Arts Board Grant Program Advisor Opportunities
Contribute your perspectives
The Minnesota State Arts Board awards hundreds of grants and millions of dollars to artists, arts organizations, arts educators, and other organizations utilizing the arts to serve the citizens of Minnesota. Each year, the Arts Board enlists the aid of hundreds of Minnesotans from all corners of the state as volunteer grant program advisors. These individuals play a crucial role in the grant making process. They conduct artistic evaluations that are used in the assessment of the quality of applicant activities, or they read and score grant applications helping to determine which proposals will be recommended to the board for approval. This involvement, and the insights they bring, are the vital foundation for the Arts Board's grant decisions each year.
Advisors are offered a modest financial stipend. The amount of time and tasks required vary depending on the grant program.
Who can serve?
Public funds belong to all Minnesotans, so a broad spectrum of perspectives and experiences is vital to our grant making process. When selecting volunteer advisors, the Arts Board will give special consideration to geographic representation from throughout the state, ethnic and racial diversity, and a balance of those with previous experience with people who will bring new perspectives to the grant making process.
What is an advisory panel member?
Panelists receive live virtual training from the program officer before the application review process begins. They are expected to read and submit preliminary scores for all assigned applications independently using our online grant management system prior to the panel meeting. During the public review panel meeting, members convene virtually to discuss each application and submit final scores.
To learn more about the various opportunities, visit the panelists page.
What does an artistic advisor do?
Artistic evaluators attend events in person or experience artistic activities online presented by organizations seeking support through the Operating Support grant program. After each experience, advisors complete a questionnaire detailing their experience and impressions. The Operating Support panels will use these evaluations in their assessment of the quality of the applicants' activities.
Find out if this is the right fit for you, visit the artistic evaluators page to learn more.
Why support the arts community in this way?
Your involvement is vital to ensure that all Minnesotans have the opportunity to participate in and benefit from the arts. Serving as a volunteer advisor is a great way to contribute expertise, have a voice in Arts Board grant making, be inspired by Minnesota's artists and arts organizations, and build skills related to grant seeking and project evaluation.
Past advisors comment enthusiastically about what an interesting and engaging experience it is to serve. Top reasons mentioned include:
- In-depth exposure to what's happening in the arts throughout the state;
- A terrific learning opportunity about what makes for an effective (or not so effective) application;
- Opportunity to experience something I've always wanted to, or to sample some new artistic ventures that I haven't tried yet;
- Giving back to the artistic community, and the citizens who so generously support the arts in Minnesota.
How can I apply?
The Arts Board uses an open nomination process to identify potential advisors. If you'd like to nominate yourself or someone you know who fits the description, please complete and submit our interest form.
Questions?
For more information, please contact:
Panelists@arts.state.mn.us
Equal opportunity and access
Equal opportunity to participate in and benefit from programs of the Minnesota State Arts Board is provided to all individuals regardless of race, national origin, color, sex, age, religion, sexual orientation, or disability in admission, access or employment.
The Arts Board offers accessibility services and materials in alternative formats upon request. Please contact the Arts Board's accessibility coordinator if you require an accommodation (i.e., ASL-interpretation; open captioning; audio description; digital, large-print or Braille materials, etc.) to fully participate.
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