Applicants may now begin submitting FY 2014 Arts Access grant applications. The deadline to submit applications for this grant program is Friday, June 7, 2013. Please note that applications must be submitted before 4:30 p.m. on the day of the deadline. 

The Arts Access grant program is designed to help arts organizations broaden arts opportunities for underserved groups. 

Grants can be used to identify underserved groups or communities, identify the barriers that keep them from engaging in the arts, and develop and implement strategies to reduce or eliminate the barriers. Specific grant requirements are given in the FY 2014 Arts Access Program Overview and Application Instructions, available on the  Arts Board Web site.

Arts Access grants range from $5,000-$100,000.

Individuals who would like to apply for an Arts Board grant need to use WebGrants, an online grants management system. Registration is a requirement for applicants, and the process is simple and easy to do. The Arts Board approves registrations in two to five business days and sends registrants a user ID and password to enable logging in to WebGrants and applying for any funding opportunities available. To register, visit the Arts Board’s home page News section, which provides links to a WebGrants overview and online tutorials on WebGrants registration and use. To ask a question about using WebGrants, send an e-mail to apply@arts.state.mn.us.

Look for upcoming announcements for other grant application opportunities, including the Arts Tour program. See all FY 2014 application deadlines on the Arts Board Web site calendar page.

All Organizational members are urged to begin to upload their 13-14 wishes/hopes/desires into the Block Booking Matrix available under the For Organizations tab. For those of you so organized, you can also upload your list from a CSV file. Please use this to better prepare yourself for the November block booking meeting.

We have uploaded notes from the Saturday 9/15 meeting at the Midwest Arts Conference in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
These are available for organizational members only.

A 500 year storm forced the cancellation of our June 21 & 22 2012 summer conference.  Undaunted, the conference committee is trying again. 

Arts Tour Minnesota

The Arts Tour Minnesota program is designed to give Minnesotans greater access to high-quality artists and arts organizations, regardless of geography.  Arts Tour Minnesota project grants support touring performances, exhibitions, and other related arts activities throughout the state. 

Who Can Apply

Minnesota professional artists and nonprofit arts organizations that want to tour may apply.  Community groups, cities, public and nonprofit agencies, arts organizations, and others that would like to present touring artists or arts activities may also apply.

An Operating Support or Community Arts Schools and Conservatories grantee is able to apply for an Arts Tour Minnesota grant, so long as it can describe how its proposed project expands upon past programming, allows the organization to provide new kinds of service, and enables it to serve a broader, more diverse, audience of Minnesotans.

The Series Presenter Support program was discontinued as of June 30, 2010. Organizations that have applied for funds and/or been funded in the Series Presenter Support program in the past are encouraged to seek funding for their future activities through the Arts Tour Minnesota program.

Grant Range

$5,000–$100,000

The applicant must provide at least 20 percent of the total project’s cash expenses from other sources, and may receive up to 80 percent of the total project’s cash expenses in combined support from the Minnesota State Arts Board and one of more or more the state’s regional arts councils.

Program Officer

Contact Amy Frimpong or call (651) 215-1607 / (800) 866-2787 for additional information or answers to specific questions.

We've been working this summer to launch a website that will help our membership connect with each other, and here it is! You can log in to update your own profile, so we are counting on you to keep your information up to date.

This website also allows us to manage memberships more effectively, so we'll be spending less time trying to keep up with member dues and the like -- and more time working on ideas that will benefit you - our members.