Creative Support grants for Individual Artists:
Highlights: Open to all practicing artists and culture bearers in SMAC region, $2,000-$6,000, no cash match, flexible support for staying connected with communities in whatever way makes sense, deadlines in August and September.
- Applicants can apply regardless of whether or not they have previously received an Arts Board or Regional Arts Council grant.
- A funding goal is in place to make sure that applicants from priority groups, which includes applicants outside of the seven county metro, will be funded equal to applicant rates, or greater. This means the more applications that come in from outside of the metro, the more funding that will be dedicated to greater MN applicants.
Program Overview and Application Instructions: http://www.arts.state.mn.us/pubs/pubs/fy2021-csi-overview-instructions.pdf
Informational Webinar (vimeo link): https://vimeo.com/444666292
Contact information: Rina or Sherrie, CreativeSupport-Individuals@arts.state.mn.us, (651) 539-2670
Creative Support grants for Arts Organizations
(501(c)(3) or unincorporated group
Highlights: Open to all nonprofit arts organizations or unincorporated arts groups in SMAC region that normally have at least one staff person and have existed for at least 2 years, $5,000-$15,000, no cash match, flexible support for staying connected with communities in whatever way makes sense, deadlines in August and September.
- Greater MN applicants can apply regardless of whether or not they have previously received an Arts Board or Regional Arts Council grant.
- Organizations applying do need to have one or more paid staff, but this has never meant a full time or permanent staff. It is now and has always been the case that this staff person can be temporary, seasonal, and/or 1099 contract staff. The guidelines are written to say paid staff person “under normal circumstances.”So even if your organization had to lay off staff during the pandemic, if an organization normally has staff but does not right now, they would still be eligible.
- A funding goal is in place to make sure that applicants from priority groups, which includes applicants outside of the seven county metro, will be funded equal to applicant rates, or greater. This means the more applications that come in from outside of the metro, the more funding that will be dedicated to greater MN applicants.
Program Overview and Application Instructions: http://www.arts.state.mn.us/pubs/pubs/fy2021-cso-overview-instructions.pdf
Informational Webinar (vimeo link): https://vimeo.com/444663761
Contact information: Rina or Natalie, CreativeSupport-Organizations@arts.state.mn.us, (651) 539-2671
Common misunderstandings about perceived requirements or restrictions with regard to Arts Board programs:
- Most commonly, people think you have to have a full time employee (false: anyone contracted or employed, PT or FT, permanent or temporary, so long as they’re providing oversight, is sufficient);
- You can’t have a regional arts council operating grant (false, that makes no difference to the Minnesota State Arts Board);
- that you have to come up with half the cash (false, and especially in this case there is no cash match required at all)
- that your budget has to be $177,000 to apply to the Arts Board (false: this restriction is only for the Operating Support grant program, but has never applied to any other grant program).
These programs will provide flexible support for individuals and organizations whose practices and programming have been disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic. In each program, funds can be used to help individuals and organizations maintain their core activities and their connections to Minnesota residents and communities.
These are statewide grant programs. Any person or organization who meets the eligibility requirements is welcome to submit an application. Eligibility requirements are listed in the Program Overview and Application Instructions document posted on each program Web page (linked above)
There will be two deadline options for each program, one in August and one in September.
Deadlines are listed on the Arts Board Web calendar: http://www.arts.state.mn.us/calendar/index.htm
More detailed information on each program is posted on the Arts Board Web site. http://www.arts.state.mn.us/
