Arts council awards grants

The Board of Directors of the Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council, also known as SMAHC, voted on Nov. 27, to award a total of $9,333 to schools and arts organizations under the McKnight/SMAHC Arts in Education and Communities grant program. With funds appropriated by the State Legislature and the McKnight Foundation, this program provides matching grant awards of up to $2,500 for artist residency activities, up to $750 for pre-packaged theater residencies and up to $600 to aid in field trips to qualified arts exhibitions and performances.

Locally, the Prairie Arts Council in Lester Prairie received a grant for $1,713 for a Linda Moraal Ceramic Residency.

The next grant application deadline for Arts in Education and Communities is April 2, for projects beginning after June 1. Schools and organizations planning summer or fall projects should apply at this deadline.

For more information, call the SMAHC office toll free at (800) 622-5284 for information on grant guidelines or applications.

(Kay Johnson is a staff writer for the Hutchinson Leader. She can be reached at johnson@hutchinsonleader.com)