Updated Policies Are Intended to Improve Grant Program for Participating Organizations
At the July 2021 Annual Board Meeting of the Lake Region Arts Council (LRAC), the LRAC Board approved changes to the existing Operating Support Grant. As the Operating Support Grant program has grown, with 14 organizations participating in the 2020-2021 grant cycle, LRAC felt it may be time to reevaluate how we can best serve our Operating Support Organizations.
You Spoke - We Listened!
The Board-approved changes are in response to feedback from regional arts organizations on how to improve the Operating Support Grant program. LRAC wishes to thank our arts partners for their suggestions and willingness to give feedback on how we can best support them.
The “Salty-Dogs” perform a set for a crowd on the Courthouse Lawn in Alexandria Minnesota. Their performance was part of a Summer Concert Series hosted by the Red Willow Arts Coalition, a previous LRAC Operating Support Grant recipient. Photo used with permission.
In the past, the LRAC Operating Support Grant has run on a one-year cycle, with a mathematical formula used to determine the amount of financial assistance that each organization received. At this time, LRAC is pleased to announce the following changes to the program:
Increased funding levels for all eligible arts organizations
The introduction of a two-year cycle of Operating Support Grant funding
LRAC believes that these changes will provide greater long-term stability for our arts organizations that receive the Operating Support Grant.
The new funding levels operate on a tiered system with brackets based on the two-year average annual expenses of the arts organization, as demonstrated by the following table:
Updated numbers reflected for next two years.
When Can We Apply?
The application for the two-year cycle will be due on January 6, 2022, approved on February 15, 2022, and the first half of the total awarded amount distributed thereafter, with the second half distributed the beginning of the following year, following the completion and approval of a midterm report. As before, applicant organizations may apply for support in four categories: general operating support, administrative support, capital expenses (equipment), and building expenses (renovations).
Eligibility guidelines for the Operating Support Grant remain the same. The full updated Operating Support Guidelines are available here.
For questions about eligibility, or if you are interested in applying for the Operating Support Grant as a new applicant, please contact our office:
