Metropolitan Regional Arts Council improves arts access for Twin Cities metro communities through grants, resources, and advocacy for artists and organizations.
Emergency Relief Fund
The Emergency Relief Fund provides $500 for short-term, rapid relief to artists facing unexpected lost income or expenses due to personal/professional emergencies or natural disasters.
Grant awards will be randomly selected for funding within seven (7) days of each round deadline. A portion of funds for this grant will be set aside for artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color (BIPOC); and/or a person with a disability; and/or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+); and individuals from Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Scott, and Washington counties regardless of identity.
Contacts
Email: emergencyrelief@mrac.org
Program Director: Ryan Werdon
Emergency Relief Fund important dates:
- Round 3: December 15, 2025–January 9, 2026
- Round 4: January 12–February 13, 2026
- Round 5: February 16–March 13, 2026
- Round 6: March 16–April 10, 2026
- Round 7: April 13–May 8, 2026
- Round 8: May 11–June 12, 2026
Program Overview
Visit the Emergency Relief Fund website to view and download program overview. We encourage you to connect with MRAC staff for help navigating the process.
Flexible Support
The Flexible Support grant helps organizations/groups create and sustain Minnesotans’ access to the arts though funding for operations and/or organizational capacity, certain capital expenses and/or facilities improvements (with restrictions), and/or arts programming.
All eligible groups may request up to $25,000. Additionally, a portion of funds for this grant will be set aside for organizations/groups whose leadership team includes a majority of individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, and/or a person of color (BIPOC); and/or a person with a disability; and/or lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+); and all organizations/groups from Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Scott, and Washington counties.
Organizations/groups may submit only one application.
Contacts
Email: flexiblesupport@mrac.org
Program Director: Pablo Siqueiros
Important Dates
- Application deadline: February 17, 2026 at 5 pm for Round 2
- Panel Review: April to May 2026
- MRAC Board of Directors review funding recommendations: May 2026
- Staff send out grant notifications via email to applicants: June 2, 2026