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 E-Newsletter |
July, 2010
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Greetings!
I had the privilege of serving on a grant review panel at the National Endowment for the Arts in Washington last month for the Local Arts Agencies division. There were 38 applications from arts councils and service organizations from around the country proposing various types of services to their constituents, many of which are very similar to MRAC's curriculum of trainings and workshops. It was very gratifying to see how closely aligned we are with so many other similar organizations in terms of what we see as priorities for our constituents and communities, and our approach to delivering these services. It is obvious from looking at how other arts councils articulated the needs in their communities that common issues among small arts organizations continue to be the basics, including governance, marketing and promotion, fund development, financial management, and opportunities to network with one another.
July 1 marks the beginning of MRAC's 2011 fiscal year. New guidelines for the Arts Activities Support program are available on our website, and deadlines for all other programs are posted as well. Guidelines for all programs other than Arts Activities Support will be posted soon. We have made some changes to the guidelines for all of our programs that we think will be more favorable to applicants.
Sincerely,
Jeff Prauer
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Arts Achievement Awards
The Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC) Board of Directors has selected the Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company and the White Bear Center for the Arts to be this year's recipients of the MRAC Arts Achievement Award, which includes a cash payment of $5,000. The nominations were reviewed by the MRAC Board of Directors based on how arts groups exemplify MRAC's vision for the region by: - Causing artists and arts activities to thrive, and/or
- Integrating the arts into the social fabric and identity of a community(s), and/or
- Enhancing understanding of the public value of the arts.
Click here for more information about the awarded organizations.Back to top |
Arts Activities Support Grant Awards
On June 23, the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Awarded $503,837 in Grants for Arts Activities Support to 61 Arts Organizations in the Seven-County Metropolitan Area. The second round of FY10 Arts Activities Support grants will fund 61 arts activity projects that will reach more than 104,000 people. The organizations and projects chosen demonstrate both strong artistic quality and a connection to a community need. This round's funded projects include summer festivals, music series, site-specific performances, a poetry slam, art residencies, a book festival, visual art exhibitions, plays, puppetry, dance programs, cultural heritage events and more.
Click here for a list of this round's grant recipients sorted by county of activity. Each entry includes a short description of the project and the amount of the award. The grant recipients' web address (when available) is also included as a way to access more information about the specific arts organization and project.
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Arts Activities Support Grant DeadlineThe next deadline for the Arts Activities Support grant applications is July 12, 2010, with an earliest project start date of September 29, 2010. Applications must be RECEIVED by 5:00 P.M. on the deadline date. This is not a postmark deadline. Make sure you have the current materials. Visit the Arts Activities Support grant program page for more information about the grant program and to download the guidelines and application. back to top |
FY 2011 Grant Application Deadlines
please note: in FY 2011, there are two Arts Learning deadlines, the Organizational Development and Capital grant deadlines are in September, and there is only one deadline for Creative Intersections.
Arts Activities Support, Round 1 - Monday, July 12, 2010
Organizational Development - Monday, September 13, 2010 Capital - Monday, September 13, 2010 Community Arts, Round 1 - Monday, October 4, 2010
Arts Learning, Round 1 - Monday, November 8, 2010
Creative Intersections - Monday, January 10, 2011
Arts Learning, Round 2 - Monday, February 7, 2011
Arts Activities Support, Round 2 - Monday, April 4, 2011
FY 2011 Guidelines for the Arts Activities Support, Community Arts, Capital, Management Training Fund, and Management Consulting Fund grants are available on our website. FY 2011 guidelines for Organizational Development, Creative Intersections, and Arts Learning will be available soon.
Click here for an overview of FY 2011 guideline changes.
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Organizational Development and Capital Grant Workshops
The next deadline for the Organizational Development and Capital grant applications is September 13, 2010, with an earliest project start date of November 24, 2010. MRAC
offers workshops designed to help groups prepare MRAC Organizational Development and Capital grant applications. Participants become familiar with the
programs and application forms and learn how to write effective MRAC
grant proposals. This is a great opportunity to get questions answered
on your project ideas. Wednesday, August 18: 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. Metropolitan Regional Arts CouncilThursday, August 19: 1:00 P.M. - 3:00 P.M. Metropolitan Regional Arts CouncilRegister by clicking on the linked workshop date, by emailing mrac@mrac.org, or by calling Shannon Forney at 651-645-0402. Visit the Organizational Development and Capital grant program pages for more information about the grant program. The FY 2011 guidelines for Organizational Development grants will be posted by July 15. The FY 2011 guidelines for Capital grants have been posted. back to top |
Forum of Regional Arts Councils Brochure
Are you outside our region? The Metropolitan Regional Arts Council is one of 11 Regional Arts Councils (or RACs) that along with the Minnesota State Arts Board shares the mandate to distribute the legislative allotment for the arts and a portion of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Legacy Amendment. For more information about the RAC system and contact information for all 11 Regional Arts Councils, download the Forum of Regional Arts Councils of Minnesota brochure. back to top |
Training Schedule
MRAC FY 2011 training opportunities will begin in September 2010. See you then! back to top |
MRAC's Annual MeetingMRACs annual meeting will be held July 27 at Springboard for the Arts from 4:30 to 6:30 P.M. back to top |
Resource Updates
(These non-MRAC opportunites are listed at MRAC's discretion. The listing does not indicate an endorsement.)
The Minnesota State Arts Board announced a new, one-time partnership grant opportunity for organizations that would be interested and qualified to serve as coordinating partner of the Regional Dance Development Initiative (RDDI), a program designed to develop and nourish dance in Minnesota and to raise the visibility of dance nationally. Details about this grant opportunity are available on the Arts Board's website at: http://www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/2011-rddi.htm. Interested applicants should submit a two to four page proposal, and
required supplementary materials, no later than Friday, July 16, 2010.
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The City of Hutchinson Public Arts Commission has prepared a RFQ for public art to be installed on the Southwest Initiative Foundation property at the corner of Hwy 15 and Hwy 7. This effort is supported by the City of Hutchinson, Southwest Initiative Foundation, and Forecast Public Arts. Click on the link for more information: http://www.hutchinsonarts.org/public-art-rfq/ .
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Fresh Filmmakers: Your Chance to Emerge. The Fresh Filmmakers Production Grant will facilitate the production of one short narrative film (ten minutes or less) directed by a filmmaker who has been making films for no more than five years. The winner will receive mentorship, a $1000 stipend, and logistical support (camera, lights, edit facilities, etc.) necessary to direct and produce a short narrative film. Production mentors will work in tandem with the grant recipient to manage the project. Click on the link for more information: http://www.ifpmn.org/grants.html.
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The Minnesota Theater Alliance, a new organization designed to serve theaters across the state, would like to invite theater-makers to attend an informational meeting. Each meeting will be a one-hour, informal conversation with Leah Cooper, program director for the Alliance, about the Alliance's initial member services and what an Alliance can do for your theater. Visit www.mntheateralliance.eventbrite.com to see meeting dates and locations. For more information about the Alliance, visit www.springboardforthearts.org/Services/theateralliance.asp.
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Springboard for the Arts is seeking experienced artists and non-artists to conduct high quality, artist-oriented workshops for our extension school this fall/winter! While our staff is off teaching workshops around the state of Minnesota, we will be hosting a special semester of guest presenters. To that end, we are soliciting proposals for workshops to be part of Springboard for the Arts' fall schedule. Springboard workshops cover subjects such as arts entrepreneurship, career planning, grant writing, marketing, financial management and the use of internet and digital technology. Click on the link for more information. http://www.springboardforthearts.org/.
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Call for Artists: 1st Annual Sakatah Arts Experience, Saturday, July 17th 11:00 to 6:00 P.M. Lions Park, Waterville, MN. Non juried event. No gate fees. Artists are free to display/sell or demonstrate their work. For inquiries or to register please contact Mark at 507-685-2528 or email: mmollerartstudio@yahoo.com.
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Scholarships are available for arts professionals to attend the National Arts Marketing Project Annual Conference through Arts Learning Xchange. Click the link for more info. http://www.artsmidwest.org/programs/ArtsLearningXchange/scholarships.
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Arts Learning Xchange Metro-wide Forum: Are You My Audience? Learn about arts audience research and why is it crucial to your organization, July 15, 2010 from 8:30 to 11:45 A.M. at the Nicollet Island Pavilion in Minneapolis. The event is free! Click on the link for more information: http://www.artsmidwest.org/programs/ArtsLearningXchange.
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Two free training opportunities about creativity and aging are coming July 13 and 14. Susan Perlstein, founder of Elders Share the Arts and the National Center for Creative Aging will discuss themes such as arts and lifelong learning, arts and community engagement, and the use of arts in social service and healthcare settings. Check out these websites for more information: http://www.vital-aging-network.org/Forums/39/Creativity_and_Aging.html and http://www.melsa.org/melsa/index.cfm/library-staff/registration/.
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The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation has approved a 2-year grant in the amount of $50,000 to the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation to support the creation of the Doris Duke Leaders in the Arts Fund, which will subsidize the participation of leaders in the fields of dance, jazz, presenting and theatre in the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute. For more information, or instructions on how to apply, please contact Paul Robinson at the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute at ppr@wilder.org or 651-280-2491.
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Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA) has a list of various access points for Arts and Cultural Heritage resources on their website. Visit http://www.mncitizensforthearts.org/news/amendment-funds/othergrants for a listing of opportunities.
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Interested in a non-MRAC training opportunity, but not sure that your
organization can afford the fee? MRAC offers a training fund grant to
help arts groups pay for training opportunities that will strengthen
their organization. Click here for more information on MRAC's Management Training Fund grant.
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| MRAC Holiday Hours
The MRAC office will be closed July 5 in celebration of Independence Day. Have a happy holiday!
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FY 2009 Annual Report
Are you interested in seeing all the great arts events, projects, and trainings we did last year? MRAC's FY 2009 Annual Report is now available on our website! Click here to download it.
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MRAC's on Facebook
Now there is a new way to find out what is happening at MRAC. Connect with us on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/MetropolitanRegionalArtsCouncil
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MRAC FY09 Summary
In FY 2009, MRAC received 384 grant requests and awarded 254 grants totaling $1,007,491. Seven percent of the grants were awarded to first-time applicants. Funded projects served 11,685 artists and reached approximately 395,000 audience members. MRAC also provided 38 skill-building workshops and networking activities to people from more than 270 different organizations.
Photos for top ribbon provided by: International Festival of Burnsville, Corcoran Neighborhood Organization, Dakota Valley Symphony, Katha Dance Theatre, Music in the Park, Caponi Art Park/Lora Nelson Photo (Photo of Cromulent Shakespeare Company)
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