2024 Core Grants for Organizations

The Professional Development grant program, offered by the North Dakota Council on the Arts, is a reimbursement-based initiative designed to support arts-related learning activities. It offers up to $1,000 for eligible North Dakota entities and individuals. The core mission of this grant aligns with fostering artistic growth and development within the state by providing opportunities for professional and artistic enhancement. This program aims to ensure that individuals and organizations involved in the arts have access to resources that can improve their skills, knowledge, and operational effectiveness, thereby enriching the overall arts landscape in North Dakota. The primary target beneficiaries of this grant program include individual artists, arts educators, North Dakota state tax-exempt nonprofit arts organizations, federally tax-exempt nonprofit arts organizations, and North Dakota public education institutions. The program's impact goals are centered on empowering these groups to engage in meaningful learning activities, ultimately leading to higher quality artistic output, improved educational practices, and more robust arts organizations. By focusing on professional development, the grant seeks to elevate the capabilities of the state's arts community. The program prioritizes a wide range of learning activities, including workshops, classes, seminars, conferences (both in-person and online), one-on-one study, coaching, and residencies. It also supports hiring consultants or advisors for professional development. For arts organizations, the focus is on supporting staff, board members, and volunteers in their artistic and business duties. Individual artists can develop artistic and business skills, while arts educators can enhance their teaching methodologies. Educational institutions can hire professionals to develop faculty teaching skills in the arts. These diverse funding areas reflect a comprehensive approach to professional development across the arts sector. Expected outcomes include a more skilled and knowledgeable arts workforce, improved artistic and business practices for individual artists and organizations, and enhanced teaching capabilities for arts educators. Measurable results could include an increase in the number of individuals and organizations participating in professional development, demonstrable improvements in artistic techniques or organizational efficiency, and the successful implementation of new skills or strategies. The grant period runs from September 1, 2024, to June 30, 2025, providing a clear timeframe for these activities and their subsequent impact.