MRAC staff do not make grant funding decisions. Instead, each year MRAC seeks more than 200 artists, arts workers, and art lovers to support the most critical component of our funding cycle—the peer review process. After a thorough training workshop, each review panelist thoughtfully evaluates the applications assigned to them. The scores for each application are averaged and those scores are then ranked from highest to lowest. Grant funds are awarded based on these panel score rankings and MRAC Board–approved budget allocations.
We actively recruit new and returning review panelists, bringing a different cohort in for each grant round every year. Panelists receive stipends for their time, and the appreciation of the community for helping to make grantmaking more equitable.
Check out the FAQs below to see if becoming an MRAC review panelist is right for you! If you have any questions, please email aimee@mrac.org.
General Panel Intake Form
If you are new panelist or haven’t served on a panel in more than a year, please submit your information via this online form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can serve as a MRAC review panelist?
Review panelists must:
- be an artist, employed or volunteer in the arts, or an active arts enthusiast,
- live in the seven-county Twin Cities metro area which includes Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott and Washington counties,
- be at least 18 years old, and
- be dedicated to advancing equitable grantmaking across the Twin Cities metro region.
Our review panelists are as diverse as our applicants. Therefore, we seek individuals from a range of artistic disciplines, experiences in community, metro geographies, ages, genders, races, abilities, and ethnicities. Those who identify as Black, Indigenous, or a person of color (BIPOC), a person with a disability, part of the LGBTQ+ community, and/or live outside of Hennepin and Ramsey counties are highly encouraged to apply.
We actively work with our review panelists to ensure they have a positive, thoughtful experience. This includes making accessibility accommodations, providing language translation, and more.
Panelists can include past and current grant applicants, but those new to MRAC are also welcome to apply. Joining a panel is a great first step if you are thinking of applying for funding!
How much work is it to be a review panelist?
Panelists can expect to spend up to 25 hours serving as a review panelist, with most of the time spent reading applications. This includes a 2-hour virtual orientation where panelists learn about MRAC’s mission, the grant criteria, and how to assess applications.
After the virtual orientation, panelists will have approximately one month to evaluate between 25–60 applications (depending on the grant) remotely via our grant interface Submittable. All evaluations are completed independently online and at your own pace. Each application is around 4 pages and can take 15 minutes to 1 hour to assess. Numbers and times vary based on which grant panelists are reviewing.
We acknowledge that this is a big time commitment. While most applicants serve on only one review panel per year, you are welcome to serve on more if you are willing and able.
What are the benefits of joining a review panel?
Panelists receive thorough training, a stipend, and if applicable, caregiver (including personal care and childcare) reimbursement. They also receive our sincere gratitude for their time and effort to support the arts ecosystem by reviewing the grant proposals.
By serving you can expect to:
- have a greater understanding about what makes a strong grant application.
- learn about a variety of arts groups, organizations, and projects.
- be empowered and prepared for this role through our trainings and support.
- be respected for your role in this important process.
What are the panel policies?
View and download MRAC’s panel policies.
Panels are held throughout the year. You may hear from us quickly or it may take a while depending on when you inquire and when it aligns with our needs. Please note that all applications will be reviewed by panelists through Submittable, an online rating and comment system. After the virtual training workshop, no in-person or virtual discussions are scheduled or required.