SMAC calendar published May 5, 2021

May 7—Workshops

The workshops are free of charge, but advance registration is required. Call 800-622-5284, or email info@swmnarts.org. Check the website www.swmnarts.org for more information.

Copyright workshop: May 26, 7 to 9 p.m., via Zoom or by audio only using a phone; when arts organizations record and post musical and theatrical performances online, whether as videos or streaming, there are a wide variety of legal issues involved beyond what you might need to consider for a live, in-person performance. An attorney from Springboard's Minnesota Lawyers for the Arts program will cover copyright basics, music licensing, rights clearance and other legal aspects of online performances, for both presenting organizations and for individual artists. The same content was also covered in the April 27 workshop.

Artist talk: May 20, 5:30 p.m., join our monthly virtual conversations for artists, makers and creators. The guest artist will be Nicole Zempel on her current exhibit in the SMAC Gallery. Check website for log-in details. Third Thursday of the month.

Art Project Grants

Receiving Art Project Grants of up to $7,000 in matching funds to stimulate and encourage the creation, performance and appreciation of the arts recently were:

City of Granite Falls: $6,500, to compensate artists they will be working with on their "Creative Crosswalks" project.

Department of Public Transformation: Granite Falls, $7,000, for their pilot year of their "WE CAN!" event series.

Greater Milan Initiative: $7,000, to hire The Defrost Project, a group of artists that use theater and storytelling, to cultivate connection, explore local issues and celebrate rural communities.

Kerkhoven Arts Council: $7,000, to create a summer youth theatre program that culminates in an outdoor production of High School Musical, Jr. during the Kerkhoven Town and Country Days festival.

City of Sunburg: $6,720, for their "Sunburg Heritage Arts Initiative" which will aim to preserve traditional arts including fiddling, Hardanger embroidery, Rosemaling, community singing and dancing through workshops, performances and community events.

Art Legacy Project Grants

Receiving Art Legacy Project Grants of up to $20,000 in matching funds to stimulate and encourage the creation, performance and appreciation of the arts through large-scale projects that will leave an arts legacy in Southwest Minnesota recently were:

City of Granite Falls, $18,600 to spend the spring, summer and fall of 2021 publicly devoting itself to nurturing equitable community art. Led by its first Artist in Residence, Dani Prados, the City will host several waves of public projects and events culminating in a city-wide art festival advertised throughout the region that aims to celebrate art as a tool of transformation.

Department of Public Transformation, Granite Falls, $2,50, to support the planning of the next step in their small town City Artist-in-Residence (CAIR) program: sustainability.

Grants for Facilities

The Equipment and Facilities provide up to $10,000 in matching funds 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.

Crow River Players, New London, $10,000, to purchase equipment to retrofit their 100-year-old stage to facilitate professional level audio and video recording of performances with the ultimate goal of offering this service to play productions, bands, musicians and performers.

Department of Public Transformation, Granite Falls, $10,000, to create a "dynamic and engaging" media lab and maker space at The YES! House in Granite Falls.

Granite Area Arts Council, $9,817, to purchase an art bike with a customized vinyl wrap logo, a tablet, hanging equipment for the gallery, a TV monitor, radiator covers for more efficient use of gallery space, awnings and radio equipment for summer monthly Maker's Market events, new classroom flooring that will be more efficient than current carpeting, and other small items/supplies that will improve gallery and classroom space.

Greater Litchfield Opera House Association, $9,840, for purchasing stage, sound and lighting enhancement equipment.

Willmar Community Theatre/ The Barn Theatre, $8,255, for replacing/upgrading their current website and to add a curtain track for high quality curtains that were donated.

Grants for Arts Organizations

The Arts Organization Development grants program provides up to $2,500 to increase their long-term stability and capacity through organizational development and management projects. There is no cash match required in fiscal year 2021. These grants are still open for applications, deadlines are the first of the month by 4:30 pm for April and May or until funds run out.

Department of Public Transformation, Granite Falls, $2,500, to hire a contracted capital campaign expert who will work with their Staff, Board, Capital Campaign Committee, and Development Committee to take their work and campaign to the next level.

New London Arts & Culture Alliance, $2,500, to work with a consultant from Propel for Non-Profits on strategic planning and board development. The NLAA board has had a 100% turn over in the last year and the consultant will facilitate them in establishing a clear vision.

Emerging Artist grants

Grants up to $2,500 to aid emerging artists at an early stage of their career development with projects that will advance their career.

Youth grants

Art Study Opportunity for Youth grants up to $500 in funding for students in grades 5-12 for an enrichment camp or specialty study.

Maggie Setrum of Raymond, $500, for violin lessons with Lisa Zeller, an orchestra teacher at Willmar Public Schools, as well as a member of the Willmar Area Symphonic Orchestra. Setrum has been taking violin lessons previously, but says her instructors have been more casual and she is looking to expand into more formal instruction from Zeller.

Brooke Schlegel of Lake Lillian, $500, to study watercolor with artist Michele Steffen. Schlegel says this experience will help her to build on current strengths and help identify and improve weaknesses as an art student. She plans to explore new techniques and experiment with her abilities.