SMAC: Artist Growth Grants

SMAC: Artist Growth Grants

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Southwest Minnesota Arts Council
Amount: Up to US $4,000
Last Updated: May 18, 2025

Summary

The SMAC Artist Growth Grants support artists at any career stage in the SW MN region, promoting artistic development and audience expansion. Grants of up to $4,000 cover costs such as supplies, mentorship, workshops, and studio rentals. Eligible applicants must be permanent residents of the area, at least 18 years old, and may have only one pending application at a time. Ineligible projects include those lacking an art focus or tied to for-profit activities.

Overview

Artist Growth Grants The Artist Growth grant program provides funding to artists at any stage of their careers for activities that foster the development of their artistic skills and career, expand their audience, and increase their ability to live and work in the SW MN Region. All arts disciplines are accepted. Artist Growth applicants may request funding for costs including, but not limited to: Purchase of supplies or equipment Compensated time or childcare costs while working on a specific body of work Research One-on-one study with a mentor Attending workshops or conferences for professional or artistic development Rental of facilities for presenting work or for studio space Website or portfolio production Framing Recording Editing or other costs related to publishing Funding Artist Growth grants are available for up to $4,000.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. The Artist Growth grant program is open to permanent residents within the SW MN Arts Council service region, consisting of eighteen counties (Big Stone, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, McLeod, Meeker, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Swift, and Yellow Medicine counties) and two tribal nations (Pezihutazizi/Upper Sioux Community, Cansayapi/Lower Sioux Community).Applicants must be a region resident for at least six months prior to submitting an application and remain a resident throughout the contract period. Applicants may be asked to provide proof of residency, which must be demonstrated by the following, each showing an eligible address:A valid MN state ID/driver's license or other federally recognized documentation andBills for utilities or mortgage/rent.Applicants must be at least 18 years old by the time of signing their grant contract. Artists may only have one pending SMAC grant request at a time, across all grant programs for individuals.

Ineligibility

Artists with a current SMAC grant project in progress may not apply for another individual grant until reporting on the first grant is completed. Applicants with overdue final reports are not eligible to apply. Artists who will be acting as grant review panelists in a particular round cannot apply in that round. SMAC Board Members are not eligible to apply during their tenure on the Board or until two years following their resignation from the Board. SMAC staff and the immediate family members (children, parents, or spouse/partner) of SMAC staff or SMAC Board members are ineligible to apply.The following requests and activities are NOT eligible for these grants:Projects that do not have an art focus. Equipment requests not specifically tied to the proposed project. Activities of a for-profit project or business or projects intended for mass-market distribution. Credits or materials necessary to fulfill degree requirements for students, including tuition, class projects, and school-related exhibits, performances, or shows.Projects that primarily involve developing curriculum plans, teaching materials, or other related activities intended to advance your professional teaching career; or applications that are primarily educational projects within a school system.Requests for new building construction or purchase of real estate. Fundraising events. Grant funding should allow projects to break even, not make a profit. Activities essentially for the religious socialization of the participants or audience. Activities that attempt to influence any state or federal legislation or appropriation. Applications submitted for the purpose of regranting, lobbying, or scholarships. Projects in which funds are to be used to match other SMAC grant projects. Requests for funds to account for deficits in projects begun prior to the project earliest start date. In other words, payment of debts incurred before the grant activities begin or outside of the grant project scope of activity.