SMAC calendar published Dec. 29, 2021

Donna Middleton, West Central Tribune, Willmar, Minn.
·3 min read

Dec. 30—The Southwest Minnesota Arts Council serves 18 counties as a source of funds and technical assistance to enable local organizations, educational institutions and individuals to sponsor and/or create and promote arts in their communities. The office and gallery are at 114 North Third Street in Marshall. Workshops and grant-writing webinars are free of charge, but advance registration is required. Call 800-622-5284, email info@swmnarts.org, or see the website at www.swmnarts.org. Below are the grant deadlines for the 2021-22 fiscal year.

The office is closed through Jan. 3.

Open office support: Jan. 11, in-person, the second Tuesday of the month, between 10 a.m.and 2 p.m., for assistance with any grant-related questions. Or schedule an appointment with the grants administrator.

Virtual grant Q&A: get your questions answered about our grant programs from 7 to 8 p.m. Jan. 6, via Zoom.

Webinars: grant-writing webinars are listed with each grant below.

Monthly grants

The monthly grants for arts organizations for the 2021-22 fiscal year are first-come, first-served with deadlines the first of each month August through April. Earliest start date will be the first of the following month. The last grant-writing webinar is recorded and available on the website.

Quick support for organizations: Provides up to $2,500 for activities such as planning for an Art Legacy Project, strategic planning or board training, costs to apply for 501(c)(3) status, small equipment purchases, or small arts projects.

Quick support for artists: Provides up to $1,000 for activities such as purchasing

supplies, attending classes, and small artist-led community projects. grant-writing webinar on Jan. 18.

Grants for artists

Grant deadlines for the 2021-22 fiscal year for individual artist grants. grant-writing webinars require advance registration.

Individual artist, emerging or established: Up to $2,500 to aid emerging artists and up to $7,000 to aid established artists for projects that will advance their careers; deadline Jan. 12, earliest start date March 1.

Community Collaboration Grants: Up to $10,000 to artists to create a major new work while collaborating with the community, introducing community members to the arts in a new way; deadline Jan. 12, earliest start date March 1.

Artist equity grants: Up to $4,000 to aid Black, Indigenous, Latinx, and other artists of color with projects that will advance their skills and artistic careers. Applications ongoing through May 1, grant-writing webinar Jan. 10.

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 theater), no cash match this year; deadline Jan. 26, earliest start date March 1.

Grants for Arts Organizations

Grant deadlines and webinar dates for the 2021-22 fiscal year. No cash match required this fiscal year. Deadlines and grant-writing webinars vary. Webinars are free, participants must register to be able to join the meeting.

Art Project grants: Up to $7,000 in funding, to stimulate and encourage the creation, performance and appreciation of the arts; pre-packaged theater residencies limited to $2,500; deadline deadline March 23, grant-writing webinar Feb. 10, earliest start date May 1.

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; deadline Feb. 9, grant-writing webinar Jan. 5, earliest start date April 1.