The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council (NWMAC) is pleased to announce that funding is available for public art projects in our region. The NWMAC has created a special category this year for Arts Legacy Grants and Arts Project Grants for public art projects. The deadline to apply is May 1. Take advantage of this opportunity to enhance our communities with public art! Individual artists, arts organizations, or communities can apply.
The Arts Legacy Grants are the main category for funding artistic activity within the seven-county service region. Funding for the grants comes from the Minnesota State Legislature through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment. These grants are a maximum of $10,000 with a required cash match.
Arts Project Grants are used primarily for small-budget arts projects. These grants are a maximum of $3,000 with a required cash match. These grants have substantially fewer reporting requirements than Legacy grants.
To start your application, log into the Grants Portal on the homepage of the NWMAC website.
You absolutely must reside in the service region in northwestern Minnesota. The region covers the Minnesota counties of Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, and Roseau. Applications funded through these two very important grant opportunities include public art projects that improve the quality of life of people in the community.
Creating art in public spaces requires a different skill set than creating art for private commissions. It requires the artist to work with the city, the community, or the neighborhood in collaboration to determine the subject matter, look, and timeline. The artist needs to recognize and adhere to zoning and building codes. The artist also needs to be transparent at times with a whole committee of people related to design and installation and lighting requirements for public safety. Often it requires working at a large scale and understanding whether your art can handle the extreme weather. It can be very rewarding and fun.
For more information look to our website at www.NWArtsCouncil.org. Email director@NWArtsCouncil.org or call 218-745-8886 to reach the office during regular business hours.
