SMAC calendar published Sept. 21, 2022

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

Sep. 22—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 509 West Main Street in Marshall. They are open 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. weekdays. 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 2022-23 fiscal year.

Open office support: second Tuesday of the month, between 10 a.m.and 2 p.m., in-person, 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 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Dec. 13 and March 9, via Zoom. Pre-registration required.

Webinars: All grants have a grant-writing webinar which is listed with each grant below. Each will be recorded and is available on the website.

The annual meeting and celebration will be held Saturday, Sept. 24, in Appleton. From 2 to 4 p.m. check out the grant-funded art locations including the 52 Wing Mural, city park mosaic benches, window murals in the old electric building along the river and the Art and Culture Center and experience what a class is like for students of the Valley Dance District. The social hour begins at 4 p.m. on the main floor of the Valley Dance District, followed by the annual meeting with the award ceremony for the Prairie Disciple winner Melanie Loy and Prairie Star winner John Sterner. The Plazita Mexican Restaurant will serve the meal at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are no longer available.

There will be local arts entertainment, food and the Spirit of the Region raffle with the $10 tickets available through SMAC staff, from your county's SMAC board member or at the celebration. Call or email the office if you don't know your county representative at info@swmnarts.org, 800-622-5284.

The Arty Party in Meeker County will be from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 4, at the Litchfield Opera House in Litchfield. This will be the 11th county networking event for each of the 18 counties in the council's service region. SMAC staff will be in attendance to connect with attendees and get the word out about who SMAC is, what it does and what services and assistance the council can offer for communities.

The monthly grants for arts organizations for the 2022-23 fiscal year are first-come, first-served with deadlines the first of each month August through May. Earliest start date will be the first of the following month.

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.

Artist equity grants: Up to $4,000 to aid Black, Indigenous, and other artists of color at any career stage with projects that will advance their skills and artistic career.

Arts in the Schools: Provides public schools with up to $4,000 for projects such as artist residencies, arts field trips, juried student art exhibits, etc.; no cash match this year. Deadline Oct. 5, earliest start date Dec. 1. Round 2 deadline Jan. 25, 2023, earliest start date March 1.

Grant deadlines for the 2022-23 fiscal year for individual artist grants. Grant-writing webinars require advance registration.

Artist Growth Grant: Up to $4,000 to artists at any career stage for projects that will advance their skills and artistic career. Round 2 deadline Jan. 11, 2023, earliest start date March 1.

Advanced Artist Fellowship: Up to $7,000 in project funds to established advanced artists who exhibit creative excellence, a substantial body of work, and significant recognition of their artistic accomplishments; two fellowships awarded per year. Deadline Oct. 19, earliest start date Dec. 1.

Grant deadlines and webinar dates for the 2022-23 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. Round 2 deadline Dec. 7, earliest start date Feb. 1, 2023. Round 3 deadline March 22, 2023, earliest start date May 1.

Equipment/Facilities Improvement grants: Up to $10,000 for the purchase of equipment items and facilities improvement that will improve the organization's capacity to serve the arts needs. Round 2 deadline Feb. 8, 2023, earliest start date April 1.

Art Legacy Project grants: Up to $20,000 in funding for large-scale projects that will leave an arts legacy. Deadline Nov. 9, grant-writing webinar Sept. 29, earliest start date Feb. 1.