Artist Support Grants - McKnight Foundation
Artist Support Grants support individual artists in central Minnesota, funding creative projects and professional development to strengthen artistic practice and advance their arts careers.
Funder: McKnight Foundation
Due Dates: November 6, 2026 (Monthly review deadline) | May 31, 2027 (FY27 closing date)
Funding Amounts: Up to $3,000, no match required; projects may last up to one calendar year
Summary: Supports individual artists’ projects and professional development to strengthen creative practice and advance their arts careers.
Key Information: Applicants must have lived in an eligible county or the Leech Lake Reservation for at least six months.
Description
Funded by the McKnight Foundation and administered by the Five Wings Arts Council (FWAC), Artist Support Grants support individual artists in central Minnesota. Funding helps artists create work and pursue professional development within their artistic disciplines, including workshops, mentorships, and opportunities to strengthen their creative practice or career skills. Artists at any career stage may apply, including those whose primary livelihood is not art.
Projects should advance the applicant’s own artistic or professional goals. The program seeks to help artists overcome barriers to long-term success, professionalize or increase artistic output and quality, strengthen artistry, complete career-milestone projects, or reach new communities and markets. Support is intended primarily for the artist’s development rather than projects whose primary beneficiary is the community.
