Amplifying Midwestern Creativity
Arts Midwest supports, informs, and celebrates arts organizations and creative communities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Wisconsin, the Native Nations that share this geography, and beyond.
Joyful, loud, and Midwest proud
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December 9, 2024
Announcing the 2024-25 Midwestern National Leaders of Color Fellows
By Arts Midwest
The nine fellows from Arts Midwest’s region will convene virtually with other Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) arts leaders from across the country in this 8-month program.
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Arts Midwest’s 2024 Return on Investment Reports
December 9, 2024
Arts Midwest invested more than $2.2 million in Midwestern creativity in fiscal year 2024. Read all about it in our Return on Investment Reports.
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Small Midwest Town is Home to the Oldest Rural LGBTQ+ Pride Event
December 5, 2024
Pride in the Park began as a casual picnic organized by a local support group in 2005 in Pine City, Minnesota. Now, the annual event has attendees from eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
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Labor of Love: Carving a Career in Indiana Limestone
December 2, 2024
Amy Brier found her calling with the Midwestern stone after working as a stone carver at one of the largest cathedrals in the world.
Grant Opportunities and Programs
We support efforts that connect people, ideas, and solutions through creativity. Learn more about our grantmaking initiatives and our community programming.
NEA Big Read Grants
This community-wide reading program offers matching grants of up to $20,000 for programming that uses the theme of “Our Nature” as inspiration.
Learn More and Apply
Shakespeare in American Communities Grants
Shakespeare in American Communities provides grants of up to $30,000 that connect young people across the country to Shakespeare’s plays. Grants support performances and workshops in schools and in the justice system, and apprenticeships for early-career theater professionals.
Learn More and Apply
Announcing the 2024 Midwest Culture Bearers Awardees
Nine culture bearers from across the region have received $5,000 each through the new award celebrating artisans and folk arts practitioners whose work is rooted in cultural preservation and sharing knowledge with the next generation.
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Is Anybody Out There? Tips for Reaching Rural Audiences
Rural areas offer both unique opportunities and challenges when it comes to reaching people. Discover how Detroit Lakes, Minnesota became home to the world’s largest exhibition of Thomas Dambo’s trolls by engaging local audiences.
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