Arts in the Schools Grants

The Arts in the Schools grant program is administered by the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council, a regional arts organization funded through legislative appropriations from the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund and the state general fund. The program is designed to support arts engagement within public schools across a defined service region in southwest Minnesota. Its core objective is to enhance student learning through meaningful arts experiences by integrating professional artists, arts organizations, and creative programming into school environments. The grant reflects the council’s broader mission to foster artistic development, accessibility, and community engagement across diverse populations. The primary purpose of this funding opportunity is to provide financial support for projects such as artist residencies, student art exhibitions, and educational field trips to arts venues. These activities must involve direct interaction between students and professional artists or arts institutions, with a focus on developing artistic knowledge, skills, and appreciation. Projects must be inclusive, meaning they are open to all students within a defined group such as a grade level or subject area, rather than limited to select individuals or extracurricular clubs. Additionally, applicants are encouraged to incorporate a community engagement component, such as public exhibitions or events, to broaden the impact beyond the classroom. Funding for individual projects is available up to a maximum of four thousand dollars. Grant funds may only be used for eligible project-related expenses incurred after the official project start date, and cannot be applied to prior costs, general school operations, or non-arts activities. Restrictions also apply to ensure that funded projects do not replace standard curriculum offerings, do not involve out-of-state travel, and do not support construction, fundraising, or religious or political activities. The program emphasizes that grant funding should enable projects to break even rather than generate profit, and budgets must be carefully structured to reflect this intent. Eligibility is limited to public schools and community education programs located within the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council service region, which includes specific counties and tribal communities. Schools outside the region may qualify if they serve students residing within the region. Certain entities are explicitly excluded, including parochial schools, for-profit organizations, and applicants with outstanding reporting obligations from previous grants. Additional restrictions apply to organizations already receiving legislative appropriations from the same funding sources, ensuring equitable distribution of resources. The application process offers multiple submission methods, including an online grant system, email submission of documents, or paper applications. Applicants are encouraged to consult with council staff prior to submission to confirm eligibility and improve application quality. Required materials include a detailed project description, budget, artist credentials, and supporting work samples. Applications are evaluated through a structured review process that includes an eligibility screening, panel review, and final board approval. Evaluation criteria focus on feasibility, artistic quality, and participant impact, with weighted scoring assigned to each category. The grant operates on a recurring monthly deadline cycle from August through May within the fiscal year. Applications are due on the first of each month, with funding decisions made by the board on the fourth Tuesday. Notifications are issued shortly thereafter, and funded projects may begin on the first day of the following month. Payment is typically issued by the fifteenth of that month once contractual requirements are met. All projects must be completed by the end of the fiscal year on June thirtieth, and final reports are required within sixty days of project completion. This structured timeline enables continuous access to funding opportunities throughout the year while maintaining consistent review and accountability processes.

Draft reviews are encouraged. Applications must include complete materials and meet monthly deadlines. Ineligible costs include out-of-state travel, school staff salaries, and non-arts supplies.