Disability-focused arts groups are among the grant recipients announced by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC). 

MRAC’s board has approved more than $1 million in funding to the 102 groups and organizations who are recipients of the MRAC Arts Impact for Groups grant awards. 

The Arts Impact for Groups grant provides up to $10,000 apiece in funding for groups led by Black, Indigenous, or people of color (BIPOC); people with disabilities, and lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual/agender and two-spirt communities. 

 Groups must be located in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington counties. The grant program is designed to provide an infusion of funds to support a group’s ability to create access to the arts. 

Grants with disability community ties include: 

DisabiliTease Festival, Minneapolis. Funding will expand the DisabiliTease Academy by surveying the community to find what skills they want to develop, select appropriate instructors, hold at least one class a month and create resources. 

Off-Leash Area, Minneapolis. Funding will strengthen Off-Leash Area’s Off-Kilter program, by deepening outreach to community organizations, audiences, and performers with disabilities through leadership, partnerships and marketing. 

Full Circle Theater Company, St. Paul. Funding is for Full Circle’s Online Presentation, “Stories Exploring Issues of Disability and Theater,” featuring disabled artists exploring crucial issues through performance and in-depth discussion. 

Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health, St. Paul. Funding is to adapt the Three Little Pigs, a 15-minute musical about managing anxiety, into a script package for school-age children and interactive storytelling sessions for early childhood. 

ThinkSelf, Inc., St. Paul. Funding will provide accessible artist workshops for the deaf, deafblind, deafdisabled, and hard of hearing community with the intention of promoting lifelong learning and self-care.