ARAC: Arts Learning Grant

ARAC Mission

This mission statement grows from a conviction that the arts improve the quality of life in the region.

ARAC Vision

ARAC believes all people should have opportunities to engage in the arts. Accordingly, ARAC’s vision for the region is that:

• The arts are integrated into the social, political, and economic fabric and identity of every community in the region.
• Artists, arts organizations, and arts activities thrive and contribute to the regional economy.
• Community members and audiences are arts literate.

ARAC Goals

• ARAC will communicate with grant applicants and other constituents in a clear, thorough, and prompt manner and will deliver respectful service and assistance.
• ARAC will maintain transparent decision-making processes, and accessible public information.
• ARAC’s programs and services will reflect its Mission, and achieve its Vision.

ARAC’s Service

The Arrowhead Regional Arts Council serves individual artists, nonprofit arts organizations, informal arts groups, community education organizations, and non-arts nonprofit organizations with annual operating expenses under $160,000, which reside in Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Lake, Koochiching, and St. Louis counties. This region includes Duluth as it urban center, but also serves a significant rural population. The region comprises 22% of the state’s geography and serves a population of approximately 340,000 people or 6% of the state’s total population.

As one of the 11 regional arts councils in Minnesota, ARAC’s funding is derived from appropriations from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State’s general fund and Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (Legacy Amendment) as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008. ARAC also receives a generous grant from The McKnight Foundation.

Arts Learning Grant

The Arts Learning program provides funding of up to $5,000 to support arts learning activities in any arts discipline. This grant program is intended to support high-quality, age-appropriate arts education to increase knowledge, skills, and understanding of the arts. These projects may occur in a wide variety of community venues.

Criteria:

• Educational Value (50%):
  • The quality, significance, and appropriateness of the arts instruction for the identified learners. This includes the specific qualifications of the teacher(s) or groups involved, as well as the value of the overall concept behind the project.
• Impact and Evaluation (25%):
  • The anticipated community value of your project. This includes demonstrating a clear vision of what success will look like, as well as articulating appropriate assessment strategies for knowing whether you achieved what you intended.
• Ability (25%):
  • You or your organization’s capacity to undertake your project. This includes: providing a budget that is realistic, feasible, and demonstrates a clear understanding of the scope of your project; and adequate support materials.

Eligibility

_You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website._

• Organizations and Individuals are both eligible for this program.
• Organizations:
• To be eligible, your organization must be located in the following Arrowhead counties:
  • Aitkin, Cook, Carlton, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, or St.
• What Kind of Organizations:
• State-registered and federally recognized non-profit, tax-exempt organizations
• Accredited schools
• Tribal governments
• Units of government
• Individuals:
  • To be eligible to apply for this program, you must be at least eighteen years old, a U.S. citizen or have permanent resident status, and be a resident of Aitkin, Carlton, Cook, Itasca, Koochiching, Lake, or St. Louis County for at least six months, and remain a Minnesota resident for the duration of the project.
• If your group has not yet received non-profit, tax-exempt status, you may apply by using a non-profit organization, accredited school, tribal government, or other unit of government as a fiscal sponsor.
• In a single ARAC fiscal year, an organization can receive grant funding of up to $25,000 total from applications reviewed in all eligible programs.

Ineligibility

• Individuals enrolled in arts-related degree programs are ineligible to apply.
• Ineligible for Funding:
  • The project attempts to influence any state or federal legislation.
  • The activity involves out-of-state travel.
  • The project requires excessive entry or exhibition fees, includes tuition, fees or work toward a degree.
  • The project primarily involves developing school curriculum plans or teaching materials.
  • The project promotes religious socialization.
  • The project was once supported by state general fund appropriations.
  • The project is designed for a private audience and is not open to the general public.
  • The project is for capital improvement or construction.
  • The funds are requested to purchase more than $600 worth of equipment or to purchase real property.
  • The funds are requested for general operating support.
  • The funds are requested for a project that serves as a benefit or fundraiser.
• Grant funding cannot be used for any activity that functions as graded school arts curriculum.