Important information regarding artists and arts organizations for the upcoming year
Focusing our Resources on the Arts
Lake Region Arts Council (LRAC) has had to make several significant decisions because of the impact of the COVID 19 virus and the downturn in Minnesota’s economy. The need for support by the artists and arts organizations in our region has increased dramatically while at the same time, State funding to the MN State Arts Board and the Regional Arts Councils is being cut.
Patrons form a queue as they wait in face coverings.
To make sure LRAC can carry out our mission “to encourage and support the vitality of the arts in West Central Minnesota” we will be concentrating our resources in Fiscal Year 2021, starting July 1, 2020 (FY21), in ways to best support the artists and arts organizations in our region. LRAC is grateful for the conversations with our regional arts partners and artists. Their input, concerns and encouragement has guided our planning for the challenging year ahead.
A Few of the Changes that Lie Ahead
Limiting eligible organizational applicants to only nonprofit arts organizations that have at least 60% of their programming focused on the arts and have been in existence for at least one year. For FY21, colleges, universities, K-12 school districts/community education departments, cultural heritage groups, historical societies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations who do not have arts as a primary focus, such as senior centers, will not be eligible to apply for LRAC organization grants.
If a non-eligible organizations would like to do arts programing, they are encouraged to contact the LRAC office about how to partner with an arts organization or artists to submit an eligible application.Allowing grantees to postpone/reschedule events if necessary because of COVID 19 impacts.
Current FY19 and FY20 LRAC non-Operating Support grantees can convert final 20% grant payments to operating support expenses.
FY21 Project Grant Guidelines will no longer require a 20% match.
For FY21 Legacy Grants, all applicants will be offered an opportunity to present, either in person or virtually, to the LRAC Board at the Legacy Grant Review. Request for $10,000 or more will be required to make a presentation.
For Project and Legacy Grants, the grant review criteria are merit and artistic quality of the project, need for the project, and ability of the applicant to accomplish the project. In FY21, the number one priority is shifting from merit and artistic quality to the need for the project.
To protect the health and safety of all participating, LRAC grant reviews and Board meetings will be held virtually using GoToMeeting as long as necessary. LRAC staff will continue to work from home, scheduling appointments by phone or virtually. The Galleries and office will remain closed to the public.
The Arts Mentorship Program meetings for students and mentors scheduled for summer of 2020 have been rescheduled to summer 2021. No new Arts Mentorship applications will be taken until the spring of 2022.
LRAC will be offering a new program for arts organizations and artists to help them explore using the internet to connect to audiences. This will include technical support.
What Comes Next and What to Expect
Unfortunately, we are still uncertain about how much State funding will be available to us for our new fiscal year that starts July 1, 2020. We have been told that it will be at least 15% less and maybe as much as 40% less. It all depends on the budget forecast that comes out in mid-July. We will make every effort to maintain our grant funding at last year’s level. We are grateful for the support and patience of our artists and organizational partners as we work through these challenges together.
As always, if you have questions, comments or suggestions, please contact us by email: lrac4@lracgrants.org or by phone 218.739.5780.
Maxine Adams
Executive Director
Lake Region Arts Council
