Granite Falls CAIR

SMAC will have a virtual informational session at 2:30 p.m. Jan. 19 for artists, arts organizations, and city government on Granite Fall's first City Artist-in-Residence Program. Meet the artist, Dani Prados, and the facilitators, Ashley Hanson and Michele Huggins from the Department of Public Transformation, and hear what they've been up to, and learn the steps and processes to start thinking about bringing a City Artist-in-Residence program to your town. This small town CAIR program is the first of its kind in the country, fostering cultural work that sits at the intersection of civic, social, and place-based practice in a rural setting Log-in information available on the website.

Grants for schools

Arts in the Schools: for artist residencies or field trips that include educator training and community involvement; juried student art exhibits; and prepackaged theater experiences. Up to $4,000 (artist residencies) or $2,500 (field trips, juried exhibits, or prepackaged theatre), 20% cash match for prepackaged theatre only. Applications due Jan. 27, earliest start date March 1.

Grants for Arts Organizations

Grant deadlines and webinar dates for the 2020-21 fiscal year.

Going virtual equipment, technology and training grant: This special grant program, funded with Minnesota Disaster Relief Funds, provides up to $1,000 to aid arts organizations in the SMAC Region with equipment or technology that will allow them to provide virtual events and programming. Applicants can also use the monies to participate in “go-virtual” training or consultations. No match requirements, funds still available for six grants.

Art Legacy Project Grants: up to $20,000 in funding, for large-scale projects that will leave an arts legacy; no cash match required this year; deadline March 3, with earliest start date April 1; grant writing webinar online from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 21, free, pre-registration required.

Art Legacy Project Planning Grants: up to $2,500 to plan for a specific large-scale project or activity that will create or advance a strong arts legacy in Minnesota; no cash match required this year; grant writing webinar online from noon to 1 p.m. Jan. 21, free, pre-registration required.

Monthly grants

The monthly grants for arts organizations for the 2020-21 fiscal year are first-come, first-served with deadlines at 4:30 p.m. the first of each month nd January through April.

Legacy Project Planning Grants: up to $2,500 to plan for a specific large-scale project or activity that will create or advance a strong arts legacy; grant workshop webinar, noon to 1 p.m., Jan. 21, free, pre-registration required.

Organization Development Grants: up to $2,500 in funding to increase long-term stability and capacity through organizational development and management projects.

Start Up Grants: up to $2,000 in funding for art organizations with at least two years programming to develop articles of incorporation, by-laws, and apply for their 501(c)(3).

Grants for Facilities

Grant deadlines and webinar dates for the 2020-21 fiscal year. Round 1 deadline Feb. 10, earliest start date April 1, 2020.

Equipment/Facilities Improvement Grants: up to $10,000 in funding for the purchase of equipment items and facilities improvement that will improve the organization’s capacity to serve the arts needs. No cash match this year.

Prairie Disciple Awards

The Prairie Disciple award provides awareness and recognition of one individual from the 18-county area of southwestern Minnesota served by SMAC, whose activities and involvement have substantially contributed to the arts over an extended period of time. The accomplishments of arts advocates working in the region are often not widely known or appreciated. In recognizing these individuals publicly, the awards will raise the profile of the arts in their community and throughout the SMAC region. Nominations are due by April 15 and must be made online on the SMAC website, swmnarts.org.