[McKnight Foundation](https://www.mcknight.org)

April 15, 2025 (Nomination Deadline) | April 22, 2025 (Board Action)

$1,000 one-time award to a single individual; award is given annually.

Recognizes one individual from southwest Minnesota each year for substantial, long-term contributions to the arts.

Nominees must reside in the SMAC region and can only receive the award once in their lifetime.

--- ## Description This award honors an individual from southwest Minnesota whose sustained activities and involvement have made a significant impact on the arts in the region. The goal is to publicly recognize arts advocates whose contributions may otherwise go unacknowledged, thereby raising the profile of the arts within their community and across the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council (SMAC) region. --- ## Due Dates - **Nomination Deadline:** April 15, 2025 - **SMAC Board Action:** April 22, 2025 Nominations must be submitted online by the deadline. Late or incomplete nominations will not be considered. --- ## Funding Amount - **Award Amount:** $1,000 (one-time, non-renewable) - **Number of Awards:** One individual is selected annually. --- ## Eligibility - **Who Can Be Nominated:** - Individuals who have resided in the SMAC region (18-county area of southwest Minnesota) for at least one year. - Individuals whose activities and involvement have substantially contributed to the arts over an extended period. - **Who Cannot Be Nominated:** - Current SMAC board members. - Individuals who have previously received the Prairie Disciple Award (lifetime limit: one award). - Self-nominations are not accepted; nominations must be made by someone other than the nominee. - **Other Notes:** - Nominations do not carry over from year to year. Previous nominees who did not receive the award must be re-nominated. --- ## Application Process 1. **Prepare Nomination Materials:** - Resume or background information for the nominee. - At least two letters of recommendation from qualified individuals or arts professionals. - Optional: Additional support materials (e.g., press clippings, web links, images). 2. **Submit Online:** - Nominations must be submitted through the [Southwest Minnesota Arts Council online grant system](https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=SMAHC). - New users must create an account; existing users can log in with their credentials. - [Nomination guidelines and questions (DOCX)](https://swmnarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FY25-PD-Guidelines-Questions.docx) are available for download and draft preparation. 3. **Letters of Support:** - Upload up to four letters (PDF or JPEG preferred, max 5 MB each). - Letters may also be emailed to [info@swmnarts.org](mailto:info@swmnarts.org). 4. **Certification:** - The nominator must certify the accuracy of the nomination and provide contact information. 5. **Review and Selection:** - The SMAC Board reviews all nominations and selects the recipient. - Nominees are only notified if selected. 6. **Notification:** - Board action and recipient selection occur by April 22, 2025. --- ## Additional Information - The award is intended to recognize long-term, impactful arts advocacy, not a single project or event. - Past recipients and more details can be found on the [award page](https://swmnarts.org/prairie-disciple-award/). - The award can only be received once per individual. - Nominators are encouraged to provide thorough documentation of the nominee’s impact. --- ## External Links - [McKnight Foundation (Funder)](https://www.mcknight.org) - [Prairie Disciple Award Information & Past Recipients](https://swmnarts.org/prairie-disciple-award/) - [Nomination Guidelines & Questions (DOCX)](https://swmnarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/FY25-PD-Guidelines-Questions.docx) - [Online Grant System (Apply/Login)](https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=SMAHC) - [Video Tutorial for Online Grant System](https://support.foundant.com/hc/en-us/articles/4479853059991) - [Contact SMAC](https://swmnarts.org/contact-us/) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | Scheduling/Help | |------------------------|-----------------------------------------|-----------------|------------------------------------------------------| | SMAC Grants Admin | [caroline@swmnarts.org](mailto:caroline@swmnarts.org) | (800) 622-5284 | [Schedule a meeting](https://calendly.com/carolinekoska-smac) | | General Inquiries | [info@swmnarts.org](mailto:info@swmnarts.org) | (800) 622-5284 | [Contact Form](https://swmnarts.org/contact-us/) |

Prairie Disciple Award

Sign in to see full grant listing