Minnesota State Arts Board
For Immediate Release:
Arts Access
The Arts Access grant program is designed to help arts organizations broaden arts opportunities for underserved groups. Grants can be used to identify underserved groups or communities, identify the barriers that keep them from engaging in the arts, and develop and implement strategies to reduce or eliminate the barriers.
Who Can Apply
The applicant may be any Minnesota nonprofit arts organization including producing organizations, presenting organizations and presenting affiliates, or any other arts group that is exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or has a nonprofit, tax-exempt fiscal agent.
An Operating Support or Community Arts Schools and Conservatories grantee is able to apply for an Arts Access grant, as long as it can describe how its proposed project expands upon past programming, allows the organization to provide new kinds of service, and enables it to serve a broader, more diverse, audience of Minnesotans.
An applicant may submit only one Arts Access grant proposal per fiscal year.
Grant Range
$5,000–$100,000
The applicant must provide at least 10 percent of the total project’s cash expenses from other sources, and may receive up to 90 percent of the total project’s cash expenses in combined support from the Minnesota State Arts Board and one of more or more the state’s regional arts councils.
This 90 percent / 10 percent match requirement will apply regardless of the size of applicant’s budget or request amount.
FY 2015 Application Deadline
The FY 2015 deadline is 4:30 p.m., Friday, June 27, 2014.
The Arts Board will not accept applications that are not submitted and accepted by the online WebGrants system before the 4:30 p.m. deadline.
Application method
All applicants are required to use the WebGrants system to apply, and will submit all materials electronically. Registration is required of all applicants before beginning an application to any Arts Board program. It is only necessary to register once.
Two online tutorials are available to acquaint users with the WebGrants system:
- How to register as a WebGrants user: online tutorial, pdf version
- How to use WebGrants: online tutorial, pdf version
Program information
FY 2015 Overview and Instructions (PDF)—all applicants should read this document thoroughly before beginning the application.
Sample Applications
If you have questions or need assistance
If you have questions about the content of the application form or narrative, please contact:
Connie Skildum, program officer
constance.skildum@arts.state.mn.us
(651) 215-1617
If you have questions about financial forms or required financial documents, please contact:
Dave White, director, finance and grants administration
david.white@arts.state.mn.us
(651) 215-1622
If you have questions about the technical aspects of the application forms, or questions about electronic submission, please e-mail the Arts Board at:
apply@arts.state.mn.us
You may also call the following staff, but e-mail is preferred.
Tom Miller, project manager
apply@arts.state.mn.us
(651) 215-1611
All staff can be reached toll-free at (800) 866-2787.
Online application
Reports and amendments
For FY 2013 and previous download the form below. For FY 2014 and newer grants log in to WebGrants.
- FY 2014 Contract Amendment Instructions (PDF)
- FY 2013 Final Report (MS Word)