The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council has several grant categories for school districts and private schools in our region. Our region covers the Minnesota counties of Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau. If your school is within one of these counties then you can apply! All application forms and guidelines are available by emailing mara@nwrdc.org . Read the descriptions below to see which category may work best.
Artists in the Schools Grants
Since 2000, this program has provided school districts with grants to support artist residency activity and summer youth programming. Children’s theater weeklong workshops and other after school or summer activities work well within this category. Theater troupes that provide week long youth theater training ending in a weekend performance are popular in our area. Troupes in Minnesota include Safari (East Grand Forks) sastages@live.com and Prairie Fire www.prairiefirechildrenstheatre.com. Grants are for up to $3,000 with a maximum of $3,000 per district. A 10% cash match is required. Deadlines are August 1, November 1, and February 1 annually.
Arts Legacy Grants: School Artist Residency
Starting in 2010, this special program for school districts has been available. School districts may apply for up to two residencies in their schools on a first come, first served basis. Music, dance, theater and writing residencies are funded at $2,100. Visual and photography residencies are funded at $2,100 + $400 extra for supplies. Artists come to the school for one week exposure to a core group of students. It is highly recommended that schools work with artists who are on the juried roster by COMPAS. Here is a link to their website where the roster is located http://www.compas.org/arts-education/WAITS. The application is simplified to ease the application process and available by emailing mara@nwrdc.org. Deadline is on-going as funds remain.
Arts Legacy Grants: Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund
School Districts and schools can apply in our main Arts Legacy Grant category. Schools have applied for a series of artist residencies in their school or a summer youth camp that features a group of residency artists. Grants are for up to $10,000 with a 10% cash match. Main deadlines are August 1, November 1, and February 1; then on-going 1st of the month deadlines as funds remain.
Arts Project Grants: Equipment
If funds remain in the spring, the Northwest Minnesota Arts Council offers schools the opportunity to apply for arts equipment grants. For example, in 2011, grants were awarded for up to $3,000.00 with a 25% cash match. School districts purchased light equipment, microphones, musical instruments, kilns, and display racks. Grant maximums and match requirements are announced in February, if this program is offered. Normally, we hold a March 1st deadline.