St. Croix Valley Foundation awards $65,000 to 18 arts nonprofits

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.

This year, 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. The funding supports arts experiences that engage communities, celebrate local culture, and foster creative expression throughout the region.

The grants come from the Valley Arts Initiative Fund, an endowed fund supporting arts organizations and programming in Washington and Chisago counties in Minnesota, and Burnett, Polk, St. Croix, and Pierce counties in Wisconsin. Now in its 23rd year, the initiative has awarded more than $691,000 to high-quality arts experiences—supporting artists and nonprofits, engaging communities, and strengthening the region’s creative fabric.

The 2025 Valley Arts 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 (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: 2025–26 concert season – $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 about funding events—they nurture creativity, belonging, and community pride,” said Angie Pilgrim, vice president of community impact at the St. Croix Valley Foundation. “Across the Valley, 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 said. “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: Washington and Chisago counties in Minnesota, and Polk, Burnett, St. Croix, and Pierce counties in Wisconsin. Partnering with donors, local affiliates, and nonprofits, the foundation stewards and grows endowments that fund vital programs—now and for future generations. Through strategic grantmaking and community partnerships, the foundation works to build a more vibrant, resilient, and generous region.

Learn more about the Valley Arts Initiative or donate at scvfoundation.org.