Artists Engage Community Grant

The Artists Engage Community Grant, offered by the Region 2 Arts Council, promotes the integration of high-quality arts into North Central Minnesota's communities. Supporting diverse artistic projects, including performances, public art, and educational workshops, the grant aims to enhance local engagement with the arts. Eligible proposals must connect with residents of Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, or Mahnomen counties, ensuring accessibility and community involvement. Projects must commence within 12 months and be completed by June 30, 2025.

The Region 2 Arts Council strengthens the presence of the arts by supporting opportunities for arts creation, promotion, and education for the people of Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods, and Mahnomen counties.
The Region 2 Arts Council is part of a statewide system of 11 regional arts councils that receive a legislative allocation for the arts. The regional arts councils work on a statewide basis in partnership with the Minnesota State Arts Board to provide access to the arts to everyone in Minnesota. Each regional arts council is designated to assess arts needs, develop programs and services to meet those needs, and distribute grants to fund arts programs in their region.
Artists Engage Community grants support the creation, production, and presentation of high quality arts activities that help instill the arts into the community and public life in our region. Eligible grant proposals must connect and engage with audiences, participants, students, and/or communities to provide new and/or expanded arts programming to residents of our region’s counties, and/or remove barriers that audiences may have to accessing arts activities. These grants offer funding for a variety of artist led arts activities that will benefit the residents of Beltrami, Hubbard, Clearwater, Lake of the Woods, or Mahnomen counties. Arts activities proposed for funding must be artist led, accessible by the public, and connect with community members through the arts. Activity must begin within 12 months of the earliest start date, and must be completed by June 30, 2025.

Eligibility

Eligible Uses:Participatory arts projectsArts classes, camps, or workshopsPublic art projects – murals, sculpture walks/trails, concerts in public parks, etc.Arts performances – concerts, theatrical productions, dance performances, film screenings, etc.Arts presentations – readings, exhibitions, artist talks, etc.Arts festivalsThe proposed project or activity has arts or arts and culture as its primary focus.The proposed project or activity supports Arts Access as stipulated by the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment which provides funding for this grant.The proposed project or activity will be accessible to the public.The proposed project or activity will occur within the state of Minnesota.The proposed project or activity will primarily impact residents in one or more of the following Minnesota counties: Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods or Mahnomen.I am 21 years of age or older and am a U.S. citizen or have resident alien status.I am a resident of the state of Minnesota, as determined by the address I use for voting and the payment of taxes, and I live in one of the following counties: Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods or Mahnomen. I have lived there for at least six months prior to deadline/submission date of this application.I am in compliance with the Indian Arts and Crafts Act and am only promoting my art as Native American/Indian art if I am a member of a federally recognized tribe, or I am an individual certified as an Indian artisan by a federally recognized tribe.

Ineligibility

Please read the eligibility criteria statements here. These statements will help you discern if your project is ineligible for funding through this grant.