Northwest
Minnesota Arts Council 
About the Council .
Grants .
Opportunities .
Deadline/Calendar .
Art Exhibit. Links
. Press/Publications
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Northwest
Minnesota Arts Council
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Arts Councils were established in 1976 as a vehicle to distribute funds and provide direct services for arts activities. With region-wide membership comprised of professional artists, arts educators, volunteers with community arts organizations, and arts enthusiasts, the Council encourages all the arts by serving as an advisory committee to the Northwest Regional Development Commission. The Arts Council is made up of two representatives from each of the seven counties served plus three members from the Regional Development Commission. Each member serves a three year term with up to two consecutive terms. Our Arts Council currently does not have a membership structure for organizations or individuals to join and pay membership dues. REGIONAL ARTS COUNCIL MEMBERSHIP:
FUNDING SOURCES State of Minnesota $105,000 (with the Minnesota State Arts Board Serving as Fiscal Agent) McKnight Foundation $40,000. In 1976, the Minnesota State Legislature recognized the need to support the development of arts throughout Minnesota, and the concept of Regional Arts Councils became law. Using the state’s development boundaries, the arts councils became a vehicle to distribute public dollars for arts activities. Council funds are received from a biennial arts appropriation which is distributed between the Regional Arts Councils and the Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB). Regional Arts Council funds are allocated according to a formula using a base amount plus a figure calculated from each region’s percentage of population and land area. Arts Council program areas are determined in part by a regional needs assessment that is conducted every four years. Through open meetings and surveys, areas of need in the arts are identified and programs are then designed. Every two years, the Northwest Regional Arts Council is required to review its programming and develop a new work plan which outlines the council’s goals, decision making procedures, programs and services. Upon approval from the NWRDC, the Biennial Plan and subsequent reports are submitted to the State Arts Board. The McKnight Foundation conducts an Arts Funding Plan whereby funds are re-granted to individual artists and community arts organizations. Currently, $49,000.00 is received from the McKnight Foundation annually. ONE OF ELEVEN COUNCILS
SERVICES The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council provides artists, arts organizations and schools with the following services, a newsletter Northwest Arts and the Northwest Minnesota Directory of Artists and Arts Organizations. This directory is updated & published continuously, it includes a listing of artists, arts organizations, libraries and schools. Training workshops for artists and arts administrators are offered throughout the year and by request. Arts Accessibility Plan Development Guide: Arts organizations can have their facilities and programming reviewed for meeting accessibility guidelines. PROGRAMS The Northwest Regional Arts Council offers five different arts grant programs. Descriptions and application forms are available in the Arts Grants page. Northwest Minnesota Art Exhibition is a direct program administered by the Arts Council with the assistance of a local community co-sponsor. Each Spring a new community hosts the exhibit over one weekend. Area adult and high school artists are encouraged to participate. See the Art Exhibit page for more information.
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See the staff page to direct your questions to the correct person at the Northwest Regional Development Commission (NWRDC). NWRDC 115 South Main, Suite 1 Warren, MN 56762 218-745-6733 |
