ARAC Announces new emergency relief fund for artists in need
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (ARAC) is overjoyed to announce its new Emergency Relief Grant Program. This pilot program will provide $500 or $1000 to individual artists who have had a critical need relating to healthcare, housing, equipment, or legal emergencies since January 1, 2024. This grant is intended to serve the Arrowhead community by addressing the pressing circumstances of artists in need.
This program is part of the Artist Emergency Relief Fund Network stewarded by Springboard for the Arts. The network consists of five of Minnesota’s 11 Regional Arts Councils, including the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council (Duluth), Five Wings Arts Council (Staples), the Metropolitan Arts Council (Saint Paul), the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council (Waseca), and the Region 2 Arts Council (Bemidji). Each region has designed its programs to address needs specific to its region and artist communities.
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council’s Emergency Relief Grant Program will begin accepting applications on Monday, September 29, 2025. Applicants will have until Sunday, November 9, 2025, at 11:59 PM to submit their application on ARAC’s grant portal. The selection process for this program will be conducted using a non-competitive randomized drawing after initial eligibility checks. Once approved by the ARAC Board of Directors, award notifications will be dispersed the week of November 24, 2025.
“The outpouring of support we've witnessed is a testament to the resilience and generosity of our community. This emergency funding has been a lifeline for many artists and arts organizations who faced immediate financial hardship, allowing them to sustain their work and continue enriching our region,' said Rebecca Graves, Arrowhead Regional Arts Council Executive Director. “We are deeply grateful for every contribution, which directly translates into continued artistic creation and cultural vibrancy."
About the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council’s mission is to create a healthy art and cultural ecosystem by offering support and resources for artistic professional development and equitable access for arts organizations and individuals to benefit all communities.
The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council serves individual artists, nonprofit arts organizations, informal arts groups, community education organizations, and non-arts nonprofit organizations, which reside in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, and St. Louis counties as well as the Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Bois Forte, and Leech Lake nation within Itasca county.
Program Contact:
Toni St Godard
Grants & Operations Coordinator
218-722-0952
info@aracouncil.org
