The Central Minnesota Arts Board (CMAB), at their March 12, 2026, meeting, awarded fifteen (15) Community Arts Support Grants totaling $139,332.

The CMAB Community Arts Support Program provides biennial grants for administration, operations, equipment purchases and to improve access and outreach to underserved groups. These unrestricted grants are awarded to nonprofit arts organizations that demonstrate efficient management and high-quality artistic programming.

Funding for this grant program is provided through an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund created by the Voters of Minnesota.

Award recipients:

1. Buffalo Community Orchestra, $10,692 – Wright County
2. Buffalo Community Theater, $12,000 – Wright County
3. Central Minnesota Youth Orchestra, $5,000 – Stearns County
4. Chamber Music Society of St. Cloud, $12,000 – Stearns County
5. Granite City Folk Society, $5,510 – Stearns County
6. Great Northern Theatre Company, $12,000 – Stearns County
7. Great River Chorale, $12,000 – Sherburne County
8. Independent Music Collaboration of Central MN, $12,000 – Stearns County
9. Melrose Area Arts Council, $5,560 – Stearns County
10. Minnesota Center Chorale, $6,570 – Stearns County
11. Sinclair Lewis Foundation, $5,000 – Stearns County
12. SOAR Regional Arts, $12,000 – Wright County
13. St. Cloud Area Senior Fun Singers, $5,000 – Stearns County
14. St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, $12,000 – Stearns County
15. Youth Chorale of Central MN, $12,000 – Stearns County

The Central Minnesota Arts Board supports collaborative and innovative arts opportunities through partnerships and financial investments in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright counties as one of eleven Regional Arts Councils designated by the Minnesota State Arts Board working with community partners to increase access to the unique cultural assets of Minnesota.