for Arts Project Grant Applicants including Grant Making and Monitoring Policy

Application Preview As Administrators Question List Process Manager / Arts Project Grant: Regular, Arts Equipment for Schools FY 2020-2023 / Arts Project Form / Preview Fields with an asterisk (*) are required. Introduction Summary Info: All Applicants Budget: Financials and People: All Applicants Data Collection: All Applicants Needs Assessment: All Applicants Attachments and Certification: All Applicants Guidelines This section has been made invisible for the review panel to save space. If you would like to view the full application and application guidelines for any of our programs, login to the grant portal with the username [email protected] and the password nwartscouncil generically and click the word apply in the upper left corner. (Just ignore the first screen that opens. It is called the Dashboard. Our staff has manually entered exhibit entries into this generic area.) After you click the word Apply, you will be able to scroll down and see the grant programs. Click the word Preview to view the application and its guidelines. INTRODUCTION and BACKGROUND The Northwest Minnesota Arts Council was designated as the regional arts council for northwestern Minnesota by the Minnesota State Legislature.The Council works with local and area arts organizations and individuals to develop the arts in Region 1. The Arts Council submits a biennial Regional Arts Plan to the Minnesota State Arts Board. The NWMAC then receives a block grant from the Minnesota State Legislature, with the Minnesota State Arts Board serving as fiscal agent.This source of funds is used to provide grants for the 7 counties which comprise the region: Kittson • Marshall • Norman • Pennington • Polk • Red Lake • Roseau Funds are available for art projects which develop or enhance local or regional artists, art resources, or art audiences.A project is an activity or series of closely related activities for which funds are requested.The project must be completed within 24 months of the notification of the receipt of a grant. ARTS PROJECT GRANTS The Arts Council schedules three main grant rounds per fiscal year (July 1 to June 30) for Arts Project Grants. Funds are slightly divided between the three main application deadlines. The maximum award for a grant is $3,000.00. Arts organizations may not receive more than $3,000.00 in grant funds each fiscal year. This grant is not intended for use by school districts. A 10% minimum cash match is required for all grant requests. If the project is to repeat sponsorship of an event or artist or group that has been sponsored with NWMAC funding in previous years then a 25% minimum cash match is required. ARTS EQUIPMENT IN THE SCHOOLS GRANTS A special school category occurs most years which allows school districts to request funds to purchase arts equipment. This category usually requires a 25% cash match. School districts are only eligible for one grant per district per fiscal year. Typically the deadline is November 1 for this category annually. APPLICANT ELIGIBILITY The applicant must be a Minnesota non-profit, tax-exempt organization as described in Section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code with Articles of Incorporation on file with the State of Minnesota; or, a governmental unit or department or agency of the State of Minnesota. All school districts within our service area may apply for the Arts Equipment in Schools grant. Private schools are also eligible if they show that the equipment will not be used for religious socialization. Two or more eligible organizations or governmental units may form a partnership to present arts activities in their community and apply under one organization and submit one application. FISCAL AGENT An organization not meeting this requirement may apply to the regional Arts Council through a fiscal agent. A fiscal agent is a Minnesota non-profit, federally tax-exempt organization or governmental unit which applies to the regional Arts Council on behalf of an organization not meeting non-profit, tax-exempt requirements. The fiscal agent must sign the application and, if funds are received, sign the grant Arts Grant Contract and Request for Payment. The fiscal agent is legally responsible for the completion of the project and for the proper management of the grant. A contract or letter of agreement between the fiscal agent and the organization clarifying the responsibilities and authority of each, is required. (A template is provided on our website in the Grant Forms Quick List). ARTS PROJECT ELIGIBILITY To be eligible for funding, a project must be for the production of local arts activities; or, the hosting of arts events to the local community. The primary impact of the project must be within the boundaries of the region. ARTS EQUIPMENT ELIGIBILITY Equipment that is solely (or almost solely) used for arts purposes within a learning environment/school. Visual, performing arts, and creative writing equipment that is used over and over within students learning. PROJECT MATCHING FUNDS The applicant must show evidence of cash match of at least 10% of the total cost of the project. Matching funds may consist of cash, revenues, or other grants. In cases of repeat sponsorship then a 25% cash match is required. In the Arts Equipment in Schools grant category 25% cash match is required. PROJECT RESTRICTIONS Applications for grant assistance will not be accepted for review if any of the following conditions exist: Funds are for out of state travel. Funds are for a project that occurs outside Minnesota. Funds are requested from the regional Arts Council and the Minnesota State Arts Board for the same work or expenses incurred while carrying out the same project in a single fiscal year, without the expressed consent of both the Regional Arts Council and Minnesota State Arts Board. State funds requested from the regional Arts Council and/or the State of Minnesota exceed 90% of the total cost of a project. Artists are required to pay high en