This past fiscal year, MRAC engaged our community to reimagine public participation for our grantmaking process. The goals were to explore potential new approaches beyond the panel process that would allow MRAC to:

• Simplify the application process, and reduce applicant labor;
• Mitigate a biased decision making system; and
• Allow for more emphasis on grantees to create a more accountable system

A survey was sent to all our constituents to better understand how they valued public participation and to help generate new ideas of public participation. Here is a summary of the survey findings. Then, we held virtual and in-person focus groups with 71 participants who were diverse in their identities, geography and relationship to MRAC. These focus groups discussed different models for public participation. Here are some key learnings from the focus groups:

• Transparency must be core to MRAC’s selection process.
• The public’s involvement is essential in a selection process that uses public dollars for grant funding.
• For a simplified application process, applicants should be given multiple opportunities to submit their applications and to center accessibility in this process.
• There is a deep need for MRAC to provide resources outside of grant funding.

Finally, MRAC held in-depth and important discussions with our Board of Directors, the MN State Arts Board, the Office of Grants Management and several legislators. The survey results, focus group learnings and recommendations from the state offices reinforced the need to keep the panel process as the public participation model for MRAC. Members from the public will continue to inform funding decisions for grants. MRAC’s Fiscal Year 2025 grants calendar will be released in the coming weeks, with guidelines and application services to follow.

MRAC will continue to reach for our initial goals by offering the following services:

Simplifying the application process, and reduce applicant labor:

• MRAC will offer similar applications to last year in an attempt to reduce applicant labor.
• Applicants can also expect resources from our staff as they navigate the application process including thorough guidelines, webinars, accessible documents, the ability to apply in any language and the opportunity to meet one on one with our staff.

Mitigate a biased decision making system:

• MRAC will continue to use a panel process. The panel is made up of artists, arts administrators, art volunteers and arts enthusiasts who thoughtfully evaluate applications. All panelists receive an orientation, which includes bias resources and training.
• Learn more about our panel process and joining a panel at our panel page.

Allow for more emphasis on grantees to create a more accountable system:

• MRAC will continue to require final reports, and allow flexible project changes, for all grantees
• MRAC will also begin to offer more services including networking and learning opportunities to more holistically serve our community and provide resources beyond financial support. More soon!

Thank You!

Thank you to the hundreds of community members who gave their time, thoughtful insights and honest opinions to inform this process! As an organization, MRAC is committed to growing and learning alongside you all to ensure we continue to expand arts access in our region and to prioritize the needs of our communities.