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ALPENA -- Minigrant applications are still being accepted through Aug. 3 for round one funding through the Michigan Arts and Culture Council.
Art in the Loft is acting as the fiduciary arm for the grant applications.
"There are four types of grants," Art in the Loft Executive Director Justin Christensen-Cooper.
MACC offers two minigrant programs open to K-12 schools: Bus Grant program and the Equipment and Supplies Grant program. The bus grant program offers grants of up to $500 to Michigan K-12 schools for the transportation cost of an arts or culture-related field trip.
"Any school entity or school teacher could apply for up to $500 to go on a field trip," Christensen-Cooper explained.
The equipment and supplies grant offers Michigan K-12 schools grants of up to $1,500 to pay for equipment or supplies being used within the classroom/school setting for arts and/or cultural experiences.
"These are not regulated to just art teachers, either," Christensen-Cooper clarified. "So, as long as they're doing something to do with different cultures, they could apply."
In addition, the Professional or Organizational Development Minigrant provides up to $1,500 to help nonprofit arts and cultural organizations, artists, arts administrators, arts educators, and film professionals with opportunities that improve their management and/or bring the artist or organization to a new artistic level.
"This could be an individual artist who wants to go to a conference," Christensen-Cooper said. "They could write it for that. Or, an organization wants to bring in a speaker to give a talk. They could write for up to $1,500 for that. Again, just culturally driven. And you don't need to be a nonprofit to do that."
Minigrant Arts Projects provide up to $4,000 to support special opportunities addressing arts and cultural needs locally.
"You do have to be a nonprofit," he noted for the Minigrant Arts Projects, "but you don't have to be an arts nonprofit. It just has to be culturally driven."
Christensen-Cooper said many people may not be aware about these minigrants being available.
"The nice thing about this is that January 15 is the next deadline, all for the same pot of money," he said. "Our region has roughly $30,000 to regrant for these opportunities … It's a statewide grant, but you're only in competition with those in your region."
To apply for any of these minigrants, visit artintheloft.org/macc-minigrants. MACC minigrants are facilitated through Art in the Loft for Region 3.
Applications for round two funding will be accepted through Jan. 15, 2024.