Artist Equity Grant

The Individual Artist Equity program provides up to $4,000 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+). Historically, these people and their voices have been oppressed, unseen, and unheard. ARAC seeks to raise these voices up. The funding is designed to help you to carry out a well-planned project that will allow you to grow as an artist.

Important Dates for FY25:

Open: August 5, 2024
Deadline: September 15, 2024 at 11:59 p.m.
Earliest Project Start Date: December 1, 2024
Grant Review Date: Review week October 27 – 31, 2024 (specific dates TBD)
Notification Date: Week after board meeting, November 24 – 26, 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.

  • The applicant must be an individual artists who identifies as Black, Indigenous, Person of Color, Person with Disability, person over 65, military veteran, and/or Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Intersex, Asexual/Agender, Two-Spirit (LGBTQIA2+).

  • The applicant must be a permanent resident (for at least 6 months) in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, or St. Louis counties as well as the Fond du Lac , Grand Portage, Bois Forte, or Leech Lake (within Itasca county) nations.

  • The applicant must remain a resident of one of the above locations throughout the duration of their project.

  • The applicant must be a U.S. citizen, or have attained permanent resident alien status.

  • The applicant must be at least eighteen years of age.

Use of the funds for the Artist Equity Grant include, but are not limited to:

  • Costs associated with the exhibition, performance, or production of creative work

  • Purchase of supplies or equipment to create works of art

  • Educational opportunities in the arts (excluding academic credit)

  • Overcome a barrier to long term success

  • Reach a new community or market

  • To enhance your artistic development, such as working with a mentor artist

  • Attending a conference or workshop online or physically in MN

  • Taking part in an artist residency program in MN

  • Hiring as editor for line and copy editing or self-publishing service

  • Marketing yourself or your work

  • Artist payment/stipends; consultant fees; and/or contractual services

  • Payment to self for time spent related to the project

  • Transportation and lodging in MN

  • Space/venue/equipment rental

Eligibility

Requirements for ALL grant recipients:

  • Must comply with Title VI, Section 601, of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which states that no persons, on the grounds of race, color, or national origin, shall be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination related to, the arts

  • Must comply with Title IX, Section 1681 et seq. of the Education Amendments of 1972, and the Age Discrimination Act of 1975, Section 6101-6107, which prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex or age

  • Must maintain complete and accurate records of all activities connected with the grant

  • Must have filed satisfactory reporting with ARAC for the most recently completed fiscal year

  • Must file a final report in alignment with the program requirements. Failure to report may jeopardize any future grant being received by the organization and may result in the organization being required to repay grant funds

  • Must give credit to ARAC in accordance with the Logo Guidelines whenever and wherever credit is being given - https://aracouncil.org/logo-guidelines (Neglecting to do this may result in you having to return the funding)

  • Must seek permission from the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council in writing if a significant change is made in any ARAC funded program or project, please contact grants@aracouncil.org

Grant funds may NOT be used for:

  • Re-granting

  • Activities that are principally recreational, therapeutic, or rehabilitative

  • Travel outside Minnesota to present or produce arts

  • School programs previously supported by state funds

  • Private events not open to the general public

  • Day-to-day expenses associated with the running of a for-profit business, including but not limited to LLC, C-Corp, S-Corp, etc

  • Capital improvements or purchases of permanent equipment

  • Contributions to any political party, organization, action committee, or lobbying

  • Arts activities that involve the religious socialization of the audience or participants.

  • All applications are submitted via our secure online grants management system

  • Applicants are required to complete and submit their applications by electronic means, including the use of an electronic signature 4

  • If you don’t have access to a computer you can arrange a time to use a computer at the ARAC offices, or your local library

  • Please contact us before, or early in the round, if you need special assistance

  • 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

  • Note: requests for review and feedback must be made in writing BEFORE 10 business days out, September 5, from the deadline, September 15, 2024

  • Requests made after this time are not guaranteed a response as we answer requests in the order received (Email requests to grants@aracouncil.org)

  • Late applications are the responsibility of the applicant and will not be accepted. We recommend submitting well before the deadline to avoid technical difficulties that may delay your submitting the application. There are no exceptions, applications are closed automatically at 11:59 p.m. on Sunday, September 15, 2024

ADA requires that organizations make access to publicly funded projects available to people with disabilities Accessibility Resources:

Application Process

Applicants that 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.

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

  • Ability to carry out the project

  • Evaluation of outcomes

Criteria

Artistic Vision and Impact:
Tell us about your past work. Include how you place your work within your discipline or medium. Then tell us about the project you want to do and the artistic vision or inspiration for it. How will this project advance your artistic career/development?

Ability:
What is your workplan/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.

Evaluation:
What goals or outcomes do you hope to achieve through your proposed project?

How will you measure your success?
Answer for each goal you stated in the previous question.

Is there anything more you would like to tell ARAC about yourself or your proposed project?

Click here for assistance in setting goals and evaluating outcomes.

Grant Application Questions

Additional Information

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. If you are interested, but have not previously been a reviewer, we provide training as well as a stipend.

Funding Source
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council’s Equity Grant is made possible through a grant from the McKnight Foundation.

The McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family foundation, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. Established in 1953, the McKnight Foundation is deeply committed to advancing climate solutions in the Midwest; building an equitable and inclusive Minnesota; and supporting the arts and culture in Minnesota, neuroscience, and global food systems.