In this issue:

  • SMAC's Moved!

  • SMAC Annual Celebration in Appleton: Register today!

  • SMAC hosts Exhibit at the Marshall-Lyon County Library
People look at a wall mural on outside of a building, the mural has penguins and a lion and says, "Together We Can"
  • SMAC Seeks "Move For America" Fellow

  • Save the Date: Welcoming Week in our communities

  • Upcoming SMAC Grant Deadlines & Webinars

  • SMAC Outreach: Leadership Institute
Pictured: Bird Island Cultural Centre outside mural wall, made possible by a SMAC Equipment & Facilities Improvement grant.
We've Moved!

Southwest Minnesota Arts Council's new location is 509 W Main Street in Marshall (pictured)!

We are feeling so positive about this move to a location of similar size and opportunity for artists to exhibit and the public to meet with SMAC Staff.

With our new location, we are also posting updated hours which will be more reliable than our office hours being held during COVID precautions. Starting in August 2022, SMAC offices will be open Monday through Friday, 9 am to 12 pm and 1 pm to 4 pm. If these times do not work for you, please be sure to contact SMAC on alternative times.

We can't wait to see you in our new location!
Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Annual Celebration. Celebrate the Art & Artists of SW MN in 2022. Image includes headshots of John Sterner and Melanie Loy, the SMAC logo, and the Clean Water, Land & Legacy Amendment logo
Please join Southwest Minnesota Arts Council for our Annual Celebration of the Arts & Artists of SW MN in Swift County on Saturday, September 24!

We'll be highlighting various arts locations in Appleton of Swift County this year! We will hold our annual meeting, celebrate and publicly present awards to SMAC's 2022 Prairie Star John Sterner and 2022 Prairie Disciple, Melanie Loy in the Valley District Dance main floor space which is housed in the historic former county courthouse. As always, we'll feature local arts entertainment, a networking happy hour & food, and our Spirit of the Region Raffle: A $10 raffle ticket will get you the chance to win a basket of specialty goods made in the SMAC Region (from wine to honey, beer to fudge). Raffle tickets available in advance through SMAC Staff or a SMAC Board Member, and available onsite at the celebration. Food & Cash bar will be from Plazita Mexican Restaurant of Appleton & Montevideo! Watch for our emails, social media on Facebook and Instagram, and the SMAC website for more info!

Mosaic tile bench
Valley Dance District building street view
From 2-4 pm, check out these grant-funded art locations around Appleton:
  • 52 Wing Mural (inside the building is under construction, but we can still appreciate the outside mural!)
  • Appleton City Park Mosaic Benches
  • Window Murals in the old Electric building along the river, across from the City Park
  • Explore the many rooms of the Art & Culture Center who host classes weekly
Valley Dance District:

  • Two options (2:30 pm & 3:30 pm) to experience what a class is like for students of the Valley Dance District

  • Check out their large second-story* dance studio

*Requires steps to access
Outside mural
Sketch in black line of a horse head with a halo
SMAC Hosts Dan Wahl's
Don't Doubt Your Horses

a participatory exhibit

at the Marshall-Lyon County Library
The Southwest Minnesota Arts Council is so proud of this first time partnership with the Marshall-Lyon County Library! This partnership was necessary as SMAC is currently in transition from one gallery location to our new space and the Marshall-Lyon County Library was excited about the opportunity to present Dan Wahl's art to the public, enhancing the library's already awesome efforts in that direction. SMAC is equally excited about the potential for future art exhibit partnerships with MLCL!
Inside library horse drawing station
The Library is located at 201 C Street in Marshall. Don't Doubt Your Horses runs through August 26, 2022. The Marshall-Lyon County Library hours are Monday through Friday 10 am to 8 pm & Saturday 9 am to 2 pm.
Pictures from the in-person reception. Top center: Artist Dan Wahl and SMAC Executive Director Nicole DeBoer and the outdoor horse drawing coral at the in-person reception on July 27th.
Left: Participants add horse drawings to the temporary outdoor exhibit. Right: Nicole DeBoer hands out ice freeze's to attendees.
Outdoor table set up for drawing
Child pins horse drawing to line outside
Person handing out freezy's outside
Upcoming Virtual Reception
Thursday, August 4 at 5:30 pm. Join Dan Wahl's Virtual Artist Talk Zoom Meeting

Meeting ID: 849 1376 6476
Passcode: 415122

Black and white horse sketches hang on a rope above books shelved at the library
Dan Wahl Artist Statement

Don’t Doubt Your Horses is an interactive exhibition that includes your drawings with mine. It has been in development for 7 years, beginning with the 400 Horses Project.

Born from a desire to understand the equine body structure, the 400 Horses Project began as a drawing exercise. I set out to create 400 horse drawings from January 1 to December 31, 2015. All was going well until I got blocked a few months into the project. I journaled and meditated and drew my way through the artist’s block. Then came a truly unexpected idea. I discovered that the project was not about making horse drawings. It was about liking the horse drawings.
If the project was to be completed at all, I would have to accept all the horses. Every drawing, every horse. This was much easier said than done.
Black line sketch of a horse
The shift of focus from the act of drawing to the act of liking necessitated a deeper appreciation for the horses themselves. In order to accept them I had to let them be who they were. Who they are.

This approach to the project began raising essential questions about standards and aesthetics. What is “bad art”? What drawings would artists hide in their sketchbooks? What horses would be crumpled up and thrown away? In the end, it seemed right to include every single drawing in one exhibition.

The phrase “Don’t Doubt Your Horses” traveled along with some of the more adventuresome horses who were harder to like. I repeated the phrase to myself. Without that mantra some of these horses might never have come into being.
Dan Wahl Bio

Dan Wahl is an artist and writer from the prairie land of southwest Minnesota. He thanks all people, past and present, who hold the land in their hearts. For several decades he has been asking friends, acquaintances, and strangers, “Could you please draw me a horse?”
Clipart shape of person in a wheelchair actively moving forward. White shape on dark blue background.
Please let us know of any accommodations needed for you to enjoy any of our events, virtual or in-person: info@swmnarts.org. Visit SMAC's Access Page for more information and resources.

The Marshall-Lyon County Library hours are Monday through Friday 10 am to 8 pm & Saturday 9 am to 2 pm. The library building has accessible parking, as well as being an accessible building and space. If you have questions about the location, please contact the facility at 507-537-7003 or library@marshalllyonlibrary.org.
legacy logo
These activities are made possible by the voters of Minnesota thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund. 

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.
Did you know this year SMAC applied to host a Move for America Fellow and we were approved!
The position for our Fellow has not been filled yet!
Move for America logo
The Move for America Fellowship Program is a paid, immersive learning experience for emerging leaders to participate in a professional development, peer mentorship, and complete a capstone project designed to build the skills and habits to bridge divides through youth engagement.
Benefits:

  • Monthly living stipend + stipend for moving, housing, and transportation costs

  • Expert training on critical professional and personal communications skills

  • Mentorship from Move for America staff and volunteers

  • Completion of a capstone project that can be featured on Move for America's website

  • Direct experience working in a community-based nonprofit

  • Connections with fellow cohort members and community leaders
Role Description:

  • Encourage growth and development of the arts in Southwest Minnesota

  • Overcome barriers to accessing high quality arts activities

  • Support high quality, age-appropriate arts education for residents of all ages to develop knowledge, skills, and understanding of the arts

  • Support events and activities that represent the diverse ethnic and cultural arts traditions included in this area
Welcoming Week Logo
Welcoming Week for this year is scheduled for September 9 – 18, 2022. This annual campaign is an opportunity to celebrate the values that unite us as neighbors, parents, and colleagues, and to make our communities more welcoming to all those who call southwest Minnesota home.

The theme for this year’s Welcoming Week is “Where We Belong”.

Southwest Minnesota Arts Council is proud to be part of Welcoming Week as a regional partner. SMAC's role is to help promote and support communities within our 18 county region that are holding events for Welcoming Week. Check out these resources from Southwest Initiative Foundation for community members planning a local Welcoming Week celebration. And if you're hosting an event, be sure to email the details to SMAC at info@swmnarts.org so we can add them to our calendar and promote it our social media and news posts! You can also submit calendar events through our website or visit our SMAC Calendar of local arts events.
Fiscal Year 2023 Grant Updates
including descriptions of the grants and funding amounts, deadlines, earliest project start dates, and webinar dates
Upcoming Grant Deadlines

Application Deadline: 1st of the month August 2022 through May 2023 by 4:40 pm Request staff to review application before submission: One week before application deadline. Earliest project start date: 1st day of the following month (after submission).
These deadlines apply to:



Application Deadline: August 17 by 4:30 pm
Request staff to review application before submission: August 3, 2022
Earliest project start date: October 1, 2022

Application Deadline: September 14 by 4:30 pm
Request staff to review application before submission: August 31, 2022
Earliest project start date: November 1, 2022

Application Deadline: October 5 by 4:30 pm
Request staff to review application before submission: September 21, 2022
Earliest project start date: December 1, 2022

Application Deadline: October 19 by 4:30 pm
(Only 1 grant round for this grant in fiscal year 2023)
Request staff to review application before submission: October 5, 2022
Earliest project start date: December 1, 2022

Application Deadline: November 9 by 4:30 pm
(Only 1 grant round for this grant in fiscal year 2023)
Request staff to review application before submission: October 26, 2022
Earliest project start date: February 1, 2023
  • Art Legacy Project Grant: Provide organizations in the SMAC region with up to $20,000 to stimulate and encourage the creation, performance and appreciation of the arts through large-scale projects that will leave an arts legacy in Southwest Minnesota. No cash match required this year. Grantwriting webinar: September 29, 2022
Virtual SMAC Grants Q&A Sessions for Fiscal Year 2023
(July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023)

Join us for a virtual Grants Q&A Session to get questions answered about any of our grant programs. Dates include:

Virtual Grantwriting Webinars for Fiscal Year 2023
(July 1, 2022 - June 30, 2023)

Register for one of our online workshops to learn about our available grants. Grants administrator Caroline will cover guidelines, applications, and the granting process, along with taking time for questions about your specific projects.




including descriptions of the grants and funding amounts, deadlines, earliest project start dates, and webinar dates
Other options for Grant Assistance
SW MN Arts Council grants administrator Caroline Koska is available to meet with you by phone, web conference or in person to answer your questions on grant eligibility and using the application system or to review a draft of your application. Schedule a time with Caroline Koska.

Call 800-622-5284 or email us info@swmnarts.org with your questions. Please let us know of any accommodations needed for you to attend any of our events, virtual or in-person. View SMAC's Access page for more information.
We need you!
Would you like to help SMAC review and score grant applications?

The SMAC Board of Directors continually seeks panels of artists, arts administrators, arts volunteers, and arts appreciators representing multiple artistic disciplines from throughout the SMAC geographic region and from all our communities including BIPOC, people with disabilities, and LGBTQIA2S+ individuals. Being a grant panelist is a positive way to strengthen your grantwriting skills by understanding the process as a whole. It's also a great way to learn and support what exciting projects are happening in rural SW MN! Panelists are compensated $75 for a panel. More details on being a SMAC panelist
MN State Arts Board Logo
Important Opportunities from the Minnesota State Arts Board
SMAC encourages Arts Organizations to apply for the Minnesota State Arts Board’s (MSAB) Creative Support grant for Organizations. These grant programs are available statewide, but we encourage eligible applicants from our 18-county region to apply. 
We encourage Arts Organizations to apply by September 9th for the Minnesota State Arts Board Creative Support for Organizations and request up to $30,000. This program provides support to help organizations deliver arts programming and meaningfully engage their communities in a time of transition. While the grants are designed to be flexible, applicants will be asked to align their activities with one of three program outcomes that address the intent of the legacy amendment and the Arts Board's goals. Grant range: $5,000-$30,000.
 
MSAB Creative Support Organization grant deadline is September 9, 2022. We encourage Organizations from our region to apply for this grant. For more information contact (800) 866-2787 or CreativeSupport-Organizations@arts.state.mn.us. Visit the Creative Support for Organizations Program page for the online application link.
Clip art of a magnifying glass with a heart in it.
For more opportunities and resources be sure to check out our latest news posts (updated DAILY!) on SMAC's website
Speaker with a projector presentation behind him. Room is full of people at tables listening to the speaker.
Large room filled with people at tables, listening to a speaker at the front


Nearly 50 people from across the state gathered to discuss arts access and arts funding in Minnesota. This 'Leadership Institute' was hosted by the Minnesota State Arts Board and held in Mankato. Attendees included those board members & staff plus Executive Directors from each of the 11 regional arts councils and a member of each region's leadership team, which means SMAC's Executive Director Nicole DeBoer and our board president Georgette Jones attended. Topics included the importance of continued Arts & Cultural Heritage funding and creating strategic, long-lasting partnerships.
Screenshot of where to find the calendar on our website (right side of home page)


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!
 Memberships
From June 28 to July 29, 2022

Contributors: A to Z Letterpress Printing, MontevideoSupporters: Wilder Pageant, Walnut Grove • Patron: Gary & Nancy Geiger, Willmar
Would you like to become a contributing member of SMAC or make a donation?
You can help by contributing online or by mail, for more information, visit Become a SMAC member!

THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS!
2022 SW MN Arts Council BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Big Stone - Judy Beckman
Jackson - Gilligan Singler
Lincoln - Mark Wilmes
Meeker - Darlene Kotelnicki
Pipestone - Erica Volkir
Rock - Shawn Kinsinger
Chippewa - Georgette Jones
Kandiyohi - Cheri Buzzeo
Lyon - Michele Knife Sterner
Murray - Jessica Welu
Redwood - David KelseyBassett
Swift - Alison Nelson
Cottonwood - Anna Johannsen
Lac qui Parle - Kristine Shelstad
McLeod - Justin Beck
Nobles - Cheryl Avenel-Navara
Renville - OPEN
Yellow Medicine - OPEN
SW MN Arts Council STAFF
Executive Director - Nicole DeBoer
Grants & Financial Administrator - Caroline Koska
Accessibility & Marketing Coordinator - Krystl Louwagie