Increase access to the arts across Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties by providing grants, professional development, and services to artists, arts organizations, schools, local government and communities.
Central Minnesota Arts Board combines community arts support with artist residencies, public art, and organizational development across Region 7W and nearby counties. Recent grants show a strong emphasis on recurring support for local arts groups, schools, and municipal partners, alongside project funding for performances and public art work. The board’s grantmaking also includes individual artist awards and scholarships, which places both institutions and artists within the same local arts system. Among the largest recent awards, the board gave $37,348 to Delano Area Council for Arts & Culture for Project Grants and a Public Art Grant, and $36,000 to Chamber Music Society of St Cloud for Project Grants, Community Arts Support, and Organizational Development. Those awards reflect a pattern of combining project funding with capacity-building support. Other large grants went to St Cloud Symphony Orchestra, Soar Regional Arts, Youth Chorale of Central Minnesota, and Buffalo Community Theater, indicating sustained support for organizations working in music, theater, and community arts programming. The board’s active programs show a mix of open application grants for organizations, schools, local government, community groups, and individual artists. It also supports arts access, student scholarships, and artist-led learning through residency models.
In community arts and public programming, Central Minnesota Arts Board supports a wide range of local projects. The City of Monticello, acting as fiscal agent for Montiarts, received $30,050 in 2025 for Project Grants, a Public Art Grant, and an Artist in Residency Grant, showing how the board combines event support, public art, and artist engagement in one funding relationship. Arts organizations also receive capacity-related help. Soar Regional Arts was awarded $25,200 in 2025 for Project Grants and Community Arts Support, while Buffalo Community Theater received $33,096 in 2024 for Project Grants, Community Arts Support, and Organizational Development. Those awards point to a funding model that supports both programming and organizational stability. The board also funds education-linked arts work. College of St Benedict received $22,774 in 2025 for a Project Grant and a Public Art Grant, connecting higher-education settings to public-facing arts activity.
$770K
$580K
$1.5M
$1.4M
Most grants fall between $8K and $21K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$8K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$21K
LESLIE LECUYER
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Typical grant size falls at a median of $10,118, with the 25th percentile at $8,000 and the 75th percentile at $20,940. The recent grant list shows repeated awards to the same organizations across multiple years, including St Cloud Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music Society of St Cloud, Soar Regional Arts, Buffalo Community Theater, Paramount Center for the Arts, and Great River Educational Arts Theatre. That points to ongoing relationships rather than one-time awards. Central Minnesota Arts Board is a regular funder, and its active programs are all listed as accepting unsolicited applications.
Grantmaking is local and entirely within Minnesota: 100% of grants in the recipient-country distribution go to U.S. recipients, and 100% of grants go to recipients in the HQ state, Minnesota. Recent awards are concentrated in St Cloud, Buffalo, Monticello, St Michael, and Waite Park, with Delano, Avon, St Joseph, and Sauk Rapids also appearing in the recent list. The program geography also names Benton County, Sherburne County, and Stearns County, with Region 7W used across multiple offerings.
The board supports nonprofit arts organizations, schools, local government, community groups, individual artists, and students. Its active programs include Community Arts Support, Arts Access Grant, Student Arts Scholarship, Projects, Events and Festivals, Artist in Residence, Public Art Grant, Arts Organization Development, and Individual Artist Award.
Yes. The active programs listed for the board are marked as accepting unsolicited applications, including Community Arts Support, Arts Access Grant, Student Arts Scholarship, Projects, Events and Festivals, Artist in Residence, Public Art Grant, Arts Organization Development, and Individual Artist Award.
The typical grant size is $8,000 at the 25th percentile, $10,118 at the median, and $20,940 at the 75th percentile. Specific program caps also include $2,000 for the Student Arts Scholarship, up to $3,500 for artist residency and individual artist awards, up to $9,000 for project grants, and up to $10,000 for arts organization development.
Recent grants go entirely to Minnesota recipients, with St Cloud, Buffalo, Monticello, St Michael, Waite Park, Delano, Avon, St Joseph, and Sauk Rapids appearing in the recent-grants list. The active program geography also centers on Region 7W, Benton County, Sherburne County, and Stearns County.
Yes. The recent grants list shows repeat awards across multiple years to St Cloud Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Music Society of St Cloud, Soar Regional Arts, Buffalo Community Theater, Paramount Center for the Arts, Great River Educational Arts Theatre, Buffalo Community Orchestra, Central Minnesota Youth Orchestra, and City of Monticello as fiscal agent for Montiarts.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Central Minnesota Arts Board that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Applicants must be listed on the CMAB Teaching Artist Roster. Proposals must include arts learning activities with a core group, a community component and a designated supporting staff member.
Deadline: Rounds: October 15, 2026; February 11, 2027; May 13, 2027.
Who can apply: Applicants must serve Region 7W residents and be located within Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, or Wright counties. Minnesota nonprofit 501(c)(3), schools, and local government outside Region 7W may apply by demonstrating two years of established service within Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, or Wright counties. Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organizations, nonprofit organizations without arts as a primary focus, community groups with nonprofit fiscal sponsorship, public schools, and local government entities. A 10% financial match is required.
Deadline: FY26 application deadlines: Rnd 1: Wed., September 2, 2026; Rnd 2: Wed., February 24, 2027. Draft review deadlines: Rnd 1: Wed., August 12, 2026; Rnd 2: Wed., February 10, 2027.
Who can apply: Applicants must be located in and serve Region 7W. Eligible applicants include nonprofit 501(c)(3) arts organizations, cultural nonprofit 501(c)(3) organizations that do not have arts as their primary focus, and cultural community groups with nonprofit fiscal sponsorship.
Deadline: Applications accepted July 1, 2026 through March 19, 2027, or until funds are depleted; applications are reviewed within 30 days of submission.
Who can apply: Applicants must serve Region 7W residents and be located in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, or Wright County. Public art cannot be part of an organization's regular season or ongoing programs.
Deadline: Application deadline: March 31, 2027. Draft review deadline: March 10, 2027.
Who can apply: Artists at least 18 years of age; current resident of Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, or Wright County; resident of Minnesota for a minimum of six months prior to application; U.S. citizen or permanent resident alien.
Deadline: Applications accepted July 1, 2026 through May 21, 2027 of the fiscal year.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AVON HILLS FOLK SCHOOL | AVON, MN | $40,478 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANTS, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT, ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT & ARTS ACCESS GRANT |
| CITY OF MONTICELLO (FISCAL AGENT FOR MONTIARTS) | MONTICELLO, MN | $38,472 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANTS, PUBLIC ART GRANT, & ARTIST IN RESIDENCY GRANT |
| YOUTH CHORALE OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA | ST CLOUD, MN | $36,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANTS, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| ST CLOUD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA | ST CLOUD, MN | $30,800 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANTS, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| SOAR REGIONAL ARTS | ST MICHAEL, MN | $30,400 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANTS, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT & ARTS ACCESS GRANT |
| DELANO AREA COUNCIL FOR ARTS & CULTURE | DELANO, MN | $29,562 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT & PUBLIC ART GRANT |
| PARAMOUNT CENTER FOR THE ARTS | ST CLOUD, MN | $29,500 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANTS, ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT & ARTS ACCESS GRANT |
| BUFFALO COMMUNITY THEATER | BUFFALO, MN | $28,710 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| GREAT RIVER EDUCATIONAL ARTS THEATRE | WAITE PARK, MN | $26,497 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT, ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT, ARTIST IN RESIDENCY GRANT & ARTS ACCESS GRANT |
| CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF ST CLOUD | ST CLOUD, MN | $26,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANTS & COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT |
| ST MICHAEL HISTORICAL SOCIETY | ST MICHAEL, MN | $25,688 | 2026 | PUBLIC ART GRANT |
| GREAT RIVER CHORALE | SAUK RAPIDS, MN | $24,955 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| LYRICALITY | SAUK RAPIDS, MN | $24,935 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANTS & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| ST MICHAEL ALBERTVILLE HIGH SCHOOL | ALBERTVILLE, MN | $24,877 | 2026 | PUBLIC ART GRANT, PROGECT GRANTS, & ARTIST IN RESIDENCY GRANT |
| BUFFALO COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA | BUFFALO, MN | $24,064 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANTS & COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT |
| 510 ART LAB | SAUK CENTRE, MN | $24,054 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| CENTRAL MINNESOTA YOUTH ORCHESTRA | ST CLOUD, MN | $22,492 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANTS & COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT |
| GREAT NORTHERN THEATRE COMPANY | COLD SPRING, MN | $18,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT & COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT |
| BOYS & GIRLS CLUB OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA | ST CLOUD, MN | $16,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANTS |
| RUM RIVER ART CENTER | ANOKA, MN | $16,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANTS |
| THE SAINT JOHN'S BOYS' CHOIR | COLLEGEVILLE, MN | $16,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANTS |
| MELROSE AREA ARTS COUNCIL | MELROSE, MN | $15,480 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| HEIJEU ARTS | ST CLOUD, MN | $13,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT & ARTS ACCESS GRANT |
| SINCLAIR LEWIS FOUNDATION | SAUK CENTRE, MN | $10,560 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT & COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT |
| DASSEL-COKATO MUSIC BOOSTERS | DASSEL, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| ANNANDALE ART AND TEXTILE CENTER | ANNANDALE, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT |
| 728 CADETS MARCHING ARTS | ELK RIVER, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT |
| COMBAT TO CREATIVE | ST CLOUD, MN | $8,630 | 2026 | ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| RIVER CITY RHYTHM | MONTICELLO, MN | $8,200 | 2026 | ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| BIG LAKE SCHOOLS COMMUNITY EDUCATION | BIG LAKE, MN | $8,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT |
| VETERAN RESOURCE & ENRICHMENT CENTER | ST CLOUD, MN | $8,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT |
| DELANO DRAMATIC COMPANY | WAYZATA, MN | $8,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT |
| ST CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY | ST CLOUD, MN | $8,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT |
| HLWW THEATRE ARTS BOOSTERS | HOWARD LAKE, MN | $8,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT |
| WIRTH CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS | ST CLOUD, MN | $8,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT |
| STMA MUSIC BOOSTERS | ST MICHAEL, MN | $8,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT |
| MINNESOTA BLUEGRASS AND OLD TIME MUSIC ASSOCIATION | MINNEAPOLIS, MN | $8,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT |
| MELROSE STAGES | MELROSE, MN | $7,700 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT |
| PARAMOUNT CENTER FOR THE ARTS (FISCAL AGENT FOR YIRAN AFRICAN ARTS) | ST CLOUD, MN | $7,700 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT |
| COMMUNITY LEGACY FOUNDATION | SAUK CENTRE, MN | $7,018 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT |
| INDEPENDENT MUSIC COLLABORATION OF CENTRAL MN | ST CLOUD, MN | $7,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT |
| MINNESOTA CENTER CHORALE | ST CLOUD, MN | $6,572 | 2026 | COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT |
| COLLEGE OF ST BENEDICT | ST JOSEPH, MN | $6,255 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT |
| HOLDINGFORD AMERICAN LEGION | HOLDINGFORD, MN | $6,249 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT |
| GREATER ST CLOUD DEVELOPMENT CORP (FISCAL AGENT-THE DOWNTOWN ALLIANCE) | ST CLOUD, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT |
| DELANO AREA COUNCIL FOR ARTS & CULTURE (FISCAL AGENT-DELANO COMMUNITY BAND) | DELANO, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT |
| TALAHI COMMUNITY SCHOOL | ST CLOUD, MN | $5,695 | 2026 | PROJECT GRANT & ARTIST IN RESIDENCY GRANT |
| CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF ST CLOUD | ST CLOUD, MN | $36,000 | 2025 | PROJECT GRANTS, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
| CITY OF MONTICELLO (FISCAL AGENT FOR MONTIARTS) | MONTICELLO, MN | $30,050 | 2025 | PROJECT GRANTS, PUBLIC ART GRANT, & ARTIST IN RESIDENCY GRANT |
| AVON HILLS FOLK SCHOOL | AVON, MN | $28,000 | 2025 | PROJECT GRANT, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT |
AVON HILLS FOLK SCHOOL
$40,478PROJECT GRANTS, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT, ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT & ARTS ACCESS GRANT
CITY OF MONTICELLO (FISCAL AGENT FOR MONTIARTS)
$38,472PROJECT GRANTS, PUBLIC ART GRANT, & ARTIST IN RESIDENCY GRANT
YOUTH CHORALE OF CENTRAL MINNESOTA
$36,000PROJECT GRANTS, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
ST CLOUD SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA
$30,800PROJECT GRANTS, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
SOAR REGIONAL ARTS
$30,400PROJECT GRANTS, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT & ARTS ACCESS GRANT
DELANO AREA COUNCIL FOR ARTS & CULTURE
$29,562PROJECT GRANT & PUBLIC ART GRANT
PROJECT GRANTS, ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT & ARTS ACCESS GRANT
BUFFALO COMMUNITY THEATER
$28,710PROJECT GRANT, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
GREAT RIVER EDUCATIONAL ARTS THEATRE
$26,497PROJECT GRANT, ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT, ARTIST IN RESIDENCY GRANT & ARTS ACCESS GRANT
CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF ST CLOUD
$26,000PROJECT GRANTS & COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT
ST MICHAEL HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$25,688PUBLIC ART GRANT
GREAT RIVER CHORALE
$24,955PROJECT GRANT, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
LYRICALITY
$24,935PROJECT GRANTS & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
ST MICHAEL ALBERTVILLE HIGH SCHOOL
$24,877PUBLIC ART GRANT, PROGECT GRANTS, & ARTIST IN RESIDENCY GRANT
BUFFALO COMMUNITY ORCHESTRA
$24,064PROJECT GRANTS & COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT
510 ART LAB
$24,054PROJECT GRANT, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
CENTRAL MINNESOTA YOUTH ORCHESTRA
$22,492PROJECT GRANTS & COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT
GREAT NORTHERN THEATRE COMPANY
$18,000PROJECT GRANT & COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT
RUM RIVER ART CENTER
$16,000PROJECT GRANTS
THE SAINT JOHN'S BOYS' CHOIR
$16,000PROJECT GRANTS
MELROSE AREA ARTS COUNCIL
$15,480PROJECT GRANT & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
HEIJEU ARTS
$13,000PROJECT GRANT & ARTS ACCESS GRANT
SINCLAIR LEWIS FOUNDATION
$10,560PROJECT GRANT & COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT
DASSEL-COKATO MUSIC BOOSTERS
$10,000ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
ANNANDALE ART AND TEXTILE CENTER
$10,000COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT
728 CADETS MARCHING ARTS
$10,000COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT
COMBAT TO CREATIVE
$8,630ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
RIVER CITY RHYTHM
$8,200ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
BIG LAKE SCHOOLS COMMUNITY EDUCATION
$8,000PROJECT GRANT
VETERAN RESOURCE & ENRICHMENT CENTER
$8,000PROJECT GRANT
DELANO DRAMATIC COMPANY
$8,000PROJECT GRANT
ST CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY
$8,000PROJECT GRANT
HLWW THEATRE ARTS BOOSTERS
$8,000PROJECT GRANT
WIRTH CENTER FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS
$8,000PROJECT GRANT
STMA MUSIC BOOSTERS
$8,000PROJECT GRANT
MINNESOTA BLUEGRASS AND OLD TIME MUSIC ASSOCIATION
$8,000PROJECT GRANT
MELROSE STAGES
$7,700PROJECT GRANT
PROJECT GRANT
COMMUNITY LEGACY FOUNDATION
$7,018PROJECT GRANT
INDEPENDENT MUSIC COLLABORATION OF CENTRAL MN
$7,000PROJECT GRANT
MINNESOTA CENTER CHORALE
$6,572COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT
HOLDINGFORD AMERICAN LEGION
$6,249PROJECT GRANT
PROJECT GRANT
DELANO AREA COUNCIL FOR ARTS & CULTURE (FISCAL AGENT-DELANO COMMUNITY BAND)
$6,000PROJECT GRANT
TALAHI COMMUNITY SCHOOL
$5,695PROJECT GRANT & ARTIST IN RESIDENCY GRANT
CHAMBER MUSIC SOCIETY OF ST CLOUD
$36,000PROJECT GRANTS, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT
CITY OF MONTICELLO (FISCAL AGENT FOR MONTIARTS)
$30,050PROJECT GRANTS, PUBLIC ART GRANT, & ARTIST IN RESIDENCY GRANT
AVON HILLS FOLK SCHOOL
$28,000PROJECT GRANT, COMMUNITY ARTS SUPPORT GRANT & ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT GRANT