Artist Equity grant

• This grant is intended to provide funding to amplify underrepresented voices within our diverse community through projects and/or professional development opportunities, thanks to generous support from the McKnight Foundation.

• This grant is open to individual artists who are Black, Indigenous, People of Color, People with Disabilities, people over 65, Military Veterans, and/or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual/Agender, Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2+).

• Projects may not be conducted under business names or structures. Individual applicants may not apply on behalf of a business or LLC. 

  • If funded, the W-9 form submitted must have the “Individual/Sole Proprietor” box checked in order to receive payment. 

  • If the applicant uses an alternative, pen, or stage name, this is allowable in the application under “Organization Name”

  • Contact info@aracouncil.org with any questions.

• Applicant must be eighteen (18) years of age or older and be a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident status

• Applicants must be a resident of and/or organizations must be based in Minnesota, as determined by their voting address and/or the payment of Federal, State, and local taxes

• Applicant/Organization must be a resident of the state of Minnesota, as determined by the address used for voting and the payment of taxes, and live in ARAC’s service region, consisting of the following seven (7) counties: Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis, and/or one of the following four (4) tribal nations: the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa, Fond du Lac Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, and Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe (District I)

• Applicant must be a resident of ARAC’s service region for at least six (6) months prior to the deadline of this application, as well as throughout the duration of the project

• Application must have arts and/or culture-bearing as the project’s primary focus

• NEW FY26! Proposed project and reporting must be completed within the specified grant period date range, typically over a 12-18 month duration of time. 

  • See Grant Program Guidelines for the applicable project date range based on the program of interest.

• NEW FY26! Applicants may technically apply to multiple grant programs. However, only one (1) grant may be active at a time. If you are a returning applicant and have an open grant with ARAC, you must complete all funded activities and submit a final report through the Grant Portal before you can receive new funding.

  • Does not apply to ARAC Operating Support grantees or first-time applicants

  • Reach out to info@aracouncil.org with any general questions or grants@aracouncil.org if you have a current open grant project

• Project funds may not be used for any costs incurred before the grant period start date or after the end date

• Project may not require artists to pay an unreasonable entry fee in order to sell, exhibit, perform, publish, or otherwise participate 

• Project may not be primarily intended to raise funds for an organization, charity, or cause, or to start or build an endowment

• Applicants may not be a current member of the ARAC staff, or a member of their immediate family. (Immediate family is defined as: spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, child’s spouse, brother, brother’s spouse, sister, or sister’s spouse.)

• Individuals/organizations associated with a proposed project cannot apply for multiple grants to fund the same project, regardless of the role within the scope of work or artistic production

• Returning applicants must have filed satisfactory final reports through the Grant Portal for all prior ARAC-funded projects

• Grant awards to individual artists are considered taxable income; grantees will receive a Federal 1099 Employment Tax Form at the end of the calendar year in which they received the grant funds. All applicants are required to maintain complete records relating to the receipt and expenditure of the grant funds for at least three (3) years beyond the end date of the grant period. Your records may be audited or inspected by ARAC staff at any time after reasonable notification during the grant period and for three years following the completion of your project.

• Applicants may not be in violation of any past contractual agreement with ARAC, such as an overdue Final Report from a previous ARAC grant 

• Applicants must file a Final Report in alignment with the program requirements. Failure to report may jeopardize any future grants being received by the applicant from the MN State Arts Board (MSAB) or any other Regional Arts Councils (RACs). Incomplete reporting could result in the applicant being required to repay grant funds and/or be subject to further investigation of potentially fraudulent activity.

• Applicant must not have failed to return grant funds to ARAC after having any ARAC grant contracts/agreements terminated or funding revoked

• Project funds may not be used for any costs incurred before the grant period start date or after the end date

• Project may not require artists to pay an unreasonable entry fee in order to sell, exhibit, perform, publish, or otherwise participate 

  Project may not be primarily intended to raise funds for an organization, charity, or cause, or to start or build an endowment

  Applicants may not be a current member of the ARAC staff, or a member of their immediate family. (Immediate family is defined as: spouse, domestic partner, parent, child, child’s spouse, brother, brother’s spouse, sister, or sister’s spouse.)

• Individuals/organizations associated with a proposed project cannot apply for multiple grants to fund the same project, regardless of the role within the scope of work or artistic production

• Returning applicants must have filed satisfactory final reports through the Grant Portal for all prior ARAC-funded projects

• Grant awards to individual artists are considered taxable income; grantees will receive a Federal 1099 Employment Tax Form at the end of the calendar year in which they received the grant funds. All applicants are required to maintain complete records relating to the receipt and expenditure of the grant funds for at least three years beyond the end date of the grant period. Your records may be audited or inspected by ARAC staff at any time after reasonable notification during the grant period and for three years following the completion of your project

• Applicants may not be in violation of any past contractual agreement with ARAC, such as an overdue Final Report from a previous ARAC grant 

• Applicants must file a Final Report in alignment with the program requirements. Failure to report may jeopardize any future grants being received by the applicant from the MN State Arts Board (MSAB) or any other Regional Arts Councils (RACs). Incomplete reporting could result in the applicant being required to repay grant funds and/or be subject to further investigation of potentially fraudulent activity

• Applicant must not have failed to return grant funds to ARAC after having any ARAC grant contracts/agreements terminated or funding revoked

• Activities that take place outside the state of Minnesota

• Travel/Relocation outside the state of Minnesota

• Purchases made prior to the grant project period start date or after the grant project period end date.

• Classes, workshops, or projects relating to or resulting in academic credit, tuition for academic coursework, teaching licensure, or continuing education requirements (CEUs) to retain teaching licensure, or that replace discontinued activities that were formerly supported by state funds

• Creating or distributing new grants or monetary awards to others 

  • However, providing free access, such as non-competitive scholarships for project participation, stipends, reduced rates, or complimentary tickets, is allowed.

• Expenses associated with the running of a registered for-profit business, including but not limited to LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp, etc. 

• For rent, lease, or mortgage payments for space the applicant uses on an ongoing basis (i.e. home, studio, office space, storage, etc.)

  • However, it is allowable to lease or rent space that is necessary for the proposed project (e.g., for performance, production, exhibition, etc.), so long as it is not routinely occupied by the applicant.

• Capital improvements or purchases of permanent equipment

  • Unless capital improvement is for ADA Accessibility

    • If applicable, there are no financial restrictions on the requested amount

• Non-capital equipment requests totaling more than 50% of the total requested amount 

  • I.e. $2,000 is the maximum allowable equipment request of a $4,000 grant program for individuals, or $2,500 is the maximum allowable equipment request of a $5,000 grant program for organizations.

  • Does not apply to the Operating Support Grant

• Activities for the exclusive benefit of an organization’s members

• Contributions to any political party, organization, action committee, or any person who holds, or is a candidate for, elected office

• Lobbying activities, and/or activities in connection with any political campaign or referendum 

• Activities that involve the religious socialization or proselytization of the audience or participants

• For any activity that violates federal, state, or local laws, ordinances, or policies

This is not a complete list. If you have any questions on eligibility, requirements, and restricted use of funds, please contact info@aracouncil.org.