The mission of the Minnesota State Arts Board and Minnesota's designated regional arts councils is to steward funding through the State of Minnesota's Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (ACHF) to support arts access, arts education, and arts and cultural heritage, aimed at creating a strong arts legacy in Minnesota.
The grant program by the East Central Regional Arts Council (ECRAC) supports a broad range of arts projects organized by groups, organizations, nonprofits, and government units in the local or regional area. It covers projects that involve the creation, sponsorship, publication, performance, and exhibition of various art forms. Eligible activities encompass performances by touring artists or companies, visual art shows, local theatre productions, artist residencies, public art initiatives, and educational workshops or presentations that promote artistic participation and accessibility. The program encourages the provision of arts producing activities or services for artists or arts organizations, aiming to enhance community access to the arts. Applicants may only submit one application per grant deadline in each fiscal year, with no limit on the number of grants awarded to them annually.