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Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC) News
July, 2008
The Metropolitan Regional Arts Council is largely
funded by an appropriation from the Minnesota Legislature. MRAC also receives a generous grant
from The McKnight Foundation.
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In this issue:
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Message from the Executive Director
MRAC is part of the consortium of the 11 regional arts councils serving the state, which is called the Forum of Regional Arts Councils of Minnesota. During the last week of June, the Forum held its biennial two-day retreat to discuss a broad range of issues, such as critical changes in our operating environment and scenarios for what might happen if the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment does or does not pass.
It was wonderful for me, as a relative newcomer to MRAC, to become better acquainted with our colleagues in the other regions and, despite the fact that no two regions are alike, to see that the arts organizations we serve have many similar opportunities and challenges. One of the most important things that the Forum did was reaffirm its commitment to a unified vision for the strong role that the arts play in strengthening communities. I'm really delighted that MRAC's vision aligns perfectly with the Forum's.
In the coming year, MRAC plans to convene arts groups to discuss some of the issues that our vision is intended to address. I hope you will look for these in the coming months.
Jeff Prauer
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Arts Activities Support Grant Awards
In June, 2008, MRAC awarded $195,963 in grants for Arts Activities Support to 27 arts organizations. The Projects will reach approximately 47,861 people. This round's funded projects include jazz, classical, and Indian music concerts, theatrical performances, public murals, photography exhibits, festivals, puppetry, arts programs, and more. Click here to view a complete list of grantees sorted by county that includes award amounts, project summaries, and links to recipients' web addresses (when available).
Click here learn more about the Arts Activities Support grant program.
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Arts Activities Support Grant Deadline
The deadline for the first round of FY09 Arts Activities Support grant deadline is Monday, July 14, 2008 with an earliest project start date of September 24, 2008. Applications must be RECEIVED by 5:00 P.M. on the deadline date. This is not a postmark deadline.
Make sure you have current materials. Guidelines for 2008-2009 are available on the MRAC website or in the MRAC offices. Visit the Arts Activities Support program page for more information about the grant program and to download the materials.
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LOCALS: No Meeting in July. Next Meeting in September!
Thank you for a wonderful year of networking, learning, and fun!
We will not meet in July due to the demands of summer programming for many of our arts centers, but will start again in September bringing you topics and speakers of interest to help strengthen your arts organization.
We need your feedback. As we plan for next year's LOCALS meeting we are asking for your input in terms of schedule and topics. Please click here and take our short survey.
What's LOCALS? LOCALS is a professional affinity group for art center/arts council managers that meets four to six times a year and provides an opportunity to network, share best practices, and learn together on a timely management topic.
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Resource Updates
The Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN) is offering a one-day workshop entitled, Nonprofit Essentials: Nuts and Bolts of Practical Management on July 10, 2008. For more information, click here or visit the MCN website at www.mncn.org
The Minnesota State Arts Board is reintroducing the Arts Across Minnesota program, which offers two different grant opportunities:
- Festivals grants - funding to involve Minnesota individual artists and small to midsize Minnesota art organizations in the arts components of community-based festivals, and
- Host Community grants - funding to support community arts residencies presented by professional, touring, performing or visual arts organizations.
Visit www.arts.state.mn.us to find application materials and a schedule of upcoming grant information sessions. The grant application deadline for Festivals and Host Community grants is August 8, 2008.
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MRAC Holiday Hours
MRAC will be closed July 4th for Independence Day.
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MRAC FY07 Summary
In FY07, MRAC received more than 400 grant requests and awarded 223 grants totaling $733,000. Funded projects served 5,192 artists and reached more than 218,000 audience members. MRAC also provided skill-building workshops and networking activities to 472 people from 126 different organizations. MRAC is largely funded by an appropriation from the Minnesota Legislature. MRAC also receives a generous grant from The McKnight Foundation.
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