About Arts Midwest
Who we are
Arts Midwest is one of six United States Regional Arts Organizations — a national collective of nonprofit arts service organisations committed to strengthening America's infrastructure by increasing access to creativity for all Americans. Based in Minneapolis, Arts Midwest supports, informs, and celebrates creative organisations and communities throughout a nine-state region: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, and Wisconsin, and the Native nations that share these geographies. The organisation is a registered 501(c)(3) (EIN 41-1000424).
What we do
Arts Midwest amplifies Midwestern creativity through grants, programmes, and partnerships. Key programmes include the GIG Fund, the NEA Big Read, Shakespeare in American Communities, Jazz Road, the Midwest Award for Artists with Disabilities, the Midwest Culture Bearers Award, and the Peter Capell Award. The organisation partners with the National Endowment for the Arts, state agencies, and private funders to deliver these programmes.
How we work — the four-day week
Arts Midwest implemented a four-day work week permanently after a 2022 six-month trial. The first trial in November 2021 ran for six weeks and was unsuccessful — as the team learned, "Change (No Matter How Exciting) Takes Careful Planning." The second attempt in 2022 succeeded after one month of planning, the six-month trial, monthly check-ins, a staff retreat for buy-in, group agreements, and a shared project-management roadmap.
By trial's end, "every staff member said they wanted the four-day work week to continue." Between 2022 and 2023, Arts Midwest launched new programmes, refreshed its brand and website, and continued professional development — all without disrupting regular activities. 90% of respondents reported feeling more creative because of the four-day work week, and voluntary turnover dropped from 14% in FY22 to 0% in FY23.
Where will I work?
Arts Midwest is a remote-first workplace, with most work happening in digital systems. Staff must reside in the nine-state region or a Native nation that shares this geography. Travel 2-4 times per year is expected for all-staff gatherings and site visits. The Minneapolis office (3033 Excelsior Boulevard #380, MN 55416) is the registered HQ.
Team Benefits and pay equity
Arts Midwest's pay-equity commitment is explicit: "Arts Midwest does not negotiate salaries, as negotiation is one of the main drivers of pay inequity in organisations." Every published role lists a firm pay figure (the current Controller role is $75,000 firm annually plus benefits).
- Four-day work week (permanent since 2022)
- Remote-first across the nine-state region with 2-4 all-staff travel weeks per year
- Comprehensive health insurance, dental insurance, and life insurance
- Retirement savings plan
- Paid family and medical leave
- Professional development support
- Pay-equity policy: published salary on every job listing, no negotiation
- Accessibility-first hiring with applicant support via [email protected]