The Manitoba Arts Council (MAC) will outline its new grant application system and programming when the organization’s chief executive officer visits Flin Flon on Thursday.
Artists and arts organizations have been invited to an information session at 6 pm Thursday, April 19 in the NorVA Centre on Green Street. The two hour meeting will feature details on MAC’s various opportunities for arts funding alongside its newly released online grant application system.
The web-based platform – which will streamline the system from 54 paper-based to 15 online programs – has been in development since late 2015. MAC CEO Akoulina Connell said paper applications are still an option due the lack of quality internet services in some parts of the province.
“But the new online system will reduce red-tape in the entire program grouping by more than 50 per cent,” she said. “The process is going to be a whole lot easier than it has been in the past.”
MAC provides grants to professional artists working in a variety of genres, from dance, theatre and music to visual arts and literature. The money can be used to fund residencies to develop their craft, tuition for post-secondary education and other professional development opportunities.
Meanwhile, arts organizations can access grant money to fund local programming that brings artists into their communities through showcases and school programming.
“The presentation we’re making will help orient those who have applied in the past to where they would fit in the new system, and to give them a little heads up on how the new system will work,” said Connell. “We’ll also have handouts available. It’s the first sneak peek at the new programs and a slightly deeper dive than what we’ve done in the past.”
Connell is hosting MAC sessions throughout Manitoba over the next two months. After visiting Flin Flon, the organization will make stops in The Pas, Gimli, Saint-Pierre-Jolys, Steinbach, Winnipeg, Brandon, Portage la Prairie, Notre Dame de Lourdes and elsewhere.
“We’re trying to have as many as possible with something happening in each region of the province like we did with the consultation before designing the new program last spring,” Connell said. “We’re trying to mix it up, though. We went to one group of communities for that and now we’re going to different communities this time to spread the love. Each year, when we do go out, we try to get to different places.”
Flin Flon Arts Council cultural coordinator Crystal Kolt says MAC’s visit to the city is a rare opportunity for local artists and area arts organization members to connect with MAC executives. Kolt served on MAC’s board of directors until last year and is excited about the changes the organization is making.
“I’m also really pleased whenever any provincial organizations choose to tour the north to meet with people and share, personally, new programming first-hand,” she said. “It’s a huge opportunity for people to come and learn about the programming alongside how they can benefit from what they will find on the council’s website.”
Kolt suggested the new online strategy adopted by MAC is especially helpful to artists and organizations working out of remote communities such as Flin Flon. Paper applications for grants take more time and money to complete, especially considering the paperwork must travel to Winnipeg by mail.
“The online process is going to be easier in terms of meeting deadlines to get grant applications in,” she said. “Of course, one can imagine that it’s going to provide us with a better way to manage our dollars. We can work online rather than paying another $15 to expedite the application to Winnipeg.”
Flin Flon’s arts community continues to grow as the city’s arts council hosts a variety of different initiatives throughout the year. It also has an organizational structure that incorporates 13 local arts-related bodies, including Ham Sandwich Theatre, the Flin Flon Community Choir, Images Art Gallery, the Northern Pallette Art Club, the North Star Quilter’s Guild, the Pottery Club, The NorVA Centre, The Central Canada Film Group, a photo club, the Flin Flon Writers Guild, the Wood n’ Wire Concert Series, the Flin Flon Cranberry Folk Music Society and the Northern Lights Dance Academy.
“We have an extremely vibrant arts community here, so they should be very interested in what programs are available through MAC and what changes are in the wind,” Kolt said.
About 15 people had registered for the MAC session as of late last week. Anyone interested in attending the event can register through Eventbrite at www.eventbrite.ca.
“There should be more people coming because this is a rare opportunity where representatives from Winnipeg can afford and have the time to come speak to us personally,” said Kolt.
