Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund Legacy Grant

The East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC) administers the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (ACHF) Legacy Grant to strengthen the arts in Minnesota’s Region 7E. This grant is funded by the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, established through a constitutional amendment approved by Minnesota voters in 2008. The fund is allocated specifically for supporting arts, arts access, arts education, and the preservation of cultural heritage, with a goal of creating a lasting legacy of artistic enrichment across the state. The Minnesota State Legislature appropriates a portion of these funds to regional councils like ECRAC to distribute locally. This grant program is intended for nonprofits, government units, schools, and fiscally sponsored groups located within Chisago, Isanti, Kanabec, Mille Lacs, Pine counties, and the sovereign Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe. The program supports a broad range of arts activities including performances, exhibitions, residencies, public art projects, workshops, and professional development. All projects must be publicly accessible and must result in the creation or presentation of art. Grant requests must fall between $5,000 and $20,000, and applicants must contribute a cash match equal to at least 10% of total project costs. Applications are accepted three times per year, with deadlines on October 1, February 1, and April 1. Project start dates must be at least three months after the submission deadline. All applications must be submitted through the ECRAC Grant Portal, and require the creation of an account. Applicants must submit detailed project budgets, outcome evaluation plans, artist résumés, and additional documentation as outlined in the application. The portal supports in-progress saving and allows applicants to upload necessary files following specific technical requirements. Proposals are reviewed by the ECRAC Board of Directors, based on four primary criteria: artistic merit, capacity to complete the project, community need, and inclusive impact. Applicants must score at least 20 out of 36 points to remain eligible, although this does not guarantee funding. Projects that clearly articulate their community value, artist involvement, and accessibility are prioritized. ECRAC places strong emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion, and encourages projects that engage historically underserved communities. Following submission, funding decisions are made within two to three months. Successful applicants are required to sign a Notification of Grant Award and Request for Payment form before funds are disbursed. Additionally, completion of Grant Management Training is required before the first payment is made. Final reports, including evaluations of project outcomes, are due within 60 days of project completion and must include financial records, publicity materials, and outcome assessments. The ECRAC ACHF Legacy Grant is a recurring opportunity, typically released on an annual basis. Prospective applicants are advised to review the full grant guidelines, attend grant workshops, and contact ECRAC staff for technical assistance or eligibility clarification well in advance of deadlines.

Address community impact, accessibility, and artistic merit clearly; ensure the project is open to the public and artist résumés validate qualifications; follow matching fund rules and adhere to evaluation expectations.