Older Artist & Culture Bearer Resources
Below is a sampling of community care resources for our Southeastern Minnesota communities.
Contact Sharon Mansur, Outreach & Accessibility Manager at sharon@semac.org or 507.322.1088, 711 TTY with questions or assistance as needed.
Arts for the Aging
Engaging regular arts participation to improve physical, cognitive, emotional health, and providing other resources.
Carlow University: Patricia Dobler Poetry Award
Founded in 2007 and sponsored by Madwomen in the Attic, the Patricia Dobler Poetry Award was created to honor the work of women writers and the memory of the late Patricia Dobler, esteemed English professor at Carlow, distinguished poet, and former Madwomen director.
Dance Exchange
Fueled by generosity and curiosity, Dance Exchange expands who gets to dance, where dance happens, what dance is about, and why dance matters.
Gottlieb Foundation: Individual Support Grants
The Foundation wishes to encourage artists who have dedicated their lives to developing their art, regardless of their level of commercial success. Please note that these grants are available only to individual painters, sculptors, and printmakers who have worked in a mature phase of art for 20 years or more. In addition to the maturity requirement, eligibility for an Individual Support Grant is determined by the applicant’s current financial need.
Joan Mitchell Foundation: Legacy Planning
Through the Creating a Living Legacy (CALL) program, we produce legacy and estate planning guides that provide artists and their supporters the professional development tools needed to undertake this important work.
National League of American Pen Women: Shirley Holden Helberg Grants for Mature Women
Three grants of $1,000 each (in the odd years — 2025, 2027, etc.) in the classifications of art, letters, and music to women 35 years of age or older who are not now nor ever have been a member of the League.
SOLA: Professional Support for Mature Women Artists
Welcome to our ever-expanding resource from SOLA publications, professional development workshops, lectures and community building. And free PDF download: Famous Female Artists: Planning for Success This professional development planner and workbook for mature artists highlights the art and advice of SOLA Awardees from 2017-2023. Over 75 pages of helpful worksheets and guides.
Artist Trust: SOLA Awards
Note: For Washington State artists only but a model to consider advocating for in Minnesota
Five unrestricted awards of $5,000 given annually to Washington State female-identified visual artists, age 60 or over, who have dedicated 25 years or more to creating art.
Speculative Literature Foundation
The Older Writers Grant is awarded annually to writers who are at least fifty years of age at the time of application to assist such writers who are just beginning their careers as speculative fiction writers.
Tree of Life
Tree of Life provides support for senior visual artists age 60 and over through the Individual Artist Grant, and applicants must have demonstrable financial need.