Promoting and supporting the arts in Northwestern Minnesota for over 40 years.
A $39,240 award to Thief River Falls Area Community Theater is the largest recent grant listed for Northwest Minnesota Arts Council, and it points to the way the council supports community-based arts across Northwest Minnesota. The council has spent more than 40 years promoting and supporting the arts in the region, with giving aimed at artists, local arts organizations, rural communities, and public audiences. Its recent awards show a mix of operating support, project support, and arts programming, with grants reaching theaters, libraries, schools, city governments, and arts groups. The pattern is regional rather than broad: every listed recipient is in Minnesota, and the council’s work is tied to Northwestern Minnesota communities rather than statewide or national funding. Recent awards also show repeated support to organizations over multiple years, including a series of grants to Fosston Community Library & Arts Association and to Warroad Summer Theater. That mix of recurring support and project-based funding suggests a funder focused on sustaining local arts capacity while also backing specific productions, exhibitions, and public programs. The council’s arts funding also extends to individuals through its grant programs.
Northwest Minnesota Arts Council supports several linked parts of the arts ecosystem. In community theater, it awarded $34,290 in 2024 to Thief River Falls Area Community Theater and $25,335 in 2025 to Warroad Summer Theater, both for arts grants. In library-based arts programming, it gave $32,000 in 2024 to Fosston Community Library & Arts Association, showing support for institutions that combine cultural access and programming. School and youth-linked arts also appear in the record: Kittson Central School District received $14,970 in 2024, and Tri-county School District received $10,850 in 2024. The council also funds civic arts activity, including $12,570 in 2025 to City of Roseau and $10,810 in 2024 to City of Argyle. Across these examples, the emphasis is on production, participation, and local access rather than a single discipline.
Typical grants cluster near five figures: p25 is $7,050, median is $9,995, and p75 is $12,000. The recent record also includes larger awards above that range, which suggests the council combines standard project support with higher awards for selected organizations. Recipients appear across multiple years, including repeated grants to the same organizations and districts, indicating ongoing relationships rather than one-time support. The council administers multiple grant programs, including organization-directed grants, individual artist grants, operating support, and project-based funding. Several programs accept unsolicited applications through the NWMAC grants portal.
$399K
$209K
$838K
$825K
Most grants fall between $7K and $12K, with a median of $10K.
25th Percentile
$7K
Median
$10K
75th Percentile
$12K
MARA HANEL
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Grantmaking is fully concentrated in Minnesota, with 100% of listed grants going to recipients in the state. The visible city pattern centers on Thief River Falls, Fosston, Warroad, East Grand Forks, and Hallock, with additional awards in Roseau, Argyle, Stephen, Karlstad, and Crookston. The council’s geography is local and regionally restricted to Northwest Minnesota, and the recipient list reflects that scope through schools, city governments, theaters, and arts associations across the area.
The council administers several grant programs through the NWMAC grants portal. Active programs include organization-directed grants, an Individual Artist Grant, general operating support for nonprofit arts organizations, Arts Legacy Grants, and project grants for organizations and government entities. Several of these programs accept unsolicited applications.
Its programs serve individual artists, nonprofit arts organizations, government entities, schools, and community groups in Northwest Minnesota. Recent grantees include theaters, library-and-arts associations, school districts, city governments, and arts councils, which shows a mix of nonprofit, public-sector, and individual-artist support.
The recent grant distribution centers near $10,000. The p25 is $7,050, the median is $9,995, and the p75 is $12,000. Some program pages also show smaller project grants starting at $500 and larger awards reaching $10,000 or more depending on the program.
No. One active program is the Individual Artist Grant, and the council’s profile says it funds individuals. It also supports nonprofit arts organizations, government entities, and project-based arts work through multiple organization-focused programs.
The council’s giving is local and regionally restricted to Northwest Minnesota. The active programs list geography such as Northwest Minnesota, Northwestern Minnesota, and specific counties including Kittson, Marshall, and Norman. The recent grants are all to Minnesota recipients.
2026
Source: IRS Form 990-PF, fiscal year 2026.
Current and upcoming funding from Northwest Minnesota Arts Council that your nonprofit may be able to apply for.
Who can apply: Open to nonprofits and government organizations; one arts project at a time.
Deadline: July 31, October 31, February 28, and April 30
Who can apply: Applicants must be currently active in a creative practice and live in Region 1 (Kittson, Marshall, Norman, Pennington, Polk, Red Lake, or Roseau counties).
Deadline: June 15, August 15, October 15, and December 1 as funds allow
Who can apply: For nonprofit arts organizations that dedicate their entire budget to arts programming and activities. Applicants should speak with the Arts Council Director about timeline and eligibility.
Deadline: Talk to the Arts Council Director about timeline; no fixed deadline stated on the page.
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Most recent grants reported to the IRS.
| Recipient | Location | Amount | Year | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AURORA CENTER FOR THE ARTS | FOSSTON, MN | $41,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| THIEF RIVER FALLS AREA COMMUNITY THEATER | THIEF RIVER FALLS, MN | $40,960 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| KITTSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | HALLOCK, MN | $22,250 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| WARROAD SUMMER THEATER | WARROAD, MN | $17,220 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| SUMMER ARTS STAGES | EAST GRAND FORKS, MN | $15,890 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| FOLK SCHOOL WARROAD | WARROAD, MN | $13,750 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| EAST GRAND FORKS MUSIC BOOSTERS INC | EAST GRAND FORKS, MN | $13,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| ROSEAU COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | ROSEAU, MN | $13,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| TRI-COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT | KARLSTAD, MN | $11,270 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| MARSHALL COUNTY AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION | WARREN, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| CARE AND SHARE OF CROOKSTON INC | CROOKSTON, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| WARROAD RIVERPLACE | WARROAD, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| ASSOCIATIONOFTHE FRENCHOFTHENORTH | RED LAKE FALLS, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| CITY OF FOSSTON ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION | FOSSTON, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| WARROAD COMMUNITY PARTNERS | WARROAD, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| EAST GRAND FORKS CAMPELL LIBRARY | EAST GRAND FORKS, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| IN PROGRESS - FRESH VOICES | ST PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| ROSEAU SCHOOL DISTRICT | ROSEAU, MN | $9,895 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| PENNINGTON COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION INC | THIEF RIVER FALLS, MN | $9,360 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| RED LAKE COUNTY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT | OKLEE, MN | $8,310 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| CROOKSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT | CROOKSTON, MN | $8,290 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| SAND HILL SETTLEMENT HISTORICAL SOCIETY | CLIMAX, MN | $8,190 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| CITY OF LENGBY | LENGBY, MN | $8,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| STEPHEN ARGYLE SCHOOL DISTRICT | STEPHEN, MN | $7,260 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| STEPHEN ARTS COUNCIL | STEPHEN, MN | $7,130 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| HALLOCK MAIN STREET | HALLOCK, MN | $7,090 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| KITTSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY | LAKE BRONSON, MN | $6,040 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| MIDDLE RIVER COMMUNITY THEATER | MIDDLE RIVER, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| LANCASTER SCHOOL DISTRICT | LANCASTER, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| NORTHERN LIGHTS CONCERT ASSOCIATION | ROSEAU, MN | $6,000 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| GRYGLA SCHOOL DISTRICT | GRYGLA, MN | $5,795 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| EAST POLK HERITAGE CENTER | FOSSTON, MN | $5,740 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| FIREFLY CENTER FOR ART AND WELLBEING | FOSSTON, MN | $5,675 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| WIN-E-MAC SCHOOL DISTRICT | ERSKINE, MN | $5,205 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| WARROAD SCHOOL DISTRICT | WARROAD, MN | $5,130 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| WARREN ALVARADO OSLO SCHOOL DISTRICT | WARREN, MN | $5,110 | 2026 | ARTS GRANT |
| THIEF RIVER FALLS AREA COMMUNITY THEATER | THIEF RIVER FALLS, MN | $39,240 | 2025 | ARTS GRANT |
| FOSSTON COMMUNITY LIBRARY & ARTS ASSOCIATION | FOSSTON, MN | $26,525 | 2025 | ARTS GRANT |
| WARROAD SUMMER THEATER | WARROAD, MN | $25,335 | 2025 | ARTS GRANT |
| EAST GRAND FORKS MUSIC BOOSTERS INC | EAST GRAND FORKS, MN | $12,740 | 2025 | ARTS GRANT |
| CITY OF ROSEAU | ROSEAU, MN | $12,570 | 2025 | ARTS GRANT |
| SUMMER ARTS STAGES | EAST GRAND FORKS, MN | $12,000 | 2025 | ARTS GRANT |
| STEPHEN ARTS COUNCIL | STEPHEN, MN | $11,000 | 2025 | ARTS GRANT |
| WARROAD COMMUNITY PARTNERS | WARROAD, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | ARTS GRANT |
| IN PROGRESS - FRESH VOICES | ST PAUL, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | ARTS GRANT |
| ASSOCIATIONOFTHE FRENCHOFTHENORTH | RED LAKE FALLS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | ARTS GRANT |
| CARE AND SHARE OF CROOKSTON INC | CROOKSTON, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | ARTS GRANT |
| WIN-E-MAC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION | MCINTOSH, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | ARTS GRANT |
| GARY CARES | GARY, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | ARTS GRANT |
| EAST GRAND FORKS CAMPELL LIBRARY | EAST GRAND FORKS, MN | $10,000 | 2025 | ARTS GRANT |
AURORA CENTER FOR THE ARTS
$41,000ARTS GRANT
THIEF RIVER FALLS AREA COMMUNITY THEATER
$40,960ARTS GRANT
KITTSON CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
$22,250ARTS GRANT
WARROAD SUMMER THEATER
$17,220ARTS GRANT
SUMMER ARTS STAGES
$15,890ARTS GRANT
FOLK SCHOOL WARROAD
$13,750ARTS GRANT
EAST GRAND FORKS MUSIC BOOSTERS INC
ARTS GRANT
ROSEAU COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$13,000ARTS GRANT
TRI-COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT
$11,270ARTS GRANT
MARSHALL COUNTY AGRICULTURAL ASSOCIATION
$10,000ARTS GRANT
CARE AND SHARE OF CROOKSTON INC
$10,000ARTS GRANT
WARROAD RIVERPLACE
$10,000ARTS GRANT
ASSOCIATIONOFTHE FRENCHOFTHENORTH
$10,000ARTS GRANT
CITY OF FOSSTON ARTS AND CULTURE COMMISSION
$10,000ARTS GRANT
WARROAD COMMUNITY PARTNERS
$10,000ARTS GRANT
EAST GRAND FORKS CAMPELL LIBRARY
$10,000ARTS GRANT
ROSEAU SCHOOL DISTRICT
$9,895ARTS GRANT
PENNINGTON COUNTY FAIR ASSOCIATION INC
$9,360ARTS GRANT
RED LAKE COUNTY CENTRAL SCHOOL DISTRICT
$8,310ARTS GRANT
CROOKSTON SCHOOL DISTRICT
$8,290ARTS GRANT
SAND HILL SETTLEMENT HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$8,190ARTS GRANT
CITY OF LENGBY
$8,000ARTS GRANT
STEPHEN ARGYLE SCHOOL DISTRICT
$7,260ARTS GRANT
STEPHEN ARTS COUNCIL
$7,130ARTS GRANT
HALLOCK MAIN STREET
$7,090ARTS GRANT
KITTSON COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY
$6,040ARTS GRANT
MIDDLE RIVER COMMUNITY THEATER
$6,000ARTS GRANT
LANCASTER SCHOOL DISTRICT
$6,000ARTS GRANT
NORTHERN LIGHTS CONCERT ASSOCIATION
$6,000ARTS GRANT
GRYGLA SCHOOL DISTRICT
$5,795ARTS GRANT
EAST POLK HERITAGE CENTER
$5,740ARTS GRANT
FIREFLY CENTER FOR ART AND WELLBEING
$5,675ARTS GRANT
WIN-E-MAC SCHOOL DISTRICT
$5,205ARTS GRANT
WARROAD SCHOOL DISTRICT
$5,130ARTS GRANT
WARREN ALVARADO OSLO SCHOOL DISTRICT
$5,110ARTS GRANT
THIEF RIVER FALLS AREA COMMUNITY THEATER
$39,240ARTS GRANT
FOSSTON COMMUNITY LIBRARY & ARTS ASSOCIATION
$26,525ARTS GRANT
WARROAD SUMMER THEATER
$25,335ARTS GRANT
EAST GRAND FORKS MUSIC BOOSTERS INC
$12,740ARTS GRANT
CITY OF ROSEAU
$12,570ARTS GRANT
SUMMER ARTS STAGES
$12,000ARTS GRANT
STEPHEN ARTS COUNCIL
$11,000ARTS GRANT
WARROAD COMMUNITY PARTNERS
$10,000ARTS GRANT
ASSOCIATIONOFTHE FRENCHOFTHENORTH
$10,000ARTS GRANT
CARE AND SHARE OF CROOKSTON INC
$10,000ARTS GRANT
WIN-E-MAC ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
$10,000ARTS GRANT
GARY CARES
$10,000ARTS GRANT
EAST GRAND FORKS CAMPELL LIBRARY
$10,000ARTS GRANT