topMRAC e-newsletter
September 2014 
In This Issue
OD/Cap Deadline
Community Arts Workshops
Arts Learning Workshops
Arts Activities Support Panels
Arts Management Training
Resource Updates
Legacy Signs
FY 2015 Deadlines
Photos Needed!
Forward to a Friend
FY 2014 Summary
Quick Links


From Mara Miller, Communications and Events Coordinator

 

I grew up in Minnesota, and for me the Legacy Amendment truly represents our state and what we value. There is something for everyone--whether you love the lakes, wilderness, parks, arts and cultural heritage, or like me, all of the above.

 

It's also my experience that Minnesotans are practical. We're willing to spend money on things we value, but we want to see that the funds are being put to good use. I know MRAC's funds are. After every grant round, I read and post the awarded project descriptions and I always find myself excited by all the amazing activities that are taking place in our region as a result. I honestly get giddy when I talk to others (especially those out of state) about our Legacy funds and the remarkable projects that the dollars help make happen. 

 

But it is not enough for me to know how great the Legacy Amendment is; we need everyone who supports, enjoys, and/or benefits from the arts programming that you do to know how important these funds are. Why? Because the Legacy Amendment was adopted for 25 years and the first 5 years have already flown by. It won't be long before we ask Minnesotans to decide if this dedicated funding is valuable and should be continued. And when we do, we want the answer to be a resounding, YES!

 

Where am I going with this? MRAC now has Legacy Amendment banner signs that groups can borrow for their funded events to help bring attention to Legacy Amendment funding. How do you borrow one? Email me at [email protected] with the name and date(s) of the event(s), your name, email and phone number, and a pick-up and return date for the sign. The number of signs is limited, and signs will be lent on a first come, first-served basis.

 

Your work in the arts makes me proud to be a Minnesotan. Thank you for all you do!

 

Mara Miller

Organizational Development and Capital Grant Deadline

The FY 2015
Organizational Development and Capital grant application deadline is Monday, September 8, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. with an earliest project start date of November 26, 2014. Grant guidelines and a link to the online grant application interface are available on the respective grant program pages. All applications must be submitted online through the Grant Interface and time stamped by 4:30 p.m.

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Community Arts Grant Application Workshops
 
The FY 2015 Community Arts, Round 1 grant deadline is Monday, October 6, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. with an earliest project start date of December 17, 2014. The following workshops are designed to help groups prepare MRAC Community Arts grant applications. Participants will become familiar with the grant program and online application process and learn how to write effective MRAC grant proposals. Please click on the linked workshop date to register.

Tuesday, September 9, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m
Wednesday, September 10, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
All applications must be submitted using MRAC's online Grant Interface. Guidelines and a link to the grant interface are available on the Community Arts grant program page.

The workshops are free and will be held in the MRAC conference room at 2324 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55114.  Please contact us if you need special accommodations to attend. 

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Arts Learning Grant Application Workshops
 
The FY 2015 Arts Learning, Round 1 grant deadline is Monday, November 3, 2014 at 4:30 p.m. with an earliest project start date of January 28, 2015. The following workshops are designed to help groups prepare MRAC Arts Learning grant applications. Participants will become familiar with the grant program and online application process and learn how to write effective MRAC grant proposals. Please click on the linked workshop date to register.

Monday, September 29, 3:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
Tuesday, September 30, 6:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, October 1, 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
All applications must be submitted using MRAC's online Grant Interface. Guidelines and a link to the grant interface are available on the Arts Learning grant program page. The grant interface for this program will be activated on September 22, 2014.

The workshops are free and will be held in the MRAC conference room at 2324 University Avenue West, St. Paul, MN 55114. Please contact us if you need special accommodations to attend. 

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Arts Activities Support Grant Panels

The FY 2015 Arts Activities Support, Round 1 grant applications will be reviewed the week of September 15, 2014. The panel review meetings will begin each day at 9:00 a.m. with a short panel re-orientation. Click on the panel review date to see the order of reviews for that panel day.

September 15
September 16
September 17
September 18
September 19

Panel meetings are public, open meetings, and 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.

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MRAC Arts Management Training  

MRAC's FY 2015 Arts Management workshops will begin in October. Look for an emailed announcement later this month and information in October's newsletter. Information will also be posted on our website at www.mrac.org.
 
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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 State Arts Board's Partners in Arts Participation grant program is designed to support Minnesota nonprofit health or human service organizations to broaden opportunities for Minnesotans to participate in the arts by integrating the arts into their programming or services. Applicants may choose to have their constituents engage in existing high quality arts experiences, and/or may work with an artist or arts organization to design experiences tailored to meet the needs of the constituents they serve. More information is available at www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/machf-piap.htm. Deadline: September 12, 2014.

 

The 2014 Arts Midwest Conference is the preeminent booking and educational conference for the Midwest performing arts industry, and will return to the Minneapolis Convention Center on September 17-20.  For more information visit www.artsmidwest.org/programs/conference.  

 

Arts Midwest recently released a report, Capacity building and resilience, that investigates how small and mid-sized arts organizations learn, adapt, and grow. Examining the experiences of eight ArtsLab participants, the report identifies four capacities that have helped organizations in Minnesota and North Dakota thrive in the face of operational challenges, staffing and leadership changes, and shifts in funding. Click the link above to find out more.  

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. Visit the Management Training Fund program page for more information. 

 

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Now Lending Legacy Amendment Signs 

Help us communicate the impact and value of Legacy Amendment funds! MRAC is now lending graphic banner signs (33.5"w x 83"h) with the Legacy Amendment logo and MRAC acknowledgement language for projects funded by the arts and cultural heritage fund for display at the funded event(s). Please contact Mara Miller at [email protected] or by phone 651-523-6384 to reserve a sign. The number of signs we have is limited, so please reserve them early and return the signs promptly after using.

 

FY 2015 Grant Application Deadlines

Below are the remaining FY 2015 grant application deadlines. All applications must be submitted using the online MRAC Grant Interface. Unless otherwise noted, all applications must be submitted by 4:30 p.m. on the deadline date. "Submitted" means that your application has been received and time-stamped by the MRAC Grant Interface server.  

 

9/8/2014     Capital

9/8/2014     Organizational Development

10/6/2014   Community Arts, Round 1

11/3/2014   Arts Learning, Round 1

1/12/2015   Community Arts, Round 2

3/2/2015     Arts Learning, Round 2

3/2/2015     Next Step Fund, (11:59 p.m.)

4/6/2015     Arts Activities Support, Round 2

4/13/2015   Arts Achievement Award

 

Weekly           Management Training Fund

Weekly           Emergency Accessibility

Monthly         Management Consulting Fund

 

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Photos Needed for a New Brochure!

The Metropolitan Regional Arts Council needs photos of arts activities from the past year to use on our website and in our print materials such as our brochure and annual report. We are looking 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 will be 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 [email protected].

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MRAC FY 2014 Summary 

In FY 2014, MRAC received 814 applications and awarded 451 grants totaling
3,175,902 to arts organizations and/or projects including a 220,000 grant to VSA Minnesota for its re-granting program, the ADA Access Improvement Grants for Metro Arts Organizations. These grants were funded by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State's general fund, and by the voters of Minnesota, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. MRAC also received 340 applications from individual artists in the Next Step Fund program and awarded 38 grants totaling 182,586 with funds from The McKnight Foundation. MRAC also provided 23 arts management training sessions and 30 grant application workshops.

Photos for top ribbon provided by: Caponi Art Park, Twin Cities Housing Development Corporation, Twin Cities Women's Choir, Weavers Guild of Minnesota, and the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra.