At the October 14, 2021 meeting, the Central MN Arts Board (CMAB) awarded a Public Art Grant in the amount of $13,230 to The Delano Area Council for Arts and Culture for “Spirit of Community”, a sculpture commissioned from Pedersen Metal Design of North Mankato. The sculpture will be permanently installed in the Delano Sculpture Park located between Highway 12 and the Crow River in Delano, MN.

The CMAB Public Art program provides funds for the completion of well-planned works of public art that are accessible to the public and supported by the community. An organization must provide a minimum of 25% in matching funds. Public Art Grants are provided through Minnesota’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

The Central Minnesota Arts Board (CMAB) strives to enhance appreciation of the essential economic and social roles the arts play in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright counties by providing grants and professional development services to arts and community organizations, schools, government units and individuals.

For more information about the Central MN Arts Board grant opportunities and services go to www.centralmnartsboard.org or call the office at 320-968-4290 or toll free at 1-866-825-1471.

At the September 16, 2021, meeting, the Central MN Arts Board (CMAB) awarded $37,163 in Artist Career Development grants.

The CMAB Artist Career Development program provides funding in support of projects, training opportunities, purchases and other activities that assist artists in making the next step in their artistic careers. Funding for this program is provided by the McKnight Foundation.

Three criteria are used to evaluate applications: Artistic quality and merit, Professional Need and Ability to complete the proposal. An applicant must receive an average score of 15 points (50%) or higher to be considered for funding.

1. Mary Bruno, $4,000, framing and display for her work “The Rule of Saint Benedict”, consisting of seventy-three chapters of text and images letterpress printed on Thai Mulberry paper, for the preparation of the first of an exhibition series featuring the Scroll.
2. JD Jorgenson, $4,000, for studio equipment upgrades focused on safety, efficiency, and increased capacity in the studio kilns.
3. Elysia Larson, $1,163, for the purchase of music reading and notation technology to improve the time, resources, and organizations for studio art and teaching private music lessons.
4. Kelly Lundquist, $4,000, for a mentorship with Anna Qu, who will perform an in-depth edit of a completed book manuscript, “Beard: A Memoir”.
5. Desi Murphy, $4,000, to purchase a Pugmill for a commercial pottery studio and gallery in St. Cloud, MN.
6. Ronald Ringer, $4,000 to create a video recording of a dance performance that expands the bounds of traditional ballroom and Latin dance performed by male partners to the music of “Nessun Dorma” written by Giacomo Puccini for the opera Turandot.
7. Laura Ruprecht, $4,000, for consumable materials to expand her artistic portfolio, an iPad purchase for a more efficient way to organize and plan commissions and to maintain a commerce website subscription and online presence.
8. Timothy Takach, $4,000, for the newly composed “Unfashioned Creature” for choir, percussion, cello, and live dance collaboration with Minneapolis choreographer Penelope Freeh who will choreograph the dance piece for the James Sewell Ballet.
9. Hedy Tripp, $4,000, to assist in a mentorship with Ms. Pacyinz Lyfoung, a Minnesotan-grown and Southeast Asian/Hmong writer, and to attend David Mura’s “The ABCs of Narrative Construction: A Class for Writers of Color and Indigenous Writers” workshop through the Loft Literary Center in St. Paul.
10. D. Helene Woods, $4,000 to assist in the purchase and painting of an “Art Truck” for the transportation of supplies, materials, and artwork for exhibitions.

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.

For more information about the Central MN Arts Board programs visit www.centralmnartsboard.org or call the office at 320-968-4290 or toll free at 1-866-825-1471.

At the September 16, 2021 meeting, the Central MN Arts Board (CMAB) awarded $40,000 in Organizational Development Grants.

The CMAB Organizational Development program provides funds to help establish, maintain & strengthen the infrastructure of nonprofit arts organizations. These funds are also available to assist arts groups in establishing 501(c)(3) status. Funding for this grant program is provided through an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the state’s general fund, and the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund created by the Voters of Minnesota.

The following organizations were awarded:
1. 510 Art Lab, $10,000 for a marketing campaign focused on improved visibility, marketing materials, and to build membership.
2. Paramount Center For The Arts, $10,000 to study Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Racial Justice where board and staff members participate in an Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) with interpretation and consultation along with study materials, guided discussion and speakers.
3. SOAR Regional Arts, $10,000 to hire a consultant to train and assist staff in crafting a strategic fundraising framework and roadmap for success and sustainability.
4. St. Cloud Symphony Orchestra, $10,000 for creative concepts and marketing campaign developed for the 2021-2022 season by Gaslight Creative and a part-time marketing intern to assist in maintaining the new website and executing the social media strategy.

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.
For more information about the Central MN Arts Board programs visit www.centralmnartsboard.org or call the office at 320-968-4290 or toll free at 1-866-825-1471.

At the September 16, 2021, meeting, the Central MN Arts Board (CMAB) awarded $71,877 in Pandemic Recovery for Individuals grants.

Pandemic Recovery Support for Individuals provides funding for activities that help artists adapt their work to the changing environment, return to creative careers after leaving the workforce during the pandemic and to stay relevant and connected to audiences, participants, students, or communities.

The following artists were awarded:

• Elizabeth Bell, $3,000, to purchase a portable digital piano, iPad with a keyboard, and additional class materials such as egg shakers, bean bags, a percussion set, and scarves to be used in variety of teaching and performance.
• Chloe Briggs, $4,000, to supplement supplies and material for a new body and a Work of Art business skills for artists consultation with Springboard for the Arts.
• Amy Coppersmith, $5,000, for the upgrade of technology and software subscription to continue photography-based mythological creature book project.
• Matt Coppersmith, $5,000, for the purchase of a plasma table and supporting equipment to streamline the process of creating functional work for an ecommerce site.
• Sue Davies, $5,000, in support of research and development, supplies and materials for “Reflecting on Our Lakes” project paintings and display event at the Wright County Historical Center.
• Sarah Drake, $5,000, to support the writing, illustration and publishing of the third book in the series, “Nanou’s Promise”.
• Jill Dubbledee Kuhn, $5,000, to support illustration studio time for children’s picture book commission including the cost to attend Picture Book Writing and Illustrating by the Writing Barn online classes.
• Vatsalaa Jha, $3,700, in support of printing and framing work for art show admissions, software and website subscriptions for online presence, and OpenVoices class on Building Brand and Marketing.
• JD Jorgenson, $5,000, for resources and time to construct new plaster molds and develop a clay body from the Saint Cloud Quarry to broaden work in wild clays and the wood firing process.
• Antionette Lee, $5,000, in support of artistic development, inventory and rental space for No Limit Painting events.
• Dodie Logue, $5,000, in support of materials, supplies, and studio time to create new work as well as time to research new exhibition venues.
• Kelly Meyer, $1,220, for the purchase of portable exhibition equipment to accessibly display artwork for people with disabilities at fairs, art crawls, and other art centered events.
• Megan Jorgenson, $5,000 to support materials, studio time and promotion of a new body work for the wood kiln.
• Dan Mondloch, $5,000, to support materials and studio time for a Plein AIr Marathon during the month of November 2021 as well as promotion of the marathon on social media, in a daily email newsletter, and on the artist’s website.
• Desi Murphy, $5,000, for the purchase materials, shelving displays and sign for ceramics studio and gallery in St. Cloud, MN.
• Kyle Young, $4,957, to support the production Ancestral Melodies, a book of arrangements from traditional Finland songs for the guitar, piano, ukulele, and banjo players to be taught and shared.

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.

Visit the website for more information www.centralmnartsboard.org or call the office at 320-968-4290 or toll free at 1-866-825-1471.