Submitted photo The Prairie Lakes Region Arts Council (PLRAC) presented grants to 18 area arts groups, including two from Brown County. From left are Brenda Byron, PLRAC Executive Director; Anne Makepeace, Grand Center for Arts and Culture, New Ulm; and Kylie Rieke, New Ulm Suzuki School of Music.

MANKATO — The Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council has awarded grants of $110,590 from the Arts and Culture Heritage Fund to 18 arts organizations, community groups and schools in the region. This fund was created by the people of Minnesota to support the arts and preserve our heritage. The Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, passed by the voters in 2008, created new resources for land conservation, water conservation, parks and the Arts.

Two Brown County organizations received arts grants totaling $16,000. Grand Center for Arts and Culture received $8,000 and will continue their 2018 performing arts series which features a variety of Minnesota artists presenting a variety of music genres each weekend and small theater productions. They will also display art exhibitions in their 4 Pillars Gallery. The funds will be used for performer’s artist fees, publicity and staff salary. New Ulm Suzuki School of Music received $8,000 and will sponsor their annual Summer Pops Camp and conduct their season of rehearsals and concerts in 2018. The funds will be used for the clinician, facility rent and director’s fees.

Other grantees in the region include: Blue Earth County-$56,400: City Center Partnership, Mankato $8,000; Dance Conservatory of Southern Minnesota $8,000; Mankato Area 77 Lancers Marching Band $8,000; Mankato Area Community Band $4,400; Mankato Ballet Company $8,000; Mankato Public Schools $4,000; Minnesota State University, Mankato Music Performance Series $8,000; and Twin Rivers Council for the Arts $8,000. Nicollet County-$24,000: Govenaires Drum & Bugle Corps $8,000; Minnesota “Over-60” Band $8,000; Rock Bend Folk Festival, St. Peter $5,000; and South Central College $3,000. Sibley County-$8,190: Gaylord Area Chamber of Commerce $5,000 and Green Isle Community School $3,190. Watonwan County-$6,000: Madelia Area Chamber of Commerce $5,000 and Madelia Public Schools $1,000.

Applications from Non-profit Arts Organizations, Community Groups and Schools will be accepted twice a year and the next Arts & Cultural Heritage deadline is August 1, 2018. Small Arts Project Grants of up to $2,000 are available for smaller arts activities and the next deadline is July 1, 2018. With the addition of the Arts and Culture Heritage Funds every Minnesotan’s lives will be enriched by the arts no matter where you live. The citizens of Minnesota will have increased access to stronger and more stable arts organizations providing an increase in quality arts experiences.