East Central MN Regional Arts Council

10/19/2026

Applications for the Minneapolis Institute of Art's Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP) are now being accepted! The application deadline is Saturday, October 31, at 11:59 p.m. Apply for your opportunity to exhibit November 20, 2027 to February 20, 2028.

Designed specifically for artists in our community to present their work within an encyclopedic museum context, MAEP offers a unique opportunity to collaborate with Mia's professional staff to mount a large-scale exhibition in one of the premier fine arts institutions in the U.S.

https://new.artsmia.org/art-artists/maep/maep-application-process?utm_medium=email&utm_source=mia&utm_campaign=maep

Pictured: View of the exhibition "Ziba Rajabi: Belly Laugh at a Funeral" installed in U.S. Bank Gallery at Mia is on view until October 25, 2026.

10/02/2026

The American-Scandinavian Foundation annual competition for Scandinavian Folk Arts & Cultural Traditions in the Upper Midwest is now accepting applications.

Deadline: September 1, 2024 at 11:59 PM CDT

For further information and to begin an online application visit

The American-Scandinavian Foundation (ASF) provides support for living Nordic folk arts and cultural traditions in the Upper Midwest (North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan). Broadly defined, folk arts are expressions of community identity and val...

09/17/2026

The October 1st Grant Deadline is two weeks away! You can find all grant related info on the ECRAC website ecrac.org or reach out to ECRAC staff if you have questions.

09/02/2026

Now is the perfect time to start your application for ECRAC's upcoming October 1st grant deadline. The time to submit your application will be here before you know it! https://www.ecrac.org/news/arts-grant-deadlines-approaching-info-sessions-now-open

08/28/2026

Forecast Public Art 2027 Artist Grant Applications are Open!

Have an idea for how art can come alive in public, connect people, strengthen community, or shape civic life? We want to help you make it happen: bit.ly/GrantsFPA

At Forecast, we believe artists are essential to healthy communities and civic life. What could you achieve for your community through this grant?

“Thanks to Forecast, I was able to involve residents, community leaders, and business owners in the concept of the artwork, which fostered local pride and a sense of shared ownership.”
—Luis Fitch, Forecast 2025 Mid-Career Project Grantee

“Being awarded the Forecast Mid-Career grant provided me with the resources to create a wholly new work, increased visibility as an artist, and pushed my artistic practice into new media.”
—Witt Siasoco, Forecast 2025 Mid-Career Project Grantee

Public art can take many forms. Artists and culture bearers working across disciplines and media are encouraged to apply. Forecast grants support early- and mid-career artists who want to advance their artist practice and contribute to public and civic life. Applicants must be based in Minnesota and the Native Nations that share this geography.

Join us for a virtual info session on Wednesday, August 26 @6:00 pm and Saturday, September 19 @11:00 am. A session will be recorded.

Apply by October 18.

Photos, previous grantees:
(1) Pramila Vasudevan explored relationships between movement-making and plant-growing processes, seeking connections in a time of disconnection via embodied listening and movement sessions with audiences. 📸 Drew Arrieta.
(2) Andy Frye launched an original theatrical experience.
(3) Through her interactive web archive and sound-mapping website, Cecilia Cornejo Sotelo harnessed community voices from three small towns; she asked them to reflect on the meaning of home and what it means to belong to a place.
(4) Tara Fahey and Sofía Padilla, with support from Heather Hinrichson, invited community to make lanterns at free public workshops, culminating in a public procession. 📸 Bruce Silcox.

08/27/2026

Arts Midwest is Introducing the Arts Funding Finder - because finding funding shouldn't be this hard.

Arts Funding Finder, a new tool from Arts Midwest, makes it easier for artists, organizations, and funders to find and share grant opportunities.

07/23/2026

The 2026/27 Minneapolis College of Art and Design – Jerome Foundation for Early Career MN Artists application is now open. This is a $10,000 Fellowship aimed at visual artists. Applications close Sept. 11th at Noon. If you're curious to know more, check out the information on the MCAD website:

Since 1981, the Jerome Foundation has artistically and critically advanced early-career visual artists who live in the state of Minnesota.

07/21/2026

Open now at the ECRAC Gallery in Hinckley. July 20-30, 10am - 2pm with a Closing Ceremony July 31st, 12pm - 3pm.

07/01/2026

Attention MN film & animation artists! Submissions are now open for the inaugural “MN Films at the Fair”. Final Deadline is July 27!

MN FILMS at the FAIR! Square Lake Film & Music is beyond excited to present five nights of Minnesota-made film & animation at the 2026 Minnesota State Fair on August 28, 29 & September 4-6.We’ll be screening films outdoors after sunset on a large screen situated near the Pet Pavillion in the NW co...

06/29/2026

Exciting Summer News + New Support Opportunities - From our July exhibition to the new Emergency Relief Fund for artists, see what’s ahead. https://www.ecrac.org/news/exciting-summer-news-new-support-opportunities