Resources

This is a list of links and resources used by our office and our constituents. They by no means constitute a comprehensive selection of useful organizations or sites. Links are organized by the following categories: Publications, Time-Limited Opportunities, Advocacy, Accessibility, Funding, Management Training Providers, and Technology.

Links

MRAC Publications and Reports

Thriving Arts: Thriving Small Communities
The report, Thriving Arts: Thriving Small Communities, by Sharon Rodning Bash, MRAC’s Director of Management Training and Services, shares the findings of a year-long study funded by the Bush Foundation that sought to discover whether there were critical ingredients or common themes necessary to build long-term viability for the arts in rural and exurban communities.

From Mission To Motivation: a focused approach to arts participation
Targeting the small or mid-sized arts group, this workbook is designed for use in self-guided learning or a facilitated workshop process to help build consensus around audience development goals and strategies.

A New Angle: Arts Development in the Suburbs
Released May 12, 2002, the report tries to gauge the extent of suburban arts development, and to raise its profile with artists, arts administrators, arts patrons, funders, and public officials. Available in the MRAC offices.

MRAC's brochure (Download may take a few seconds)

Forum of Regional Arts Councils of Minnesota brochure

Time-Limited and Recently Added Opportunities (These non-MRAC opportunites are posted at MRAC's discretion. The list does not indicate an endorsement. The list is updated monthly.)

The Bloomington Theatre and Art Center (BTAC) invites BTAC members to participate in their 34th annual members' juried art exhibition. For more information and to download the entry form visit http://www.bloomingtonartcenter.com/Images/Exhibition%20Images/2010-MembersShowProspectus.pdf. Deadline October 1, 2010.
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The Women's Art Registry of Minnesota (WARM) is offering a new short-term mentorship program open to all artists. The Mentor Intensive Program will assist artists in achieving a specific goal or project within a prearranged time frame. Goals may include career development, such as composing an artist's statement or technical development, such as guidance on a specific artistic technique or skill. For further information please visit the WARM website at http://www.thewarm.org, click on the Mentor Program tab, and choose Mentor Intensive Program.
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The Perpich Center for Arts Education announced its fourth round of training for schools interested in incorporating dance into their curriculum. Arts Courses for Educators~Dance (ACE~Dance) is an opportunity to gain in-depth professional development in dance education. During the two-year program, school teams from across the state attend workshops at the Perpich Center and receive on-site coaching and curriculum services by ACE Instructors. More information is at http://www.pcae.k12.mn.us/pdr/ace/ace_grant_2010.html. Application Deadline September 24, 2010.
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The 2010 Nowthen Heritage Festival invites artists to participate in an arts and crafts sale on Saturday, September 25th in Downtown Nowthen, located in northwest Anoka County. The arts and crafts sale will run from 10:00 A.M. - 6:00 P.M. and feature hand-made products. The vendor fee is $30.00 for each 10' x 10" space. For more information and an application email NowthenHeritageFestival@yahoo.com.
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More than 140 arts professionals from across the Twin Cities metro area attended Are You My Audience?, the Arts Learning Xchange Metro-wide Forum on July 15 at Nicollet Island Pavilion. This interactive session covered national arts audience trends, local demographic data, and how-to's, tips, and tools for developing arts audiences. You can watch video clips at http://www.artsmidwest.org/programs/ArtsLearningXchange/metro-wide-forums/are-you-my-audience.
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The Minnesota State Arts Board has posted its schedule of grant application deadlines and advisory panel review meetings for the first part of FY 2011. The board expects to have one grant round in the fall/winter and another in the spring; additional dates will be added to the calendar later this fall. Visit www.arts.state.mn.us/calendar/index.htm for more information. Grant information sessions are being offered this month for the upcoming Artist Initiative grant round. Register at www.arts.state.mn.us/calendar/info_sessions.htm.
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The COMPAS/McKnight Community Art Program guidelines and application materials will be available for download on August 2, 2010. The program's mission is to encourage the use of meaningful, quality arts to build community. The Community Art Program funds projects and programs in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul that promote community-building through collaboration and interaction of artists and members of a community or among members of different communities. More information is available at the COMPAS website: http://www.compas.org/grants
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Call for Artists: The River Falls Business Improvement District, representing the business and building owners located in the historic downtown of River Falls, is pleased to announce the development of a Downtown Mural Project and is looking for a mural artist. For more information and the RFP contact Joleen Larson by email at joleenlarson@hotmail.com.
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The MAP for Nonprofits' Community Realignment Fund helps struggling nonprofits save vital human services through realignment or merger options. MAP's Project ReDesign team facilitates and leads nonprofit organizations through an asset-based planning and decision-making process to preserve community services using a ten-step approach to help organizational leaders and their board members evaluate and implement changes in their structure. For more information visit http://www.mapfornonprofits.org or contact Renae Oswald-Anderson by email at roswald-anderson@mapfornonprofits.org.
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Fresh Filmmakers: Your Chance to Emerge. The Fresh Filmmakers Production Grant will facilitate the production of one short narrative film (ten minutes or less) directed by a filmmaker who has been making films for no more than five years. The winner will receive mentorship, a $1000 stipend, and logistical support (camera, lights, edit facilities, etc.) necessary to direct and produce a short narrative film. Production mentors will work in tandem with the grant recipient to manage the project. Click on the link for more information: http://www.ifpmn.org/grants.html.
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LegalCORPS offers Minnesota nonprofits a free program in which they can assess whether they need to take any steps to ensure they are on sound legal footing. Attorney/paralegal teams use a LegalCORPS-developed "toolkit" that provides a checklist of legal topics to discuss and documents to review. To learn more and apply to participate, visit www.legalcorps.org/html/nonprofit.htm#NPLNA
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The Minnesota Theater Alliance is a new organization designed to serve theaters across the state. For more information about the Alliance, visit www.springboardforthearts.org/Services/theateralliance.asp.
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The Doris Duke Charitable Foundation has approved a 2-year grant in the amount of $50,000 to the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation to support the creation of the Doris Duke Leaders in the Arts Fund, which will subsidize the participation of leaders in the fields of dance, jazz, presenting and theatre in the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute. For more information, or instructions on how to apply, please contact Paul Robinson at the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute at ppr@wilder.org or 651-280-2491.
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Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA) has a list of the various access points for Arts and Cultural Heritage resources on their website. Visit www.mncitizensforthearts.org/news/amendment-funds/othergrants for a listing of opportunities from libraries, public broadcasting, etc
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Your nonprofit organization is invited to participate in a new online giving platform, GiveMN.org. GiveMN.org will give contributors information about and access to all charitable nonprofits in our state. It will give every charitable nonprofit equal access to online contributors. And, it will encourage local online giving. There is no cost to your nonprofit to participate in GiveMN.org. Visit www.GiveMN.org for more information.
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Become an MPR News Art Hound. MPR News has developed a weekly arts segment called "Art Hounds". Each weekly installment features three people from the Minnesota arts community talking briefly about a performance, opening, or event they're excited to see or want others to check out. The only stipulation is that it can't be your own work or work you're professionally associated with. Click here for more information.
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MAP for Nonprofits' Best on Board program helps nonprofit organizations in and near the Twin Cities find qualified prospective board members who are committed to their mission and to board service. For more information visit: www.mapfornonprofits.org and click on nonprofit services.
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RECESSION PREPAREDNESS ASSESSMENT
The Nonprofits Assistance Fund has developed an Assessment of Recession Risk and Preparedness for Nonprofit Organizations as a starting point to help organizations identify potential risk factors and immediate priorities. With this information, your organization will be better prepared to develop strategies and approaches to respond to the economy and plan for a sustainable future. Click here to complete the Recession Preparedness Assessment and enhance your ability to navigate these uncertain times.

Interested in a training opportunity, but not sure that your organization can afford the fee? MRAC offers a training fund grant to help arts groups pay for training opportunities that will strengthen their organization. Click here for more information on MRAC's Management Training Fund grant.

Advocacy

Minnesota Citizens for the Arts (MCA)

Statewide arts advocacy organization that organizes the arts community to lobby the Minnesota State Legislature and Congress.

Americans for the Arts

National arts advocacy organization.

 

Accessibility

To assess your organization's accessibility, download the accessibility planning guide on the Accessibility Page. On that page you can also find a guide to working with sign language interpreters in the performing arts.

VSA Arts of Minnesota

Statewide organization that promotes quality, accessible arts experiences for people with all types of disabilities through artist services and direct arts programs and by assisting arts organizations in making their programs and services accessible to people with disabilities.

Disability Access Symbols

The twelve symbols included on this page may be used to promote and publicize accessibility of places, programs and other activities for people with various disabilities.

Funding

Minnesota State Arts Board

Provides grants for individual artists, arts organizations and schools; offers downloadable publications and resource directories.

Minnesota's Regional Arts Councils

Each Regional Arts Council (RAC) serves a sector of the state, made up of four or more counties. Every RAC has its own grant programs, publications and eligibility requirements. To find out more about the RACs and determine which one serves your area, click on the map on MCA's home page.

The New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA)

Is proud to announce the launch of NYFA Source, the nation's most extensive database of awards, services, and publications for artists of all disciplines. Artists, funders, arts
organizations, and the general public can access NYFA Source for free.

The Wallace Foundation

For more than a decade, The Wallace Foundation has worked to expand learning and enrichment opportunities for all people. Our efforts toward this goal have yielded important insights and lessons, and we have designed our website to make this knowledge more accessible to visitors.  We especially invite you to browse the Knowledge Center. It is a repository of field-based evidence of what is working, what is not, and why - not only in our current areas of focus, but in areas where we have worked in the past

A Very Small Arts Fund

A Very Small Arts Fund is a very small arts fund for very small arts organizations and individual performing artists that gives very small grants of $1 to $1,500. The Fund is open to artists and organizations that are performing and/or living in Minneapolis or St. Paul.

For a more complete list of local funders, contact the Minnesota Council on Foundations or The Foundation Center.

Management Training Providers

Springboard for the Arts

Springboard for the Arts provides management workshops, consulting, telephone referrals, a resource library and more for artists and nonprofit organizations.

Science Museum of Minnesota

The Science Museum of Minnesota offers computer training in many programs at all levels.

Nonprofits Assistance Fund

Nonprofits Assistance Fund (NAF) helps foster community development and vitality by building financially healthy nonprofit organizations. NAF provides loans, financial management workshops and financial management assistance to stabilize and strengthen the financial capacity of nonprofit organizations in Minnesota.

Management Assistance Program for Nonprofits (MAP)

MAP provides consulting and other management support services by linking volunteer professionals with nonprofit needs.

Minnesota Council of Nonprofits (MCN)

MCN is a nonprofit membership organization. MCN publishes the MN Nonprofit Directory, MN Grants Directory, and a Nonprofit Yellow Pages: a Directory of Resources and Services for MN Nonprofits.

Minnesota Council on Foundations (MCF)

MCF offers a Grantsmanship for Beginners workshop, Guide to MN Foundations and Corporate Giving, and conducts a survey of MN capital and endowment campaigns.

Hands On Twin Cities

The Volunteer Center has programs and services designed for organizations which rely on the help of volunteers.

The Center for Nonprofit Management (CNM) at the University of St. Thomas

CNM at the University of St. Thomas is dedicated to strengthening the nonprofit sector through its suite of leadership and management programs designed to increase organizational impact.

Technology

TechSoup.org

Offers nonprofits one-stop shopping for their technology needs. Billed as a gateway to the entire world of nonprofit technology assistance and solutions, they have compiled resource lists of nonprofit discounts offered by hardware and software companies, and by technology assistance agencies.

TechSoup Global

Founded in 1987 as CompuMentor, TechSoup Global is a recognized leader in bringing technological empowerment and philanthropy to social benefit organizations- including nonprofits, nongovernmental organizations, libraries and other social change agents.

Network for Good/Helping.org

Network for Good is a nonprofit collaboration to help nonprofit organizations increase capacity, reach new audiences, and build Internet strategies.