In this issue:
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Grant opportunity from SMAC for organizations dealing with disruptions from COVID-19
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MN State Arts Board Creative Support Grant Opportunity for Organizations
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SMAC Awards $25,226 to local organizations
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New in SMAC Gallery: Olga Krasovska
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SMAC Focus Group for Biennial Planning
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Outreach: Opportunities from Springboard for the Arts
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Upcoming Grant Deadlines & Workshops
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SMAC seeks County Board Representatives for Lac qui Parle, McLeod, and Murray counties
Pictured: Grant recipient and upcoming exhibit artist for the SMAC Gallery, Olga Krasovska, decorated a space in the KK Berge Building (Granite Falls) to function as a designated art classroom as part of her Individual Artist Grant from SMAC.
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A Message from SMAC Executive Director
A short note of encouragement to all of our artists, creatives and organizations producing and supporting art: keep on keeping on.
Keep doing art and bringing art to your community. Keep moving forward with your artistic ideas and dreams. Find ways to share your gifts. Find ways to network and connect. Create your own “new normal.” Just create.
Here at SMAC we want to encourage you to consider how a grant might help you or your organization move forward. We encourage you to think outside of what you might normally do and apply for an art project that stretches you or your organization. For organizations that might mean totally abandoning the programs you normally offer and trying something completely new. Or that might mean the same program – but offered virtually. For artists that might mean exploring a new medium through training classes or getting assistance with creating a web presence that can showcase and share your work.
Take a look at the twelve grants programs we offer. SMAC just recently received our final budget numbers for the year and they look surprisingly positive: we will see a 14.02% reduction in our Arts & Cultural Heritage funding this year (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021). We expected a much larger budget reduction (and will probably see further cuts to funding next year.) So… that means there are many opportunities for funding NOW! Don’t hesitate.
This has been your note of encouragement. Keep doing art!
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SMAC Executive Director, Nicole DeBoer |
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NEW grant opportunity from SMAC for organizations dealing with disruptions from COVID-19:
"Going Virtual" Equipment, Technology and Training Grant
~ Funded with MN Disaster Relief Funds ~
Grant Amount: up to $1000
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This special grant program provides up to $1,000 to aid arts organizations in the SMAC Region with equipment or technology that will allow them to provide virtual events & programming. No match requirements. Applicants can also use the monies to participate in “go-virtual” training or consultations.
Application Deadlines -- First of the month for November and December or until funding runs out.
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ATTENTION! Important grant opportunity for organizations and public entities dealing with the arts
Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Support Grant Opportunity
The Minnesota State Arts Board announced another opportunity to apply for a FY 2021 Creative Support for Organizations grant, this time with more flexibility on who can apply. SMAC strongly encourages organizations who have designated funding to the arts in our region to apply! Please take advantage of the money dedicated to the arts in MN to reaching our rural communities.
Creative Support for Organizations is meant to help arts organizations adapt to the changing environment caused by the global pandemic. Recognizing that many Minnesotans engage with the arts through community organizations and public entities that are not specifically arts organizations, the board will offer an additional Creative Support for Organizations with an application deadline of December 4th, 2020 that will be open to a wider spectrum of applicants.
For the next deadline, the following additional kinds of entities will be welcome to apply:
- Arts affiliates of nonprofit or public institutions;
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Nonprofit organizations whose primary mission or focus is not the arts but have an ongoing commitment to arts programming and have received an Arts Board or regional arts council grant (for our region, Southwest Minnesota Arts Council) in fiscal years 2017, 2018, 2019, or 2020.
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Public entities with an ongoing commitment to arts programming that have received an Arts Board or regional arts council grant (for our region, Southwest Minnesota Arts Council) in fiscal years 2017, 2018, 2019, or 2020.
Organizations that were eligible to apply in August and September, but didn’t, will still be eligible to apply. Organizations that have been awarded a FY 2021 Creative Support for Organizations grant will not be eligible to apply for another grant. Organizations that submitted an application in August or September, that is being reviewed by the Arts Board, will not be eligible to submit another application. More detailed eligibility information is available in the application materials, which can be found here: www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/cso.htm
Creative Support for Organizations funds can be used to support people and activities that will be needed to keep audiences, participants, students, or communities engaged with the arts during the pandemic and beyond. This grant program aims to help Minnesota arts organizations and programs maintain their financial sustainability and long-term viability by leveraging creativity and connections to community, to ensure that the arts remain available to Minnesota residents and communities.
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SMAC Awards $25,226 to local organizations
The SMAC board met virtually on October 27, 2020 and awarded the following six organizations within our region grants totaling $25,226.
The following five organizations were awarded SMAC Art Project Grants. These grants provide organizations in the SMAC region with up to $7,000 in matching funds to stimulate and encourage the creation, performance and appreciation of the arts.
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AMP (Arts & Mentoring Project) of Pipestone was awarded $6,184 for a project they're calling "Little Kids Rock the Quartziter". AMP will offer a hands-on, seven week music curriculum called "Little Kids Rock" to 2nd graders through adults with performances at the Quartziter Community Center in Jasper and the Pipestone Performing Arts Center in Pipestone. Instruction is set to start in March of 2021 with performances at the end of April and beginning of May. The applicant explained, "a wonderful nonprofit called Little Kids Rock has developed a thorough music education curriculum that is very accessible to many different levels of learners. It is a robust, FREE curriculum found at www.littlekidsrock.org and can be used by anyone". A majority of the funding will go towards music instructors, mentors, and guest artists expenses with some funding going towards advertising and technicians for performances.
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Hutchinson Center for the Arts has been awarded $2,000 for their 2021 Visual Art Exhibition Series. Funds will go towards artist stipends, exhibit installation expenses and marketing costs. The series will present six professional exhibits featuring eight Minnesota artists and two community showcase exhibits. The community exhibitions include the Annual Youth Art Exhibition for school age children, and the Annual Community Showcase exhibit which is open to artists and creatives ages 17 and older who reside within the 18 county SMAC region. The applicant said, "The series serves to provide professional opportunities for Minnesota artists in all career stages and bring a diverse selection of artists and ideas to the community." Pictured: Hemp artworks by Chica Notch, who has a solo exhibition for the 2021 HCA exhibit series.
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The Lac qui Parle Historical Society in Madison was awarded $4,216 for their play production of the "Lac qui Parle Radio Hour". The applicant said, "the production will blend art and history in a unique way. The concept is a radio show performed before a live audience. There will be some props, but a major part of the set will be photographs relevant to the various parts of history being performed." The play, which is part of Lac qui Parle County’s 150th anniversary celebration, will use a large screen utilizing a rear projection system instead of stage sets. Through the use of the screen, the actual photographs of the events, people, and places will be used throughout the play to create more interest in the production and provide the audience with a better feeling for the time period being portrayed. The projection system with a large screen will be rented to project the photographs behind the actors. The applicant said, "this is a new method of presenting a play in this community." There will also be musical numbers throughout the play with musicians backing up the performance. An original song is being written to further enhance the experience. Performances are planned for April of 2021.
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The Meander Art Crawl of the Upper Minnesota River Valley has been awarded $7,000 for their 2021 event, which will take place the first weekend of October. The Meander Upper Minnesota River Art Crawl is a tour of artists' studios and galleries in Chippewa, Big Stone, Swift, Yellow Medicine, and Lac qui Parle counties. The applicant said, "'Meander' is is an appropriate name for the event, since people who attend wander from studio to studio, and also through the landscape of the Minnesota River Valley." Because of COVID-19, the 2020 Meander had to pivot to an online event, but they are planning the 2021 art crawl focus to be on the "in-person" aspect while being prepared to adjust with the "current limitations of our time". The applicant said, "in the months leading up to Meander 2021, we will be increasing our online presence to make artists more resilient during the COVID-19 pandemic...Facebook will be used over many months to present our artists to the public and let them know where they can purchase their items all year." The organizers will also be looking into doing videos, Facebook live and other social media tactics to help customers develop a relationship with Meander artists. They plan to add additional functionality to the website for 2021 and to find ways to offer professional development to the artists, especially with social media, setting up online commerce platforms, and other online marketing for themselves. They said, "All of this, in addition to planning the main art crawl event, will take a lot of coordination and effort. With support from SMAC, we feel that Meander can continue to make a significant impact for the artists in our region." Pictured: Backpack basket by artist Claire Swanson that sold during the online auction for Meander 2020.
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The Prairie Arts Continuum (PAC) of Windom was awarded $7,000 for their production of "Shrek: The Musical". This production will take place in April of 2021 at the Business, Arts, and Recreation Center (BARC) in Windom. The production will involve a large number of community members. The applicant said, "PAC has tried to produce a large-scale musical every other year for a number of years. We strive to involve as much of the community as we are able, and pick shows that have opportunities for all ages, abilities, and nationalities. PAC feels 'Shrek the Musical' will be able to do that".
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The Granite Area Arts Council was awarded a grant from SMAC's newest grant program, Going Virtual: Equipment, Technology & Training Grant, in the amount of $826. These grants provide up to $1,000 to arts organizations in the SMAC service region for equipment or technology that will allow them to provide virtual events and programming. Applicants can also use the funds to participate in “go-virtual” training or consultations.
The Granite Area Arts Council (GAAC) is planning to use the funds to purchase a Zoom subscription for one year to use it for online classes to reach larger audiences in a safe manner. They also plan to pay Open Voices for one-on-one consultations on taking their arts to digital spaces. The applicant said their organization had volunteers and trainees who who benefit from this training as they are currently unfamiliar with the technology. The GAAC will be purchasing equipment to assist in going virtual, such as a microphone, tripod, stabilizer and lighting to use with their existing tablet and personal phones.
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Next in the Gallery: Olga Krasovska
Olga Krasovska of Granite Falls in Yellow Medicine County will be exhibiting her Moving Forward Abstraction painting series at the SMAC Gallery in Marshall from November 12 through December 18, 2020. Olga was born in Ukraine and began painting while growing up in Egypt. She spent nine years teaching and practicing Color Theory, Interior Design and Media Painting at the Teacher's Training University (Krivoj Rog, Ukraine). Since 2005 she has been exhibiting in art galleries and fine art festivals around the USA. In 2019 Olga received an Individual Artist Established Career grant from SMAC to work on her Moving Forward Abstraction painting series.
Olga says, "Since I came to the USA, I have been exposed to a totally new world of freedom of expression and art materials that I never had the opportunity to work with before. My previous training was focused on realistic academic art. Abstract art is a new and exciting chapter in my artistic journey."
"I present to you large mixed media acrylic paintings with complex sophisticated surfaces.
I see the artistic merit in creating new visual effects that promoted multiple stages of perception, engaging viewers in subtle and various ways."
"When painting I think about harmony, balance, and flow of time. It takes time to 'read' the artwork, like reading an unfamiliar map, providing each viewer with his or her unique route."
SMAC will host a virtual artist reception combined with our Third Thursday Artist Talk on Thursday, November 19th at 5:30 pm. See information in the article below about how to join!
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These activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. Additional funding provided by the McKnight Foundation. Minnesota thrives when its artists thrive. The McKnight Foundation supports working artists to create and contribute to vibrant communities.
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Our monthly conversation for individuals will be on Thursday, November 19th at 5:30 pm and our guest artist will be visual artist Olga Krasovska of Granite Falls in Yellow Medicine County! This talk will be her Virtual Artist Reception for her current show in the SMAC Gallery as well as our monthly artist talk. If you'd like to view more of Olga's art before the call, you can visit her website at www.artfromolga.com or her Instagram www.instagram.com/artfromolga1/ or Facebook www.facebook.com/artfromolga/
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How to join:
Please join our meeting from your computer, tablet or smartphone:
If you need instructions on how to join by a landline phone, please email info@swmnarts.org
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We want to hear from YOU!
Join SMAC on Tuesday, November 17th at 3 pm to take part in our Focus Group for how SMAC can better serve organizations dealing with the arts in our region.
If you need instructions on how to join by a landline phone, please email info@swmnarts.org
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Give to the Max Day 2020 is Thursday, November 19! Even though it isn’t technically until November 19th, you can donate NOW through the 19th for a chance to turn YOUR donation into something even more! GiveMN is once again giving extra incentives:
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$500 Early Giving Golden Tickets sponsored by Bush Foundation: Early Giving takes place from November 1-18, and one randomly selected donation from each of these days will receive a $500 Early Giving Golden Ticket!
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$10,000 Super-Sized Golden Ticket: Back for another year, the $10,000 Super-Sized Golden Ticket will be drawn at the end of Give to the Max Day from all donations made from November 1-19.
- Exclusively on November 19:
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$500 Golden Tickets every 15 minutes! sponsored by Bush Foundation
- $500 added to a donation every 15 minutes!
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$1,000 Hourly Golden Tickets sponsored by Bush Foundation
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At the end of each hour on November 19, randomly drawn donations from that hour will have $1,000 added to their total!
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Plan to join GiveMN and thousands of Minnesota nonprofits and schools as we raise funds together for the organizations which make our communities stronger. We are excited to show the nation the generosity of Minnesotans! Please consider donating to SMAC, as well as showing your support to other arts organizations in our region.
Since the inaugural Give to the Max Day in 2009, GiveMN has given away more than $2.2 million in prize grants thanks to the support of their sponsors.
What to learn more about Give to the Max Day? Click here for more information and also see how you or your organization can become involved.
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Thank you for supporting the arts and your communities! |
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On October 20th Springboard for the Arts hosted a virtual Q&A session for artists in our SW MN region. They also reviewed the many services which they provide for MN artists, highlights included:
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Workshops: Free virtual (and captioned) workshops are offered multiple times a month, along with panels and special events. To see what is being offered at anytime, visit their "Calendar of Events" at springboardforthearts.org.
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Work of Art Program: Business Skills for Artists! This comes in the form of a free downloadable toolkit, in ten areas from recordkeeping and time management to career planning and pricing. Visit the Springboard website and select "Thrive as an Artist" on the top menu tab; Under that you'll see a heading of "Professional Growth", where the "Work of Art Program" will be listed as a link option.
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Artist Career Consultations: Springboard offers remote, hour-long career consultations with one of over 20 consultants working in all fields. These consultations are based on a sliding scale of what you can afford, including a free option. Visit the Springboard website and select "Thrive as an Artist" on the top menu tab; Under that you'll see a heading of "Professional Growth", where the "Artist Career Consultations" will be listed as a link option.
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Minnesota Lawyers for the Arts: Artists face a unique array of legal questions and challenges. Minnesota Lawyers for the Arts is there to help, providing educational resources and connecting artists with attorneys who specialize in arts and entertainment law. You will be able to take part in free phone consultations, legal clinics and referrals for copyright, contract and small business issues. Visit the Springboard website and select "Thrive as an Artist" on the top menu tab; Under that you'll see a heading of "Resources & Access", where the "Minnesota Lawyers for the Arts (MnLA)" will be listed as a link option.
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Health & Wellness: Resources for finding health care insurance, and emergency relief resources. Visit the Springboard website and select "Thrive as an Artist" on the top menu tab; Under that you'll see a heading of "Health & Wellness" with links for helpful options.
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Toolkits for change: Free toolkits for artists and organizations, from working with a community and hiring artists to setting up a gallery. Visit the Springboard website and select "Connect to Artists" on the top menu tab; Under that you'll see a heading of "Toolkits for Change" with links for helpful options.
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Accessibility: All programs are captioned with ASL interpretation available, and offered via local phone numbers, call-in only or video.
OPEN CALLS Currently at springboard:
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Provides up to $1,000 to arts organizations in the SMAC service region for equipment or technology that will allow them to provide virtual events and programming. Applicants can also use the funds to participate in “go-virtual” training or consultations. No match requirements.
- Provides organizations in the SMAC region with up to $7,000 in matching funds to stimulate and encourage the creation, performance and appreciation of the arts (pre-packaged theatre residencies limited to $2,500). No cash match required this year. **View Grant Webinar here**
**Monthly Arts Organization Grants Are BACK!**
Applications Due January 1, February 1, March 1, April 1, 4:30 pm, 2021. Monthly Arts Organization grants are on a first-come, first served monthly deadline until all funds have been expended. Deadline is the 1st of each month, 4:30 pm, January-April 2021. Earliest project start date is the first day of the following month after board action.
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Individual Emerging Artist Grants provide up to $2,500 to aid emerging artists at an early stage of their career development with projects that will advance their career. No match requirements.
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Individual Established Career Grants provide up to $7,000 to aid established career artists in the advanced stage of their career development with projects that will advance their career. No match requirements.
- Grants to schools for artist residencies or field trips that include educator training and community involvement; juried student art exhibits; and prepackaged theater experiences. Up to $4,000 (artist residencies) or $2,500 (field trips, juried exhibits, or prepackaged theatre). No cash match required. **Grantwriting Webinar: December 15, 5:30-6:30 pm. Register here!**
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Provides arts organizations with up to $10,000 in matching funds for the purchase of equipment items and facilities improvements that will strengthen the organization’s capacity to serve the arts needs of the SMAC region. No cash match required this year. **Grantwriting Webinar: January 5, Noon-1 pm. Register here!**
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November 18, 12-1 pm: Monthly Arts Organization Grants Webinar
Monthly Arts Organization grants are on a first-come, first served monthly deadline until all funds have been expended. Deadline is the 1st of each month, 4:30 pm, January-April 2021. Earliest project start date is the first day of the following month after board action.
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Arts Organization Development grants provide arts organization in the SMAC region with up to $2,500 in matching funds to increase their long-term stability and capacity through organizational development and management projects.
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Arts Organization Start Up grants provide arts organizations with at least two years of programming up to $2,000 to develop articles of incorporation, by-laws, and apply for their 501(c)(3) status.
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Individual Emerging Artist Grants provide up to $2,500 to aid emerging artists at an early stage of their career development with projects that will advance their career. No match requirements. Next application deadline: January 13, 2021.
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Individual Established Career Grants provide up to $7,000 to aid established career artists in the advanced stage of their career development with projects that will advance their career. No match requirements. Next application deadline: January 13, 2021.
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Individual Artist with Community Collaboration Grants provide up to $10,000 to artists to create a major new work while collaborating with the community, introducing community members to the arts in a new way. No match requirements. Next application deadline: January 13, 2021.
- Grants to schools for artist residencies or field trips that include educator training and community involvement; juried student art exhibits; and prepackaged theater experiences. Up to $4,000 (artist residencies) or $2,500 (field trips, juried exhibits, or prepackaged theatre). No cash match required. Next application deadline: January 27, 2021. **Grantwriting Webinar: December 15, 5:30-6:30 pm. Register here!**
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For more opportunities and resources be sure to check our the latest news posts (updated DAILY!) on SMAC's website:
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Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Seeks Board Representatives
SMAC is seeking a representative from Lac qui Parle County, McLeod, and Murray County to serve on it’s Board of Directors. The Board meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday evening, currently virtually, to set policies, make final decisions on grant awards with input from grant review panels, share ideas and information from their representative counties, and to design programs that enable SMAC to best serve our communities. To learn more and to fill out an application, go to www.swmnarts.org/about/become-a-board-member/
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Memberships
From September 25 to October 23, 2020
Contributors: Greg & Anne Isaackson, Cottonwood • Deb Connolly, Danvers • Alison Nelson, Kerkhoven • Marshall-Lyon County Library, Marshall • Worthington Public Arts, Worthington •
Supporters: Dassel Area Historical Society, Dassel • Bill & Sue Krinke, Echo • Marshall Area Fine Arts Council, Marshall • Bob Dorlac, Marshall • Jessica Welu, Slayton • Beth Habicht, Worthington •
Would you like to become a contributing member of SMAC or make a donation?
The arts have suffered tremendously since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Our arts organizations and individual artists have had to modify, postpone or cancel most, if not all of their projects and events, since March of this year. These closures mean lost income and lost opportunities. Although we will certainly see a reduction of funding from our state funding which comes from sales tax revenues, the SW MN Arts Council will continue working to support and fund arts access for the citizens of your county. We need you to help us support the arts.
You help by contributing online or by mail, for more information, visit:
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS!
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Check out our regional arts calendar!
We are continuing to post both in-person and virtual arts events in our region on our website calendar. If you have events to let us know about, please email the details to info@swmnarts.org! |
2020 SW MN Arts Council BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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Big Stone - John White
Jackson - Kristen Kuipers
Lincoln - Mark Wilmes
Meeker - Darlene Kotelnicki
Pipestone - Erica Volkir
Rock - Shawn Kinsinger &
Louella Voigt
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Chippewa - Georgette Jones
Kandiyohi - Cheri Buzzeo
Lyon - Michele Knife Sterner
Murray - Carisa Clarke
Redwood - David KelseyBassett
Swift - Alison Nelson
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Cottonwood - Anna Johannsen
Nobles - Brett Lehman
Renville-Anne O'Keefe-Jackson
Yellow Medicine-Betsy Pardick
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Executive Director - Nicole DeBoer
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Grants/Financial Administrator - Caroline Koska
Marketing Coordinator/Receptionist - Krystl Louwagie
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SW MN Arts Council
The Southwest Minnesota Arts Council (SMAC) is a non-profit organization committed to promoting and encouraging the development of the arts in the eighteen counties of southwestern Minnesota by serving as a source of funds and technical services which enable local organizations, educational institutions, and individuals to sponsor and/or create and promote the arts in their communities.
SMAC receives funding from individuals, businesses, organizations, schools, cities, counties, private foundations including the McKnight Foundation, an allocation from the State of Minnesota, and a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund, made possible by the voters of Minnesota.
Thank you for supporting the arts in the southwest Minnesota region!
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