- Reminder: Grant Opportunities!
- SMAC Awards $27,061 to local arts organization, schools & artists
- Thank you: Art Study Opportunity for Youth Fundraising Campaign Update
- SMAC seeks board members from 6 counties
- Outreach: Murray County & Looking forward: Nobles County
- Upcoming SMAC Grant Deadlines & Webinars
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Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Seeks Grant Applicants |
Did you know that our fiscal year is almost halfway over already?! That means if you haven't applied for a grant yet but have been thinking about it, NOW IS THE TIME!
SMAC is seeking applications for new and innovative projects from organizations and artists!
SMAC especially encourages Black, Indigenous, and artists of color to apply. We'd like to take this time to highlight our Artist Equity grants. Last year, we awarded TEN Artist Equity grants and this year SMAC received a grant from the U.S. Bank Foundation to go specifically towards this grant program to award EVEN MORE! We want to hear from you!
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Artist Equity Grants provide up to $4,000 to aid Black, Indigenous, and other artists of color with projects that will advance their skills and artistic career. Past examples of grants awarded include compensation for time spent working on art, art supplies and tools, payments to teaching artists and mentors, website development, digital software, and promotional book tours! Pictured left: Grant recipient Teresa Peterson (left) with Super LaBatte on a book tour, funded in part by a SMAC Artist Equity Grant.
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Artist Equity grants can be a way for multigenerational learning, sharing and cultivating of cultural arts or a completely new artistic direction for the applicant. Learn more about our Artist Equity grants and start your application today! Deadlines to apply for our Artist Equity grants are once a month by the 1st of the month, through May 2023.
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Want more details on upcoming grant opportunities?
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We can't wait to see your applications
& your next creative projects!!!
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SMAC Awards $27,061 to local organization, schools and artists
The SMAC board met on November 22 and awarded $652 in grant funds to one arts organization, a total of $17,409 to five local schools and a total of $9,000 to three individual artists
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The following arts organization was awarded a SMAC Quick Support for Organizations grant. These grants provides organizations with up to $2,500 for activities such as planning for an Art Legacy project, strategic planning or board training, costs to apply for 501(c)(3) status, small equipment purchases, or small arts projects.
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Tyler Arts Council has been awarded $652 to produce the play "Love Letters", by A.R. Gurney. The show consists of a small cast of only two characters, which will be played by Mark and Kathy Wilmes, plus a light and sound technician. The play will be produced by Mark Wilmes. It will be performed in conjunction with the Valentine's Holiday for 2023 and members of the Tyler Arts Council will prepare and serve chocolate dessert at intermission. The council is also collaborating with the RTR high school; the school will donate the use of their Performing Arts Center and art students will be presenting an art exhibit before the show and at intermission. There will be performances on February 11th and 12, 2023.
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The following five schools were awarded SMAC Arts in the Schools grants. These grants provide public schools with up to $4,000 for projects such as artist residencies, arts field trips, juried student art exhibits, etc.
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Bert Raney Elementary in Granite Falls was awarded $2,662 for an artist residency with Ross Sutter. Mr. Sutter will spend a week in February with students building and learning to play a one-stringed dulcimer. The project will collaborate with Lakeview Public School so that 5th graders from each school will be able to do the residency with Mr. Sutter during the same week and the elementary classes will make video recordings to share with each other. Several dulcimer selections will be performed by the Bert Raney 5th graders at their concert in March. Funds will go towards materials and Mr. Sutter's time so that no fees are charged to students.
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Lakeview Public School in Cottonwood has been awarded $2,747 for an artist residency with Ross Sutter. Mr. Sutter will teach 5th grade students to build and play a one-stringed dulcimer. Mr. Sutter will teach the students the basics of how to strum and create notes on the dulcimer and eventually lead them in playing songs. No participation fees will be charged to students. Lakeview plans to host a concert for community members and students in grades Pre-K-6 in their auditorium. If permitted (due to health of the residents), students will perform for the residents at Fieldcrest and Clarkfield Care Center.
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Prairie Elementary in Worthington was awarded $4,000 for an artist residency with Agnes "Bobbie" Alsgaard Lien in December. For the project, the artist will facilitate a workshop with students in 1st and 2nd grade art class instructing them on how to make their artistic t-shirts. Prior to the workshop a presentation will be shared with the students introducing the concepts of line, shape, color theory and a brief art history on designing cloth. Then students will do their own hands-on project. The project will be covered by the local paper, as well as images of the student works on the district website.
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Southwest Minnesota State University's Music Department in Marshall has been awarded $4,000 for a music residency. Los Angeles based performer and arranger, Tom "Bones" Malone, will complete a residency with the SMSU Jazz Ensemble that will include four hours of rehearsal time and two performances with the SMSU Jazz Ensemble. It will also include clinics with the bands at Worthington High School and Marshall High School (with the performances in those communities in the evening). The community will be invited to attend performances free of charge. They may also attend rehearsals and clinics upon request. The Residency will take place March 26-28, 2023 and no fees will be charged to students or audience members.
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Yellow Medicine East in Granite Falls was awarded $4,000 for a residency with artist Dani Prados. The artist will lead a multi-media art project attempting to have both teens and elders work together to create art. The applicant explained that the project itself is two-fold: to engage creativity while working together (on art projects such as handmade greeting cards, small tree ornaments, paper boxes, and suncatchers) and to document the experience. Students will document the work using film, photography, music, and storytelling to evoke participants and viewers alike to look beyond physical years and see a connection to each other. The project will be open to students in grades 9-12 and the focus group will be students from the Videography Class & the Photography Class.
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The following artist was awarded a SMAC Advanced Artist Fellowship grant. These grants provide up to $7,000 in project funds to established advanced artists who exhibit creative excellence, a substantial body of work, and significant recognition of their artistic accomplishments. |
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Andrew Rivera of Hutchinson has been awarded $7,000 to purchase studio equipment essential for his artistic productivity and longevity as a ceramic artist: a slab roller and an extruder. Andrew plans to use the remainder of funds to take 3 months off of work to dedicate the same amount of time to creating new work in his studio. Pictured left: "Sun Plate", 10"x10"x1", Earthenware, Glaze, Underglaze, 2022.
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The following two artists were awarded SMAC Quick Support for Artists grants. These grants provide artists with up to $1,000 for activities such as purchasing supplies, attending classes, and small artist-led community projects. |
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Nancy Harms of Clara City was awarded $1,000 to hire MN videographer Nick Barr for producing two of her music videos, each being 4-5 minutes in length. Nancy explained, "The goal is to capture a live sound with the overtones that occur in the music and how that plays in the space." Videos will be shot in December and be posted to the artist's YouTube channel by mid February.
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Mary KG Seifert of Willmar has been awarded $1,000 to attend a four-day writing conference specific to crime writing, The Left Coast Crime Conference. Funds will go towards registration, flight, and room expenses. The applicant explained that the conference will provide many learning and meeting opportunities to further her craft and career.
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Art Study Opportunity for Youth Fundraising Campaign Updates |
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THANK YOU!!
Thanks to EIGHTEEN wonderful and awesome donors, SMAC is only $81 dollars away from hitting our initial goal of $1,500 in our Art Study Opportunity for Youth Campaign! We had a BIG push during Minnesota's Giving Holiday on Give to the Max Day on November 17th. Can you help us get the rest of the way?!
And...it doesn't have to stop there! How impactful would it be to hit $2,000 extra dollars instead of $1,500? We are only $581 away! That would enable us to award FOUR MORE Art Study Opportunity for Youth Grants, for a total of TWELVE students to attend an arts enrichment camp or specialty arts study of their choosing.
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Hurry, you only have until the end of December to contribute! |
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For the past five years, SMAC has only had the funding available to award 8 grants in our Art Study Opportunity for Youth Grants program per year but there are more than 8 children in SW MN who wish to pursue art! SMAC wants to offer more children the opportunity to further themselves in arts education. Every child is worthy to pursue what the arts have to offer.
What are our Art Study Opportunity for Youth Grants? These grants provide up to $500 to allow young artists entering grades 5 – 12 to attend an enrichment camp or specialty study. Costs for standard weekly lessons (such as piano or voice lessons) are allowed for students who qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program.
Arts funding for schools continue to go down and schools have trouble funding arts programs. As a result, students aren't always getting what they need in traditional school settings. For students who want to expand their arts learning, there needs to be another option. Kids deserve exposure to the arts in the same way they deserve exposure to sports and other competitions and excellence pursuits!
SMAC provides 8 youth art grants per year to help kids explore the arts.
With your support, we can provide more opportunities for more kids.
Your donation by December 31st will help SMAC say "yes" to more kids who want to pursue the arts! Dream BIG with us: with $4,000 of extra funds, we could DOUBLE the amount of students awarded grants this spring!
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SMAC gives a sincere thank you to the SW Initiative Foundation for providing free coaching & consultation to SMAC Staff and Board to create this fundraising campaign by RaiseMN, a subset of GiveMN. SMAC encourages MN non-profits to look into each of these opportunities and what resources they may have for you. Remember, SMAC Quick Support for Organizations grants support arts organizations with strategic planning or board training, which could be applied to working with RaiseMN on fundraising strategies.
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Thank you for supporting the arts! |
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SMAC seeks representatives from six counties to serve on our board of directors: Chippewa, Kandiyohi, Lyon, McLeod, Swift and Yellow Medicine
Do you live or work in one of these counties? Do you want to volunteer in a meaning way? Are you interested in helping your community? Are you passionate about arts awareness & funding and where & how those funds are distributed?
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Starting January 2023 SMAC's board will have six vacancy board seats. We are seeking a representative from each of the counties listed above to serve on it’s Board of Directors. The Board meets monthly on the 4th Tuesday evening at the SMAC office in Marshall or on Zoom 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.
Other opportunities include serving on several grant panels a year to evaluate applications, attending a yearly board retreat in January, learning opportunities and trainings on Access, Equity, Inclusion & Diversity and more!
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Now in the Gallery: Deb Meyer, "Sri Lanka in Watercolors" |
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Deb Meyer of Madison received a SMAC Individual Artist grant in 2021 to produce watercolor paintings using photographs from her time in Ski Lanka as a reference. Deb was part of a volunteer group from Minnesota that responded to the aftermath following a tsunami in December 2004. Deb's grant focused on producing, and professionally framing, her watercolor artworks.
"Sri Lanka in Watercolors" will be in the SMAC Gallery from November 10th to December 22nd, 2022. Pictured right: A guest observes Deb's exhibit at SMAC during the artist reception.
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Next in the Gallery: Laura Deleski |
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Please help SMAC welcome Willmar artist Laura Deleski! Laura will be exhibiting from January 12th through February 22nd, 2023. She received her first SMAC Individual Artist Grant in 2021 to create an original piece which merged both quilting and genealogy together into one finished genealogy quilt titled “Life is a Story”. This project includes photographs from five generations of ancestors on both sides of her family tree. She also designed a digital piece to accompany her quilt which shares a brief narrative about each ancestor, giving viewers an opportunity to learn a small part of their individual stories.
This is Laura’s first solo art exhibit, but she has shown in several group exhibits as a member of the Little Crow Photography Club of Willmar, the Willmar Country Quilters Guild Biennial Quilt Show and most recently the Minnesota Quilters, Inc. 43rd Annual Quilt Show in the non-judged exhibit. Look for more details about Laura in our January newsletter!
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Save the dates
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In-Person Artist Reception at SMAC: Thursday, January 12th from 5-7 pm in Marshall.
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Virtual Artist Reception & Talk: Thursday, February 2nd starting at 5:30 pm on Zoom. Details for joining will be in the January newsletter, the SMAC website, and on our social media channels in the new year.
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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. |
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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.
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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SMAC held it's Murray County Arty Party in Currie at the Painted Prairie Vineyard on November 17th. SMAC spoke to attendees about their arts needs, who SMAC is and what we can offer, as well as took part in making some relaxing art while networking with guests. We also enjoyed some delicious food made on location! Thanks for coming out and getting to know us a little better in Murray County!
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Where will we be next? No Arty Party's in December, but we'll resume in January in Nobles county! More details to come, but we know we'll have a fun location, tasty treats, an arts element (art activity, featured artist or arts entertainment), and networking opportunities. As always, SMAC staff will be available to answer questions, listen to the arts needs in the community, and share who SMAC is and what we can do for the arts in Southwest Minnesota!
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including descriptions of the grants and funding amounts, deadlines, earliest project start dates, and webinar dates
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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: December 7 by 4:30 pm
Request staff to review application before submission: November 23, 2022
Earliest Project start date: February 1, 2023
Application Deadline: January 11 by 4:30 pm
Request staff to review application before submission: December 30, 2022
Earliest project start date: March 1, 2023
Application Deadline: January 25 by 4:30 pm
Request staff to review application before submission: January 11, 2023
Earliest project start date: March 1, 2023
Application Deadline: February 8 by 4:30 pm
Request staff to review application before submission: January 25, 2023
Earliest Project start date: April, 2023
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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:
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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.
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including descriptions of the grants and funding amounts, deadlines, earliest project start dates, and webinar dates
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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.
Now that our move is over, we've resuming our Open Office Hours for grant support every 2nd Tuesday of the month! The office hours are from 10 am to 2 pm, and the next one will take place Tuesday, December 13th. You can use this time with SW MN Arts Council staff to talk through project ideas or get help with finding the right grant program, filling out your application, preparing work samples or budgets, or completing your final report.
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.
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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
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For more opportunities and resources be sure to check out our latest news posts (updated DAILY!) on SMAC's website
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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!
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Normal hours will resume on Tuesday, January 3rd, 2023 at 9 am. |
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Memberships
From October 31 to November 23, 2022
Contributors: Gregory & Anne Isaackson, Cottonwood • Barry & Kathy Anderson, Granite Falls • Lac qui Parle Study Club, Madison •
Supporters: Karen Odden, Granite Falls • Ross Anderson, Marshall • Randy & Sima Wewetzer, Marshall • Bill & Tina Richards, Walnut Grove • Georgette Jones, Watson •
Sustainers: Cathy Schlagel & Chuck Freiss, Marshall •
Other Donations: Anonymous Donors • Luanne Fondell, Dawson • Kerry Ward, Glencoe • Lisa Schardin, Lake Benton • Cassandra Bruns, Marshall • Marilyn Leach, Marshall • Craig & Deb Maki, Marshall • Michele Sterner, Marshall • Naomi Sadighi (on behalf of Courtney Backen), Minneapolis • Judi Bohm, Milan • Lisa Bergh, New London • John White, Ortonville • BJ Justice-Kamp in memory of Gerry Patten, Redwood Falls • Jessica Welu, Slayton • Cheri Buzzeo, Spicer • Courtney Backen, St. Paul • Melanie Loy, Worthington •
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Would you like to become a contributing member of SMAC or make a donation?
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS!
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2022 SW MN Arts Council BOARD OF DIRECTORS |
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Big Stone - Judy Beckman
Jackson - Gillian Singler
Lincoln - Mark Wilmes
Meeker - Darlene Kotelnicki
Pipestone - Erica Volkir
Rock - Shawn Kinsinger
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Chippewa - Georgette Jones
Kandiyohi - Cheri Buzzeo
Lyon - Michele Knife Sterner
Murray - Jessica Welu
Redwood - David KelseyBassett
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Cottonwood - Anna Johannsen
Lac qui Parle - Kristine Shelstad
McLeod - Justin Beck
Nobles - Cheryl Avenel-Navara
Renville - Kylie Rieke
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Executive Director - Nicole DeBoer
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Grants & Financial Administrator - Caroline Koska
Accessibility & Marketing Coordinator - 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.
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