The East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC) offers grants for local and regional arts projects by groups, organizations, nonprofits, and government units in Minnesota's Region 7E, which includes Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, and Pine counties. The program aims to support a diverse range of arts projects, including creation, sponsorship, publication, performance, and exhibition of art. ECRAC's mission is aligned with fostering arts producing activities and services for artists or arts organizations, ensuring broad access to the arts for community audiences. This strategic focus underscores a commitment to enriching the cultural landscape of the region.
Target beneficiaries include public agencies (local government, schools, tribal governments), Minnesota private non-profit 501(c)3 organizations, and local groups applying through a qualified fiscal sponsor. All applicants must operate within or primarily benefit Region 7E. The impact goals are to support and promote artistic endeavors, enhance community engagement with the arts, and provide professional opportunities for artists and arts organizations. This grant program plays a crucial role in strengthening the non-profit arts community in the specified counties.
The program prioritizes projects that lead to arts producing activities or services for artists or arts organizations. Examples of eligible projects include performances by touring artists/companies, visual art exhibitions, local theatre productions, artist residencies, public art projects, and educational initiatives like workshops, classes, publications, films, and presentations that promote artists or arts participation. These diverse priorities reflect ECRAC's theory of change, which posits that by investing in a wide array of artistic expressions and educational opportunities, they can cultivate a vibrant and accessible arts environment.
Expected outcomes include an increase in the number and quality of arts projects within Region 7E, enhanced public access to diverse artistic experiences, and greater professional development and support for artists and arts organizations. Measurable results would include the number of projects funded, the reach of these projects within the community, audience attendance numbers, and the engagement levels of artists. ECRAC funds requests from $600 to $5,000 in this category, with the overall grant size ranging from $1,000 to $10,000, demonstrating a commitment to supporting projects of various scales and ensuring a broad impact across the region.
