Art Project Grant

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (ARAC) administers the Art Project Grant to support meaningful arts activities that provide value to communities served by the applicant organization. ARAC is one of eleven regional arts councils in Minnesota, with funding derived from appropriations by the Minnesota State Legislature through the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (ACHF) and the State’s General Fund, along with additional support from The McKnight Foundation. The Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund was established following the 2008 passage of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment, which allocated sales tax revenue to arts, cultural, and heritage programming. This grant program specifically funds projects that create, perform, exhibit, or publish artistic works, or that present arts events through contracted services with other organizations or artists. The Art Project Grant offers up to $5,000 in funding, consolidating multiple former ARAC programs including Art Project, Arts and Cultural Heritage, Rural and Community Art Project, and Arts Learning grants. A portion of the funds is specifically reserved for rural organizations. Applicants must be nonprofit organizations, schools, tribal governments, or fiscal sponsors operating within ARAC’s service region, which includes Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Lake, Koochiching, and St. Louis Counties, as well as the tribal nations of Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Bois Forte, and Leech Lake within Itasca County. Eligible projects must directly benefit the public, and applicants must demonstrate at least one full year of arts programming history with appropriate financial documentation. The application period for Fiscal Year 2025 opens on February 3, 2025, and closes on March 16, 2025, at 11:59 p.m. Applications must be submitted electronically through ARAC’s online grants management system, Foundant. The earliest allowable project start date is June 1, 2025. Applications undergo a two-part review, first by ARAC staff for completeness and eligibility, followed by a peer review panel consisting of regional artists, arts professionals, and community experts. Final funding decisions are approved by the ARAC Board. Applicants will be notified of their award status tentatively between May 23-28, 2025, following the panel review during the week of April 28 - May 2, 2025. Grant funds may be used for arts programming, exhibitions, performances, arts services, educational opportunities (non-academic credit), public art installations, and projects increasing community access to the arts. Specific restrictions include prohibitions on general operating support, political or religious activities, re-granting, capital improvements (with limited ADA exceptions), and activities benefiting only organizational members. ARAC requires grantees to adhere to civil rights and accessibility laws and to properly credit ARAC support in all promotional materials. Applications must address criteria related to artistic vision, community impact, and organizational capacity. Reviewers assess applicants’ artistic track record, the significance of the proposed project, and the organization’s ability to carry out the work successfully. ARAC staff is available to assist with application development and review if requests are submitted at least two weeks before the deadline. Applicants with questions or seeking advisement can contact ARAC staff via email at info@aracouncil.org or by phone at (218) 722-0952 during business hours.