wrap Designs

by SMAC
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The City of Minneapolis is seeking to work with 20 artists from Minnesota to create the next generation of Minneapolis Art Wraps!

The Minneapolis Art Wrap program is a collection of pre-approved utility box wrap designs, that are used by neighborhoods and business districts to wrap their local utility boxes. The wraps began as a pilot program in attempt to decrease tagging and graffiti on the boxes, and has become very popular across the City of Minneapolis. The Minneapolis Art Wrap program was initiated by the Minneapolis Arts Commission with the goal of creating a vibrant city-wide gallery that celebrates the range and talent of creative artists living and working in the area. Art on utility boxes has made a big impact on communities, and the City is eager to welcome and share this next generation of Art Wraps.

Artists at every experience level are encouraged to apply. This is a great way to have your work be seen in the public realm and across the City of Minneapolis as a form of temporary public art. This is also a great way to get experience applying for calls from the City of Minneapolis.

SUMMARY:

 

Call for Artists – Minneapolis Art Wraps

Who can apply: Artists who live in MN

Experience: all experience levels

What: Utility Box Designs

Theme: What makes Minneapolis unique?

How Much: Selected designs will be awarded $1,100 single design, $2,500 for a suite

Application Deadline: July 2nd , 2019

 

For more information on the call for artists please visit: http://www.minneapolismn.gov/dca/callforartists

 

Here is a link to our intent to apply form, Click Here

 

Contact for questions: Talia Moorman, City Planner & Public Art Coordinator

City of Minneapolis – Community Planning and Economic Development

105 Fifth Avenue South – 200

Minneapolis, MN 55401-2534

www.minneapolismn.gov/cped

612-673-2149

talia.moorman@minneapolismn.gov

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Call for photographers!

by SMAC
written by SMAC

Marshall Area Fine Arts Council’s 2019 Annual Photography Competition and Exhibit

“Weather Eye”

Exhibit will run August 6 to September 13, 1019

Call for photographers! Enter the MAFAC Annual Photography Competition & Exhibit at the MAFAC Arts Center, which will exhibit August 6 through September 13, 2019. Fee & registration is due July 23. Entries due to Arts Center by August 2. Traditional or altered photographs accepted on themes:

Drama in the Sky: Sometimes the sky is where the real action is

Windblown: We can’t see the wind, but show its effect in this photo

For more info: 507-532-5463 or mafac.arts@gmail.com

Rules and entry from will be available soon.

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