Valley Arts Grants Fuel Artistic Expression and Community Connection in 2025
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- Apr 8
- 3 min read
Updated: 8 hours ago
The St. Croix Valley Foundation Awards $65,000 to 18 Arts Nonprofits in the St. Croix Valley
HUDSON, WI (April 14, 2025) – From outdoor opera to river-inspired concerts, mobile galleries to arts-in-nature camps, the arts are alive and evolving across the St. Croix Valley.
In 2025, 18 nonprofit organizations will bring bold ideas to life through projects supported by $65,000 in Valley Arts Grants from the St. Croix Valley Foundation. These grants will help fund meaningful arts experiences that engage communities, celebrate local culture, and foster creative expression throughout the region.
Valley Arts Grants are made possible through the Valley Arts Initiative Fund—an endowed fund created to support arts organizations and programming across Washington and Chisago counties in Minnesota, and Burnett, Polk, St. Croix, and Pierce counties in Wisconsin.
Now in its 23rd year, the Valley Arts Initiative has awarded more than $650,000 to support high-quality arts experiences—supporting artists and nonprofits, engaging the community, and strengthening the creative fabric of the region.
The 2025 grant recipients reflect the diversity and vibrancy of the arts in the Valley. They include:
ArtReach St. Croix: Mobile Art Gallery features Poets of Place - $5,000 (Washington)
ArtReach St. Croix as Fiscal Agent: Movies, Melodies & Memories - $1,000 (Washington)
Belwin Conservancy: Music in the Trees - $5,000 (Washington)
Carpenter St. Croix Valley Nature Center: Arts in Nature Summer Camp - $1,000 (St. Croix)
Franconia Sculpture Park: General Operating - $5,000 (Chisago)
Gammelgarden Museum: Spelmansstämman–Swedish & Mexican Folk Art - $5,000 (Washington)
Marine Library Association: Monthly Poetry Night - $2,400 (Washington)
Marine Mills Folk School: General Operating - $2,600 (Washington)
Music Saint Croix: Season Concerts 2025-26 - $2,000 (Washington)
North Woods and Waters: Once Upon a River - $5,000 (Polk)
Open Door Community Theatre: The Producers - $2,000 (Washington)
Philadelphia Community Farm: Will You Miss Me? - $5,000 (Polk)
Square Lake Film & Music Festival: Film Showcase - $5,000 (Washington)
St. Croix Valley Opera: Opera on the River Festival - $5,000 (Washington)
Summit Players Theatre: Shakespeare in the State Parks - $2,000 (Polk)
The Acreage: Healing Through Pollinators and Photography - $5,000 (Polk)
Washington County 4-H: Arts-In - $2,000 (Washington)
Wyoming Area Creative Arts Community: General Operating - $5,000 (Chisago).
“These grants aren’t just funding events—they’re nurturing creativity, belonging, and community pride,” said Angie Pilgrim, Vice President of Community Impact at SCVF. “Across the Valley, we’re seeing the arts bring people together—sparking conversations, lifting spirits, and strengthening the cultural fabric of this special place we call home.”
“When we invest in the arts, we invest in connection,” Pilgrim added. “And in a world that often feels divided, the creative spark of shared experience is more vital than ever.”
The St. Croix Valley Foundation serves a six-county region spanning Washington and Chisago Counties in Minnesota and Polk, Burnett, St. Croix, and Pierce Counties in Wisconsin. Partnering with donors, local community affiliates, and nonprofits, the foundation stewards and grows endowments that fuel vital programs—today and for generations to come. Through strategic grantmaking and strong community partnerships, the St. Croix Valley Foundation is helping build a more vibrant, resilient, and generous region.
Congratulations to all of the grant recipients and thank you for your creative endeavors that fuel our communities! A special thanks also to our volunteer grant review panel of experts.
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