Backus Community Center will have the opportunity to offer another year of musical performances and outreach programs to area students thanks to a Minnesota State Arts Board grant.
“We’re really excited about this grant,” Backus Executive Director Ward Merrill said of the $51,300 the community center was awarded.
The Minnesota State Arts Board last week awarded 150 grants to Minnesota artists and organizations through the Artist Initiative-visual arts, Arts Tour Minnesota, and Cultural Community Partnership grant programs.
Merrill said this is the second arts tour grant Backus has received in two years.
“What makes us so excited is that there were 101 applicants and 41 were funded,” he said. “We were one of the fortunate ones. The competition for these grants is tremendous.”
Beginning next fall and running through the spring, the lineup for the Backus Concert Series is: Monroe Crossing, Ragamala Dance, Tonic Sol-fa and Billy McLaughlin.
Each musician or group will hold a performance at Backus as well as outreach programs to all Koochiching County students, including St. Thomas and home-schooled children.
“The purpose of the grant,” Merrill said, “is to bring quality arts experiences to under-served parts of Minnesota...We are so remote up here and this way, everybody gets to experience these quality arts groups. We couldn’t do these performances without the support of the state arts board.”
About the grants
Artist Initiative project grants support the artistic and career development of Minnesota artists. It is funded by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature from the state of Minnesota general fund and the arts and cultural heritage fund. It also receives funding from the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Arts Tour Minnesota grant program supports touring performances, exhibitions, and other arts activities throughout the state. It is funded by an appropriation from the state’s arts and cultural heritage fund.
The Cultural Community Partnership grant program supports the artistic and career development of artists of color. It is funded by the National Endowment for the Arts.
The Minnesota State Arts Board is a state agency dedicated to ensuring that all Minnesotans have the opportunity to participate in the arts. It receives an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature and funding from the National Endowment for the Arts and private sources. The Arts Board offers grants, services, and other resources to individuals and organizations throughout the state to stimulate and encourage the creation, performance, and appreciation of the arts in the state. Additional information about the arts board can be found online at www.arts.state.mn.us.
