Southwest Minnesota Arts Council

For the first time, SMAC is running a Special Fundraising Campaign to raise funds for a specific grant!

SMAC doesn't want to turn down any child who wants to further themselves in art education. Every child is worthy to learn about the arts. Every year SMAC only has the funding to award 8 grants in our Art Study Opportunity for Youth Grants but there are more than 8 children in SW MN who wish to pursue art!

What are our Art Study Opportunity for Youth Grants? These grants provide up to $500 to allow young artists entering grades 5 – 12 to attend an enrichment camp or specialty study. Costs for standard weekly lessons (such as piano or voice lessons) are allowed for students who qualify for the federal free or reduced lunch program.

Arts funding for schools continue to go down and schools have trouble funding arts programs. As a result, students aren't always getting what they need in traditional school settings. For students who want to expand their arts learning, there needs to be another option. Kids deserve exposure to the arts in the same way they deserve exposure to sports and other competitions and excellence pursuits! 

SMAC provides 8 youth art grants per year to help kids explore the arts. With your support, we can provide more opportunities for more kids. SMAC can say "yes" to every child.

Your gift of $100 or more by December 31st will help SMAC say "yes" to more kids who want to pursue the arts! If 15 donors gave $100 each, we could award 3 more students this spring. With 30 donors we could award 6 more students, and with 40 donors ($4,000) we could DOUBLE the amount of students awarded grants this spring! At just a $100 donation, skip an evening of eating out and instead feel the joy of supporting the arts for more kids in rural SW MN.

SMAC's Mission

The Southwest Minnesota Arts Council (SMAC) is a non-profit organization committed to promoting and encouraging the development of the arts in the eighteen counties of southwestern Minnesota by serving as a source of funds and technical services which enable local organizations, educational institutions, and individuals to sponsor and/or create and promote the arts in their communities.

SMAC's Vision

Artists, arts organizations and arts activities thrive. Public value of the arts is understood and acted upon by community members, leaders and policy makers. The creative spirit is integrated into the social fabric of every community.

Donations welcome! We need you to help us support the arts.

Our mission is to promote the arts in the 18 county region of southwest Minnesota.  We are asking you to please contribute to the Southwest Minnesota Arts and help us continue to make a difference in the arts in our region. Contributions are tax deductible.

THANK  YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE ARTS!