Author: Region 2 Arts Council

Are you part of a nonprofit organization that has done arts programming in the past three years? Your organization may be eligible for a grant of up to $150,000 general operations funds through the American Rescue Plan! 

Special Webinar: Tuesday, July 20 – 1pm CT/2pm ET

Features speakers from the National Endowment for the Arts, Arts Midwest, and Welcoming America.

If you are interested in this opportunity but are unable to attend the webinar, we encourage you to still sign up. The webinar recording and additional resources will be emailed to all registrants within 48 hours.

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announced two new grant program guidelines to distribute approximately $80 million in American Rescue Plan (ARP) funds directly to nonprofit arts and culture organizations and to local arts agencies to subgrant deeper into communities across the country. The NEA is providing robust technical assistance and Americans for the Arts will be hosting an ArtsU free webinar (see below) to provide additional assistance with speakers from the NEA.

If you represent a nonprofit arts or culture organization, please register now for the ArtsU Free Webinar on Tuesday, July 6^th @ 3:00pm ET to learn more about the specific guidelines for this program.

Applicants for this new grant program will NOT have to be a previous NEA grantee to be eligible to apply. There is a quick turnaround time for submitting applications.

If you have more federal COVID-19 relief questions, including the latest on Shuttered Venues Operator Grants, please join Nina Ozlu Tunceli at her next weekly Zoom Office Hours on Friday, June 25th @ 11:00 am ET to ask questions and share experiences.

Hi everyone! We wanted to get word out that our office will be closed today, Friday, June 4. Staff is available 9am to 5pm via email at staff@r2arts.org

We apologize for any unintended inconveniences!

The Region 2 Arts Council is excited to announce their recipient of the 2021 Anishinaabe Arts Initiative (AAI) Fellowship, awarded to multi-genre artist Karen Goulet.

Karen Goulet is a Multi-Media Artist who continuously moves between creative genres. She comes from people who are makers of beauty and possibility, informed by a worldview that has been influenced by culture, complex histories, and personal experiences. Of her work she states, “Color is my muse. Whether I am using paint or thread I pay attention to nuances and energy that a color brings to the artwork. I have progressed my technical skills over the years. I have had to learn the ‘right way’ to do things in order to bend and shape things into my own voice. I make work that honors who I am from as I fill my need to make new visual stories. As a contemporary Indigenous artist I draw inspiration from cultural aesthetics, history, and place. I use techniques and methods that have been passed on to me as well as explore new media that will enhance the voice in my work. The traditional items I make for gifts inspire and help to inform my approach to paint, paper canvas and other materials that I incorporate into my art. I constantly explore what is possible through use of various materials, and I see it as a means to continuing our stories.”

Click here to learn more about the AAI Fellowship

The AAI Fellowship is made possible by the generous support of the McKnight Foundation, and aims to assist the region’s most talented Native American artists in their work by awarding financial support to fund creative time and/or arts experiences. This award is for Native American artists residing in Minnesota’s Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Lake of the Woods, Becker, Roseau, Cass, and Itasca counties.

Reminder: Arts Project Grant and Young Artist Grant applications are due May 15!

We just opened two new application rounds.
See below for details.

The Arts Project Grant is a project-based grant open to non-profits, public and charter schools*, community education programs, arts organizations, institutions of higher learning, government and tribal entities, and groups formed for nonprofit purposes with a fiscal sponsor.
*Parochial schools are ineligible

Application Deadline: May 15, 2021
Maximum Award: $2,500 (no cash match required)
Earliest Start Date: June 21, 2021

These grants offer funding for a variety of arts projects including costs associated with public art, arts festivals, engagement of guest artists, arts field trips, workshops, exhibitions, presentations, or performances.

Region 2 Arts Council Arts Project Grants are made possible by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the State’s general fund

The Young Artist Grant program is for 8th-12th grade students who have a strong interest in the arts and reside in Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Lake of the Woods or Mahnomen counties. Students who are singers, musicians, writers, media artists, performers, visual artists and craftspeople are welcome to apply!
Grant recipients are reimbursed up to $600 for costs associated with arts instruction/mentorship, arts classes/camps/workshops in the state of Minnesota, and some related travel expenses or materials.

Application Deadline: May 15, 2021
Maximum Award: $600
Earliest Start Date: July 1, 2021
Mandatory End Date: April 1, 2022

Region 2 Arts Council Young Artist Grants are made possible by the voters of Minnesota thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund

Maximum Award: One $5,000 award
Earliest Start Date: May 14, 2021

The Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Fellowship provides unfettered funding to one individual Native American artist to fuel his/her art in Beltrami, Clearwater, Hubbard, Mahnomen, Lake of the Woods, Becker, Roseau, Cass, and Itasca counties in Minnesota.

Applications and details are available online at r2arts.org

Is this your first time applying?
Create a log in and apply online

Questions? More Information? Support?
218-751-5447 / 800-275-5447 / staff@r2arts.org