2008 Mini-Grant Applications
Now Available!

The Mini-Grant Program is a grants-giving partnership financed by the State of Michigan through the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs and administered by regional regranting agencies. Mini-grants provide up to $4,000 for locally developed, high quality arts projects, which are special opportunities to address local arts needs and increase public access to the arts. Mini-grants support a broad range of artistic expression from all cultures through projects which preserve, produce, or present the traditional or contemporary arts.

The Cheboygan Area Arts Council is responsible for awarding Mini-Grants on a matching basis to any non-profit organization, including, but not limited to, service organizations, arts organizations, parks and recreation organizations, professional associations, public and non-public schools, libraries, cities, townships and villages within Region 9 which includes the following seven counties: Alpena, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet. Montmorency, Otsego, and Presque Isle. Three of these counties are designated as "underserved" or as areas in which there is minimal exposure to the arts.

Future Rounds during fiscal year 2008 will be according to the following schedule:

FY 2009 MINI-GRANT DEADLINE:

Round I: August 1, 2008
Round II: February 1, 2009

FOR PROJECT BEGINNING IN THE PERIOD:

Round I: October 1, 2008 through Sept. 30, 2009 *
Round II: April 1, 2009 through September 30, 2009*

*If the first of these months fall on week-ends or holidays, the deadline will be the next business day. Check with Regranting Agency (231-627-5432) to confirm deadline and office hours.

Workshops on how to write a Mini-Grant are held generally twice a year, four to five weeks before a grant deadline. Notification will be sent before the next one is scheduled. Subject matter deals with how to write an effective Mini-Grant. The workshop covers eligibility requirements, reviews criteria and all aspects of the application, peer review, grant allocation process and Final Reporting. It is strongly recommended that interested applicants attend one of these workshops. They are held in the Green Room of The Opera House from 6:00pm to 9:00pm. All non-profits are invited to attend. Educators from area schools are especially urged to attend. If you would like one of these workshops to come to your site, and open to other non-profits within your area, please let us know and we will try to accommodate you. For more information contact the Arts Council at 231-627-5432 or e-mail Pam Westover at pam@theoperahouse.org.

MCACA GRANT PROGRAMS

Arts and Learning (A&L) - is a broad-based arts education program that supports hands-on arts education based projects for learners of all ages. Quality arts education activities, conducted by artists of high quality and ability, in schools or communities, as well as in the arts education partnerships between schools and community-based organizations are funded. In this way, the Council increases arts instruction by engaging the various community resources available in a single effort to make the arts a basic to education. There are seven funding categories including: Arts and Humanities, Arts and Technology, Inter-generational Collaboration, Cultural Exchange, Professional Development, Arts Education Initiatives and Underserved.

Applicants must be incorporated, tax exempt, organizations including: public or non-public schools, school districts, intermediate school districts, universities, arts organizations, arts education providers, cities, counties, villages, townships, service organizations and arts agencies. Funding up to $15,000 is available. Request amounts may not exceed 1/3 of the projects total cost. 2:1 match of grant funds including a cash match of 50% of the requested amount is required.

Arts Projects - supports projects and activities that provide quality arts and cultural programming to citizens across the state. The program funds arts projects, conducted by non-profit organizations, that utilize the talents and creativity of professional artists in all arts disciplines, to advance the creative, cultural and economic environment of the state. Projects are divided into nine (9) components: Dance, Design, Literature, Media, Multidisciplinary, Museums, Music, Theatre, and Visual Arts. Applicants must be incorporated in the State of Michigan as a tax exempt organization. Request limit is $15,000 with a 2:1 match of grant funds including a cash match of 50%.

Capital Improvements for Cities, Townships and Villages - Any Michigan municipality (city, county, township, or village) may request funding for projects that include capital improvements of community organizations, arts and cultural facilities and publicly owned facilities; excluding stadiums used primarily for professional sporting events. Non-profit organizations may benefit as a sub-grantee of their municipality. Priority is given to projects with strong evidence of prior planning and eminent completion. Applicants can request a maximum of $50,000. A 1:1 dollar for dollar match is required including 50% of that match being in cash.

Local Arts Agencies Services Program - provides funding for organizations that deliver services to cultural groups and individual artists in all disciplines, who foster the long term development of a community or region. Locals program applicants must be community-based, non-profit, officially recognized arts councils, commissions, societies or organizations which are publicly accountable to provide financial and/or service support for arts and culture in the whole community which it serves. In addition, funding can also be provided for projects which support and compliment the work of local arts agencies through the provision of services and technical assistance. This program is intended to support those projects which are often unique to local arts agencies and services providers including, but not limited to: calendars of events, coordinated bookings, cultural planning, workshops and conferences, board development, technical services, coordinated management of facilities, etc. Funding up to $20,000 per year is available. Request amounts may not exceed 1/3 of the project's total cost. The matching requirement is 2:1 (minimum) with a minimum cash match of %50 of the requested amount.

Regional Regranting (Mini-Grants) - The Minigrant program is a grants-giving partnership funded by the State of Michigan through MCACA and administered by agencies in each of the nineteen regions of the state. Minigrants provide up to $4,000, on a matching basis, for locally developed, high quality arts and cultural projects, which are special opportunities to address local arts and cultural needs and increase public access to arts and cultura. Please contact the regional regranter for your county for deadlines and other information. (Please refer above to Minigrant program description and deadlines for Alpena, Charlevoix, Cheboygan, Emmet, Montmorency, Otsego and Presque Isle Counties.)

For further information visit the Michigan Council for Arts & Cultural Affairs.

STRAITS AREA COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

Applications for grants are due on January 15th of each year. Awards will be announced in February. Organizations recognized as non-profit charitable organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Service code are eligible for consideration. Schools and government agencies are also eligible. Grant Applications are available at www.sacf.net or by contacting Christine Bruske-Hitch at 989-354-6881.

The Straits Area Community Foundation is a permanent endowment, receiving funds from a wide range of donors. The Foundation makes grants to non-profit agencies in Cheboygan County with a focus on the evolving needs of the area. They are given in the field of arts and culture, civic affairs, education, the environment, recreation, social services, and youth. Grant amounts vary depending on the nature and need of the request and the amount of the Foundation's income. Grants are not given to individuals except for awards or scholarships from designated funds. Grants are also available to governmental bodies and schools. There are two categories of Common Grant Requests: