Community Arts Schools and Conservatories is a pilot program that provides operating support to high quality, established community arts schools and conservatories that are nonprofit, or hosted within a parent, public or nonprofit tax-exempt institution; that provide rigorous, structured arts learning programs offered by professional faculty; and whose programs are open to all interested learners.
The goal of Arts Board programs is to reach out to all Minnesotans, regardless of geographic location, economic situation, age, racial/ethnic characteristics, or disability.
Who can apply
Community arts schools or conservatories that provide rigorous, structured arts learning programs offered by professional faculty that are open to all interested learners. The school or conservatory must be exempt from taxation under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or be hosted within a parent, public, or nonprofit, tax-exempt institution.
The applicant school or conservatory must have annual operating expenses of at least $50,000, and not more than $160,000, when averaged over its two most recently completed fiscal years.
Arts Board Operating Support grantees are not eligible to apply.
Community Arts Schools and Conservatories is a two-year grant program. Only those organizations that were awarded a grant in the FY 2014 grant cycle may apply for funding in FY 2015.
New or first-time applications for Community Arts Schools and Conservatories funding will be accepted during the FY 2016 grant cycle.
Grant Amount
Community Arts Schools and Conservatories grants are two-year operating grants.
Funding for fiscal year 2015 Community Arts Schools and Conservatories grants is dependent on continued funding from the Minnesota State Legislature. If funding remains at fiscal year 2014 levels, and the applicant receives a successful interim review; the applicant's fiscal year 2015 grant (formula funds and merit award) will be the same amount as its fiscal year 2014 grant.
FY 2015 Application Deadline
The FY 2015 deadline is 4:30 p.m., Friday, February 14, 2014.
The Arts Board will not accept applications that are not submitted and accepted by the online WebGrants system before the 4:30 p.m. deadline.
Application method
All applicants are required to use the WebGrants system to apply, and will submit all materials electronically. Everyone wanting to apply must be a registered user. New users need to register in advance in order to create an account and set up a user ID and password.
Two online tutorials are available to acquaint users with the WebGrants system:
Fiscal year 2016 materials and links will be available six to eight weeks before the application deadline. Previous materials are shown below for reference only.
If you have questions about the content of the application form or narrative, please call the Arts Board at
(651) 215-1600
If you have questions about financial forms or required financial documents, please contact: Dave White, director, finance and grants administration david.white@arts.state.mn.us
(651) 215-1622
If you have questions about the technical aspects of the application forms, or questions about electronic submission, please e-mail the Arts Board at: apply@arts.state.mn.us
You may also call the following staff, but e-mail is preferred. Tom Miller, WebGrants project manager apply@arts.state.mn.us
(651) 215-1611
All staff can be reached toll-free at (800) 866-2787.
