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

April 15, 2026

$1,000 award; one recipient selected annually

Recognizes a southwest Minnesota individual for long-term, impactful contributions to the arts, with a focus on advocacy and community engagement.

2026 nominations are limited to teachers/educators only.

--- ## Description The Prairie Disciple Award is an annual honor recognizing one individual from southwest Minnesota whose sustained activities and involvement have made significant contributions to the arts. The award aims to raise awareness of arts advocacy and celebrate those whose efforts often go unrecognized, increasing the visibility of the arts both within local communities and across the Southwest Minnesota Arts Council (SMAC) region. In 2026, nominations are specifically limited to teachers or educators. --- ## Due Dates - April 15, 2026: Nomination submission deadline (online only) All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates. --- ## Funding Amount - $1,000 cash award to the selected recipient - Only one individual is recognized each year --- ## Eligibility - **Nominee must be a teacher/educator in 2026** - Must have resided in the SMAC region (18-county southwest Minnesota) for at least one year - Only individuals may be nominated; self-nominations are not accepted - Award can only be received once in a lifetime - Current SMAC board members are ineligible - Past nominees who did not win must be re-nominated; nominations do not carry over --- ## Application Process - Nominations must be submitted online via the [SMAC grant system](https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=SMAHC) - Any individual (other than the nominee) may submit a nomination - Required materials: - Resume or background information of the nominee - At least two letters of recommendation from qualified individuals/arts professionals (up to four allowed) - Additional support materials (optional, such as PDFs, JPEGs, or web links) - Letters of support may also be emailed to [info@swmnarts.org](mailto:info@swmnarts.org) - Nominator contact information and electronic certification/signature required - [Nomination guidelines and questions (DOCX)](https://swmnarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FY26-PD-Guidelines-Questions.docx) are available for drafting before online submission - Collaborators can be invited to assist with the nomination form --- ## Additional Information - The nominee will only be notified if selected as the award recipient - Board review and recipient selection occur in late April - Social media links are not accepted as the sole supporting material—screenshots or additional uploads are necessary if included --- ## External Links - [Prairie Disciple Award program page (SMAC)](https://swmnarts.org/prairie-disciple-award/) - [Nomination guidelines and questions (DOCX)](https://swmnarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/FY26-PD-Guidelines-Questions.docx) - [Online nomination system (log in/apply)](https://www.grantinterface.com/Home/Logon?urlkey=SMAHC) - [Contact SMAC](https://swmnarts.org/contact-us/) - [Southwest Minnesota Arts Council main site](https://swmnarts.org/) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | Scheduling Link | |-------------------------|------------------------------------------|----------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------| | Grants Administrator | [caroline@swmnarts.org](mailto:caroline@swmnarts.org) | (800) 622-5284 | [Schedule a meeting](https://calendly.com/carolinekoska-smac) | | General Inquiries (SMAC)| [info@swmnarts.org](mailto:info@swmnarts.org) | (800) 622-5284 | [Contact form](https://swmnarts.org/contact-us/) |

Prairie Disciple Award

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