Empower Creatives USA West North Central Edition: A State by State Guide To Music Support Funding, Systems, & Services

Empower Creatives: USA West North Central Edition

A State-by-State Guide to Music Support Systems, Funding, and Services in North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, and Iowa

This eBook is part of a series including the Global Edition and Territory Editions.

The West North Central region of the United States, often called the heartland, is rich in cultural heritage, community resilience, and musical diversity. From the folk traditions of the Great Plains to the vibrant arts scenes of Minneapolis and Des Moines, this region has long nurtured creativity through collaboration and public access.

Empower Creatives: USA West North Central Edition is a 200+ page guide that maps out the music support systems that make this region quietly powerful and deeply inclusive.

This guide is built for music creators, educators, nonprofit leaders, and artist advocates who are seeking clarity in a landscape often obscured by paywalls, fragmented information, and institutional gatekeeping. It delivers a practical, state-by-state breakdown of funding bodies, community programs, nonprofit initiatives, and artist-led organizations, each vetted to exclude tuition-based services unless they offer sponsorship or access programs.

Inside, you’ll find:

• Detailed listings for North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kansas, Minnesota, and Iowa, covering public grants, rehearsal spaces, mentorship programs, and performance platforms
• Support systems for Indigenous creators, including resources connected to Lakota, Dakota, Ho-Chunk, Omaha, and other First Nations communities
• Practical guidance on how to apply for funding, access community infrastructure, and build sustainable careers without financial barriers
• Cross-state collaboration models, showcasing how organizations partner across borders to amplify impact and share resources
•  Insights into regional values, revealing how music support in this region reflects cultural preservation, economic inclusion, and grassroots innovation

This guide is not just a directory, it’s a strategic toolkit. It’s designed to help creators move from uncertainty to opportunity, from isolation to connection, and from potential to progress. Whether you’re a young artist in rural Nebraska, a music teacher in Minnesota, or a nonprofit leader in Kansas, Empower Creatives delivers the scaffolding you need to thrive.

Created by Lionel Lodge, a lifelong musician, entrepreneur, and global advocate for creator rights, this edition reflects years of research, outreach, and lived experience. It’s part of a global series, but it’s deeply attuned to the unique cultural and institutional landscape of the West North Central region.

If you’re ready to stop searching and start building, this guide is your compass.