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What the ARAC Does

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (ARAC) is one of eleven state-designated Regional Arts Councils whose primary function is to facilitate and encourage local arts development by providing funding and various forms of assistance for the creation and presentation of the arts. In this role, the ARAC awards grants to individual artists and nonprofit, tax-exempt arts organizations in the Arrowhead Region. The Council serves the art needs of the seven county area in northeastern Minnesota which is comprised of Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake and St. Louis Counties. The funding for the ARAC programs and services is provided through an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature and a grant from The McKnight Foundation.

The ARAC currently runs four grant programs for arts organizations and three grant programs for individual artists. The ARAC also produces the following programs on an annual basis:

Each spring, the ARAC will present the Arrowhead Arts Awards to two outstanding individuals in the region. This program was developed to recognize the contributions of arts administrators to the Arrowhead Region and the accomplishments of individual artists. The George Morrision Artist Award recognizes an individual artist whose body of work has made a significant contribution to the arts over an extended period of time, while The Maddie Simons Advocate Award recognizes an arts administrator, arts educator, volunteer for a nonprofit arts organization, or artist whose involvement in a project or programs has substantially contributed to the arts in the Arrowhead Region. (Please contact the ARAC if you would like further information on either of these programs.)

In addition to our annual programming of grants, awards, and workshops, the ARAC offers the following services:

Maintains a database of regional arts organizations, artists, and services.

Produces a semiannual newsletter which publishes a list of ARAC grants awarded, grant information and deadlines, and Council news.

Holds grant writing workshops in different locations throughout the region and upon request.

Extensive individual assistance, referrals, and other information is available to artists and arts organizations as well, by contacting ARAC staff.