Individual Artist Equity Grant

The Individual Artist Equity program provides up to $3,000 to individual artists who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, People with Disabilities, and/or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual/Agender, Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2+). The funding is designed to allow you to carry out a well-planned project that will allow you to grow as an artist or to take advantage of an impending opportunity.

Important Dates for FY24:

Open: October 2, 2023 | Deadline: Sunday, November 19, 2023 at 11:59 p.m. | Project Start Date: February 1, 2024
Open: April 1, 2024 | Deadline: Sunday, May 12, 2024 at 11:59 p.m. | Project Start Date: July 1, 2024

Deadlines are firm, applicants are encouraged to finish in advance of the deadline, staff is available during normal business hours to assist. Email admin@aracouncil.org or grants@aracouncil.org with questions or to schedule an appointment for longer consultations.

Our staff is available to help you sort through your ideas, give feedback on your application, as well as encourage you.

Feel free to contact our staff to receive feedback. Our Director of Grants and Outreach can serve as a sounding board for all parts of the process. We’re also happy to help you navigate through the application and any technical questions that come up.

If you are unfamiliar with us, the staff serves as advocates for all artists. Decisions about the grants are made by panels of artists and ARAC Board members.

We are here to help and assist you with the application process.

Who Can Apply?

To be eligible to apply for this program, you must be:

  • At least eighteen years old and not enrolled in an arts-related degree program.

  • A U.S. citizen, or have permanent resident status.

  • Have permanent residence(taxes/voting) in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, or St.Louis County or of the four Tribal Nations within our region: BoisForte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, or Leech Lake(within Itasca County)for at least six months.

  • A resident of the region for the duration of the project.

  • If you have no outstanding or overdue final reports from past funding.

  • Both artists and arts organizations may apply only once per grant round, and cannot receive funding from the same grant program twice in a fiscal year.

What Can I Fund?

  • Art supplies such as canvas, paints, fabrics, clay, etc.

  • Educational opportunities that advance your creative practice or career.

  • Labor such as services of other artists, babysitters, or paid time off from work to create art.

  • Equipment or technology purchases are allowed but must be integral to the artistic project proposed and must be less than 25% of the total request.

  • An approved project must begin within six months.

This is not a complete list.

Please reach out if you have other ideas that don’t fall under the “Can’t Fund” category below.

What Can’t I Fund?

  • A project where you are also applying to MN State Arts Board and have received or may receive funding from them. If you have previously applied to MSAB and did not receive the funds, you may apply here if the other qualifications are met.

  • A project that won’t begin for more than six months.

  • Equipment more than 25% of the total request amount.

  • The project attempts to influence any state or federal legislation.

  • The request includes making improvements to the applicant’s private property.

  • The project requires excessive entry, exhibition, or tuition fees or work toward a degree.

  • The project primarily involves developing school curriculum plans or teaching materials.

  • The project promotes religious socialization including proselytization.

  • The project was once supported by state general fund appropriations.

  • The activity involves out-of-state travel (except for the Professional Development Small Grant).

  • The project is designed for a private audience and is not open to the general public.

  • The project is for capital improvement, construction, or purchase of property.

  • The funds are requested for general operating support (except the Operating Support Grant).

  • The funds are requested for a project that serves as a benefit, fundraiser, or donation.

How Do I Apply?

Applications must be completed using the ARAC Grant Portal. Submissions in any other format, including email, will not be accepted. Instructions for navigating the online system can be found by clicking on the ‘ApplyNow’ button below.

  • The online application process will walk you through submitting your application.

  • To be eligible, your application must include all materials listed as required in the online application.

  • No late applications will be accepted under any circumstances, please apply early. Our staff is available to help you sort through your ideas, navigate through the application, provide feedback, and serve as a sounding board for all parts of the process.

ADA requires that organizations make access to publicly funded projects available to people with disabilities. For more information contact VSA Minnesota at www.vsamn.org and/or https://www.disability.state.mn.us/.

How Does ARAC Choose Who Gets Funded?

Decisions about the grants are made by panels of artist peers, art administrators, art supporters, and culture bearers from throughout the Arrowhead Region. If you fall into any of these categories and would like to become a reviewer, please complete a reviewer application. (Grant Panel Application) If you are interested but have not been a reviewer before we provide training as well as a stipend.

Criteria

  • Artistic Vision, both of past work and of the proposal presented

  • Impact of the project on the artist’s career.

  • Ability to carry out the project

Applicants who demonstrate an ability to meet these criteria will be weighed together as a slate to ensure equitable distribution of geographic and demographic diversity, ability to reach underserved arts audiences, and diversity of arts disciplines.

What Questions are on the Grant Application?

Artistic Vision
Reviewers will use your answers in this section to assess the vision of the work you have completed to date and the vision of the work you propose to do. Use the first question to tell us about your previous work. The second is to help us understand the significance of what you propose to do.

  • Please tell us about your past work. Include how you place your work within your discipline or medium. For teaching artists please describe your qualifications as an instructor.

  • Please tell us about the project you want to do. What can you tell us about the artistic vision for this project? Does it continue the type of work you’ve completed in the past or are you heading in a different direction?

You’ll be asked to attach a sample of your work.
Work Sample Instructions

Impact and Evaluation
The impact of your project is determined by the project’s appropriateness to furthering or achieving your artistic goals.

  • How does this opportunity/project impact your artistic career? This section is for you to tell us about your goals and how you plan to know whether you succeeded in reaching them. The first section is really about your conception of the work. - Know that goal statements such as “I want to finish a set of paintings,” are acceptable, but might receive a very low score. A better statement would be, “I want to finish 15 paintings for an exhibit opportunity at Gallery X”. Outcomes such as, "I finished the performance” are also potentially low scoring. A better statement would be, “When I finish my performance, I will talk with audience members about their experience and gather feedback.”

  • What goals/outcomes do you hope to address or achieve through engaging in this activity?

  • How will you know if you’ve been successful?

Ability
Your capacity to undertake your project. This includes: providing a budget that is realistic, feasible, and demonstrates a clear understanding of the scope of your project; adequate support materials; as well as narrative responses articulating your readiness to undertake the project. We also look at timetables, past work successes, and confirmation of partnerships (if applicable).

  • What is your work plan/timetable for completing this project?

  • How will you use the ARAC funding requested for this opportunity? Be as specific as possible.

  • Include supplies, tools, equipment, your time, etc. Note: equipment cannot exceed 25% of your overall funding request.

  • Tell us about why we should have confidence that you can execute this project.

    You’ll be asked to attach an artistic resume, and if applicable, resume or bios of other individuals participating in your project.

Optional:

  • Is there anything else you would like to tell us about yourself or your proposal?