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 E-Newsletter | February, 2012 |
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Greetings!
Arts Advocacy Day, organized by Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, is coming up on Wednesday, February 29, beginning at 8:00 A.M. at the Minnesota History Center and then moving to the State Capitol for meetings with members of the state legislature. Advocacy Day is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to talk with legislators about the importance of the arts in our lives and our communities. Because the 2012 legislative session is the 2nd year of the biennium, there are no arts appropriation issues, but there will be several other key legislative issues potentially affecting future arts funding. Legislators are eager to hear from their constituents, and Arts Advocacy Day is a fabulous opportunity for you to communicate with your representatives and senators in an organized way. The 7-county metropolitan region touches 39 of the state's 67 legislative districts, so it's extremely important for people in the MRAC region to participate. I strongly urge you to attend, and to get everyone you can to join you. I look forward to seeing you at the Capitol on February 29th --a date that should be easy to remember! Here is a link to more information: www.mncitizensforthearts.org/events/advocacyday. During February, MRAC will conduct its annual survey of constituents. We will be seeking your feedback regarding our grant programs and other services to assess how well they are being delivered and consumed. I hope you will take a few minutes to respond when you hear from us, and I thank you in advance. Sincerely,
Jeff Prauer
MRAC Executive Director
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Arts Learning Grant Awards
In January 2012, MRAC awarded $209,003 to 23 organizations in the first round of its FY 2012 Arts Learning grant program. The Arts Learning projects chosen will provide high-quality, age-appropriate arts education for Minnesotans of all ages to develop knowledge, skills, and understanding of the arts. MRAC's goals for the Arts Learning grant program are to cultivate creativity and deepen knowledge of and/or through the arts for children, youth, and adults by engaging people in extended arts experiences and activities with clearly articulated learning objectives. The Arts Learning grant program is a direct result of the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Legacy Amendment. All applications go through a competitive peer review panel process. The MRAC board makes the final decisions on all panel recommendations.
The following link is a list of grant recipients sorted by the county of affiliation that includes award amounts and project summaries. Organization websites are included when available as a way to get more information about the groups and awarded projects. Back to top
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Creative Intersections Application Deadline
Do you have an idea that would make your community better? The Creative Intersections grant
program is designed to support projects/partnerships that use the arts as a tool to address a community challenge or leverage an opportunity for community growth and enrichment! The FY 2012 Creative Intersections deadline is February 13, 2012. Applications must be received in the office by 5:00 p.m. on the deadline day. Please remember there is only one deadline for this grant program.
The FY 2012 Creative Intersections guidelines are available on the Creative Intersections program page on the MRAC website.
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Arts Learning Grant, Round 2 Application Deadline
The next deadline for Arts Learning grant applications is Monday, March 5, 2012 with an earliest project start date of May 23, 2012. The Arts Learning program provides grants of up to $10,000 for high-quality, age-appropriate arts education for Minnesotans of all ages to develop knowledge, skills, and understanding of the arts. Grant guidelines and application forms are available on the Arts Learning grant program page on the MRAC website.
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FY 2012 Next Step Fund Deadline and Workshops
The Next Step Fund for individual artists, through generous support from The McKnight Foundation, provides project grants up to $5,000 to professional artists in any discipline for the purpose of career development and artistic achievement. Applicants can be at any stage of their career, but must demonstrate achievement in their artistic field and have a history of public presentation or community contribution. The deadline for 2012 Next Step Fund applications is March 5, 2012. The guidelines are currently posted on the Next Step Fund program page and you may start the online application at any time.
MRAC offers workshops to help individual artists prepare Next Step Fund grant applications. Participants will become familiar with the program and online application. Because of the volume of applications to this program, MRAC staff does not offer individual consultations for this grant. The workshops are your opportunity to get questions answered. The Next Step Fund grant application workshops will be held:Saturday, February 4, 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.Bloomington Center for the Arts, 1800 W. Old Shakopee Rd., Bloomington, MN 55431 Tuesday, February 7, 3:00 - 5:00 p.m.Ritz Theatre, 345 13th Ave NE., Minneapolis, MN 55413 Wednesday, February 8, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m.Penumbra Theatre, 270 North Kent St., St. Paul, MN 55102 Tuesday, February 21, 2:00 - 4:00 p.m.Intermedia Arts, 2822 Lyndale Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55408
The workshops are free, but we ask that you register in advance. To register, click on the linked training date. Please contact us if you need special accommodations to attend an application workshop. Back to top
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ADA Access Improvement Grants through VSA Minnesota
ADA Access Improvement Grants for Metro Arts Organizations are now available to nonprofit arts organizations in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington counties with annual budgets less than $4,460,000. The focus of these grants, of up to $15,000 each, is to help make arts programming, activities, and facilities more accessible to people with disabilities. The grants are not intended for one-time activities, but should have the potential for significant or long-term impact in involving more people with disabilities as participants or patrons in arts programs. The grant program is administered by VSA Minnesota for the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council and made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. Grant guidelines and application forms are available at www.vsamn.org/forms.html#adagrant, or contact VSA Minnesota at 612-332-3888 voice/tty or access@vsamn.org. Application Deadlines: February 17 and May 11, 2012.
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Arts Activities Support, Round 2 Application Workshops
The next deadline for Arts Activities Support grant applications is April 9, 2012, with an earliest project start date of June 27, 2012. MRAC offers workshops designed to help groups prepare grant applications for the Arts Activities Support program. Participants become familiar with the program 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. MRAC strongly recommends that potential applicants attend one of the following workshops: Saturday, March 10, 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M., Metropolitan Regional Arts CouncilMonday, March 12, 10:00 A.M. to 12:00 P.M., Metropolitan Regional Arts CouncilTuesday, March 13, 3:00 P.M. to 5:00 P.M., Metropolitan Regional Arts CouncilTo register click on the linked workshop date. Make sure you have current program-related materials. Visit the Arts Activities Support grant program page for more information about the grant program and to download the guidelines and application. You will find it helpful to review these materials prior to attending a workshop. |
Community Arts, Round 2 Panel Dates
Round 2 of the FY 2012 Community Arts grant applications will be reviewed March 19, 20, 21, 22, and 23, 2012. The panel review meetings will begin at 9:00 A.M. with a short panel re-orientation. Panel schedules will be available in the March e-newsletter and on our website in March.
The panel meetings are public, open meetings. Constituents are encouraged to come and listen to the reviews to gain a fuller understanding of the process and hear the panelists' comments directly. Applicants may listen to the proceedings but are not invited to make presentations or participate in the panel's discussion. |
Collecting Photos!
The Metropolitan Regional Arts Council uses photos of arts activities from the past year on our website and in our print materials such as our brochure and annual report. We look for a variety of photos that will show the diversity of our community and the range of arts activities and arts disciplines that MRAC funds. Photos are selected for use based on our needs and photo quality. For more information and to submit your photos, please visit our photo submission page or contact Mara Miller by email at mara@mrac.org. |
MRAC Training
Please Note: There has been a change in the training schedule. The Non-traditional Marketing and Advertising session has been changed to Wednesday, March 7, 2012.
Creating a Communications Toolkit
Wednesday, February 8, 2012, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Metropolitan Regional Arts Council
Come explore the essentials to a strong communications toolkit--the strategies, initiatives, and vehicles for delivering messages, such as your website and emails, that enrich the visibility of your organization. You'll discover a list of communication tools that arts organizations can't live without. This session will include examples of successful strategies used by arts organizations and feature a graduated approach that will include both ways to begin using a communications tool and advanced techniques/strategies for delving deeper. You'll find out how other arts organizations are using communication tools; how to measure results; what the costs are; and what resources exist. You'll leave the session with a broader understanding of the array of tools and a deeper understanding of how to choose the right tools for your arts marketing.
Presented by: Julie Dappen, MAP for Nonprofits Julie Dappen brings a broad and deep background in marketing and communications to her work with nonprofit organizations. For more than 20 years, she has partnered with organizations to identify marketing strategies that will strengthen their offerings, effectively guide their brands, identify and reach their target markets and help them to achieve their objectives. Since joining the MAP staff in 2003, Julie has worked with a variety of nonprofit organizations, including arts and cultural organizations, youth initiatives, health organizations, community development projects, schools and educational organizations and human rights organizations. She has provided her clients with training, market research, marketing plans, communications plans, brand development, name change initiatives and more. Julie holds a degree in journalism from the University of Oregon, supplemented by marketing and business classes from the University of Nebraska and ongoing continuing education in the field of marketing.
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Guiding Your Organization's Brand
Wednesday, February 22, 2012, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Metropolitan Regional Arts Council
"You can't control your brand; You can only guide it!" In a consumer driven culture, your brand message is an essential component of your marketing and fundraising efforts. It helps your participants and supporters understand and communicate the value of your organization. During our January session we discovered that organizations don't control their brand but can significantly influence how others experience their brand. This session will focus on five ways to get the most out of your brand identity, including:
- Meeting the Audience Where They're At: Focusing on what your audience hears
- Flipping the Mission: Changing the way we talk about our organizations
- Building Public Milestones: Engaging audiences in our vision
- Talking in Pictures: Using imagery to create a lasting impact
- Capturing Value: Ensuring that every transaction leads to a deep relationship with your audience
You will learn how to construct an elevator speech as well as apply a simple relationship-building framework to impact the profile of your organization and advance your marketing and development activities!
Presented by: Carlo Cuesta, Creation IN Common
Carlo Cuesta has more than 20 years experience working with nonprofit and arts organizations helping them get their messages out and developing strategies for engagement. He was the lead trainer for the Minnesota State Arts Board's Statewide Audience Development Initiative and is the co-author of The McKnight Foundation commissioned report: Bright Stars, Charting the Impact of Art on Greater Minnesota. He has led research and planning with organizations such as the Jerome Foundation, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, North Dakota Council on the Arts, Plains Art Museum, and Illusion Theater. Carlo has produced and managed Shakespeare in the Park and outdoor summer festivals that drew thousands of people per night. He has an MBA from the University of St. Thomas and is an adjunct professor in the graduate program on arts and cultural leadership at the University of Minnesota.
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Non-traditional Marketing and Advertising
Wednesday, March 7, 2012, 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Today's consumers are bombarded by traditional marketing and advertisements. Non-traditional marketing is a great way for arts organizations to break through the clutter and create a lasting impression. You don't need a big budget for non-traditional marketing, but you will need time, energy, imagination and human interaction. In this workshop, you will learn about non-traditional marketing and advertising tactics, explore your organization's non-traditional marketing opportunities, and discuss how to find motivated creative volunteers who are willing to contribute time, energy and imagination to your arts marketing.
Presented by: Julie Dappen, MAP for Nonprofits
Julie Dappen brings a broad and deep background in marketing and communications to her work with nonprofit organizations. For more than 20 years, she has partnered with organizations to identify marketing strategies that will strengthen their offerings, effectively guide their brands, identify and reach their target markets and help them to achieve their objectives. Since joining the MAP staff in 2003, Julie has worked with a variety of nonprofit organizations, including arts and cultural organizations, youth initiatives, health organizations, community development projects, schools and educational organizations and human rights organizations. She has provided her clients with training, market research, marketing plans, communications plans, brand development, name change initiatives and more. Julie holds a degree in journalism from the University of Oregon, supplemented by marketing and business classes from the University of Nebraska and ongoing continuing education in the field of marketing.
These workshops are presented by MRAC in partnership with MAP for Nonprofits. The workshops are free, but we ask that you register in advance. To register, click on the linked training date, visit our website www.mrac.org/training, email Mara Miller at mara@mrac.org, or call 651-523-6384. Please contact us if you need special accommodations to attend a training event. Back to top
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 Logos Webpage! 
Trying to find the MRAC and/or Legacy Logo to use in your
publicity materials? Now MRAC has a webpage with downloadable logos and the required acknowledgement language. Visit www.mrac.org/resources/logos.html and help inform your fans about the importance of arts funding!
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Resource Updates (These non-MRAC opportunities are listed at MRAC's discretion. The listing does not indicate an endorsement.)
The Minnesota Department of Agriculture (MDA) is compiling a database of artists/arts organizations interested in working with County Fair boards to increase exposure and participation in the arts, to promote and highlight artistic excellence and bring arts experiences to new and diverse audiences at county fairs throughout the state. For more information on the database and how to pitch an idea to your County Fair Board please contact Emily Murphy at the MDA at Emily.Murphy@state.mn.us or 651-201-6648.
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ArtsLab has been renewed for a two-year cycle of capacity building work around leadership and strategy development! The application will be posted on March 1 and applications are due on April 13. Please visit the ArtsLab website at www.ArtsLabOnLine.org for program description and eligibility information and to sign up for further announcements on applications and information sessions to be scheduled for March.
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The 2013 Joyce Awards will support the commissioning of new work from diverse artists no matter where they choose to work--in the gallery, on the stage, in the church, the schoolyard, the prison, the community center. The Joyce Award guidelines are posted on the Culture Program section of the Joyce Foundation website at www.joycefdn.org. An information session is scheduled for February 16th, 2012 from noon to 1:30 p.m. at the LOFT Literary Center. RSVP is necessary for attendance: rsvp@joycefdn.org. Deadline for letters of inquiry: April 3, 2012.
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Call for Artists: The Bloomington Theatre and Art Center (BTAC) welcomes exhibition proposals from local and regional artists residing in Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa and Wisconsin for review into the 2014 BTAC Exhibition Program. Artists will be reviewed on individual merit and if selected they may be combined for a small group show or chosen for a solo exhibition in either of BTAC's two galleries, the Inez Greenberg Gallery or the second level Atrium Gallery. For more information and to download an informational prospectus visit: www.bloomingtonartcenter.com. Deadline: March 31, 2012.
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The Nerdery Overnight Website Challenge is your chance to win a free Website makeover in 24 hours. The contest is open to 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in Minnesota. For more information visit tc2012.overnightwebsitechallenge.com.
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Arts Midwest Touring Fund (formerly the Performing Arts Fund) is a program of Arts Midwest that engages people in meaningful experiences with the fine arts of dance, music, theater, and other performing arts forms. The program provides financial support to presenting organizations in the Midwest. Funded engagements feature public performances and in-depth outreach activities by professional touring artists that reach underserved audiences and foster exchanges between artists and Midwest communities. For more information visit www.artsmidwest.org/programs/paf. Deadline April 11, 2012.
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Call for Artists: The City of Saint Paul is seeking proposals from qualified consultants for a citywide Street Design Manual. Consultants responding to the solicitation are required by the city's public art ordinance to include an artist on their team. The 2009 ordinance intends that artists should be involved in city-owned projects at the earliest stages of conceptual planning, and through project design and implementation. The deadline is Wednesday, February 22, 2012. For more information and to request the RFP, please contact Nancy Vue by email at Nancy.Vue@ci.stpaul.mn.us.
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Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council, an initiative of the Minneapolis Jewish Federation, is now accepting project support grant proposals in its spring round of funding for arts-related projects. Grants will provide financial support up to $3,000 but will not exceed 50% of a project's budget. For more information visit: www.rimonmn.org. Deadline March 23, 2012.
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National Alliance for Media Art + Culture (NAMAC) is seeking arts organization leaders in Minnesota that have a demonstrated commitment to leadership in their local communities and/or the national field to participate in their 2012 Leadership Institute for Minnesota Arts Organizations. This five-day intensive intergenerational workshop is designed to encourage and sustain visionary leadership in arts throughout the state. The fellowship is underwritten by American Express Philanthropy, The Nathan Cummings Foundation, and The McKnight Foundation. For more information, visit www.namac.org/programs/RegionalLI. *** The Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF) is offering a 2012 Minnesota Grantmaking Outlook for Arts Webinar on February 7, 2012 from noon to 1:15 p.m. In addition to a broad overview of 2012's giving outlook, a panel of funders will dive more deeply into arts funding and answer questions about trends in art funding and what nonprofits should be aware of as they seek funds for the arts in 2012. For more information visit: www.mcf.org/events. ***
Lesley University is offering a new cohort in Integrated Teaching through the Arts, M.Ed in Maple Grove, MN. The program will meet one weekend a month on Saturday and Sunday for 19 weekends over 22 months. For more information contact Elizabeth Robinson by email at erobinson596@yahoo.com.
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Call for Artists: New London Fine Art Festival. Fine artists and crafts people are invited to submit work samples to the jury for the 2012 Fine Art Festival. The Festival event is being limited to just sixty juried artists and fine crafts people to assure a quality event for everyone. Artist applications can be found online at www.newlondonfineart.com. For other information contact Arthur Norby at nlonfaf@gmail.com. Deadline March 15, 2012.
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Franconia Sculpture Park is now accepting applications for their 2012 artist opportunities. Located on 20 acres in the St. Croix River Valley, Franconia is dedicated to fostering an inspiring environment for artists to expand their skills and promote the public education of three-dimensional art. The artist programs at Franconia bring in up to 40 artists each year to be in residence and create new work in the outdoor studio space to exhibit in the park. There are five different artist programs available, four with deadlines in February. More information is at
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The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits is offering a six-part Diversity and Inclusion webinar training series, hosted by Dr. Mai Moua, to explore the unique assets diversity and inclusion bring to organizations, identify challenges that create barriers to effective diversity and inclusion work, and to create strategies around diversity, inclusion, and leadership practices. In addition, MCN and the Charities Review Council of Minnesota are co-sponsoring free monthly networking lunches on topics of diversity and inclusion throughout 2012 with the first six lunches facilitated by Dr. Moua. Training sessions start in January. More information is available at www.minnesotanonprofits.org/events-training/diversity-inclusion.
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The National Endowment for the Arts will provide a limited number of "Our Town" grants, ranging from $25,000 to $150,000, for creative placemaking projects that contribute toward the livability of communities and help transform them into lively, beautiful, and sustainable places with the arts at their core. A key to the success of creative placemaking involves partnerships with a committed governmental leadership and the philanthropic sector. All Our Town applications must reflect a partnership that will provide leadership for the project. More information is available at www.arts.gov/grants/apply/OurTown. Deadline: March 1, 2012.
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Springboard for the Arts is offering placemaking workshops for St. Paul artists along the new LRT line on January 7, February 11, and March 3, 2012. If you're an artist of any discipline, background or level of experience who lives, works or has a personal investment in the Central Corridor Light Rail Transit route in Saint Paul who would like to do collaborative creative placemaking, sign up for a free workshop at www.springboardforthearts.org/community/placemaking-workshop-registration.
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The Forecast Public Art Toolkit is a step-by-step guide to the process of creating public art from idea development and location analysis to financing and artist selection to installation and conservation. Visit forecastpublicart.org/toolkit and check it out!
Interested in a non-MRAC training opportunity, but not sure that your organization can afford the fee? MRAC offers a training fund grant for management or administrative-related training opportunities that will strengthen your organization. Click here for more information on MRAC's Management Training Fund grant.
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| MRAC FY 2011 Annual Report
All of our grant awards from FY 2011 are available in a downloadable document--The MRAC 2011 Annual Report is now online! (Please be patient with the download; it is a relatively large file.)
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Construction UpdatesThe Central Corridor LRT line is under construction along University Avenue. This will cause delays as traffic is re-routed and/or streets are closed. Please allow extra travel time when coming to visit our office.At times, access to the MRAC parking lots from University may be difficult due to the LRT construction. To get to our back entrance, use Myrtle St.--behind the MRAC building. You can access Myrtle from Raymond or Pelham. Click here to see a map to our back entrance.
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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 |
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MRAC FY11 Summary
In FY 2011, MRAC received 1039 grant requests and awarded 508 grants totaling $3,330,010, including 34 grants awarded in the new MRAC Next Step Fund program for individual artists, funded by The McKnight Foundation, and a grant to fund VSA Minnesota's ADA Access Improvement Grants for Metro Arts Organizations. MRAC also provided 26 arts management workshops, the 9-month arts of leadership series for directors of arts councils and centers, 63 individual and peer coaching sessions, and 26 grant application workshops.
Photos for top ribbon provided by: FOCI Glass, Ballet Minnesota, Thursday Musical (© Virginia Padden), Caponi Arts Park (Photo of CAAM Chinese Dance Theater), Oratorio Society (© Kyrsten Gustafson), Masquers Theatre Company, and T.V. by Girls.
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