Mission Statement

Mission

The Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council serves the artistic communities of the 9-county area of southcentral MN by supporting the creation and presentation of diverse art forms, fostering equitable access to arts opportunities, and integrating arts and culture to enhance quality of life in our communities.

Values

We value: The Arts, Artistic Merit, Creativity, Community, Accessibility, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Values Statements with Descriptions:

• The Arts — We value all forms of artistic expression, and resist the notion that there is but one universal definition of art or one best type of art. Instead, we embrace all artistic disciplines, genres, and subgenres, and encourage work that uses imagination, emotion, and craft to communicate.

• Artistic Merit — We value artistic merit that promotes growth and development of creative knowledge, skills and understanding.

• Creativity — We value the dedicated pursuit of and engagement with the arts. Creative expression contributes to the health of individuals and communities alike.

• Community — We value art that reflects a rich and expansive range of cultures, traditions, experiences, and perspectives. The art created by and supported by the community deepens our understanding of ourselves and each other.

• Accessibility — We value arts programming and arts education that is available to everyone.

• Equity, Diversity, Inclusion — We value an equitable, diverse, and inclusive community. We are committed to countering systemic inequities that exclude individuals and communities from access to the arts based on race, gender, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, class, age, and geography.

Equity Statement

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Statement of Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council

The Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council (PLRAC) recognizes arts and culture as inherent and vital aspects of life.  Art is a proven proponent of healthy, balanced, and prosperous communities.  The creation and experience of cultural and artistic expression contribute to both individual and community well-being.  We believe in the ability to build increased connectivity through supporting cultural and artistic expression of all social identities including race, tribal affiliation, ethnicity, national origin, age, gender, sexuality, religion, ability, socio-economic background, and the intersectionality of these identities.

This includes historically marginalized and underserved groups such as: Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), People with Disabilities, LGBTQ+ (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, etc.), and Youth and Seniors.

We are committed to closing access gaps in the arts with urgency and accountability. We believe sustained impact requires authentic relationships and transformative work, and to this end we are deeply invested.  As stewards of public funds, including those allocated by the Legacy Amendment, PLRAC embraces the unique opportunity to ensure that all residents of the nine-county area have access to quality arts experiences. We celebrate our region as an artistic cultural hub where artists and community members from all walks of life intersect. PLRAC dedicates its work to providing key support at these vital intersections where art and community align.  PLRAC is committed to engaging in the relationship building, self-reflection, community discourse, and hands-on work imperative to make our region a place where all artistic communities can thrive.

PLRAC will focus our resources to educate ourselves, modify our practices and shift our own organizational culture to challenge racial disparities as we move toward equitable arts communities.  We embrace our responsibility to lead racial equity work in funding, while informing and learning from equity and inclusion in the artistic practices and programming of our constituents.

Approved 4/19 and updated 5/21.