Artists Emergency Relief Funds
Artists Emergency Relief Funds support Minnesota artists, creative workers, and culture bearers with one-time emergency assistance to provide rapid, short-term relief during unexpected hardships.
This grant was recently updated
No changes to Artists Emergency Relief Funds are shown; the updates concern the separate Leslye Orr Fund for Artists with Disabilities.
Funder: Springboard for the Arts
Due Dates: October 31, 2026 (Metropolitan) | December 31, 2026 (East Central, unless funds depleted) | December 31, 2026 (Northwest) | February 28, 2027 (Southwest) | Rolling (Five Wings, Lake Region, Region 2)
Funding Amounts: One-time emergency relief funding
Summary: Regional funds provide rapid, short-term emergency assistance to Minnesota artists, creative workers, and culture bearers facing unexpected hardships.
Key Information: Each regional council independently sets its geographic eligibility, application requirements, and funding cycles.
Description
The Artists Emergency Relief Fund Network is a coalition of regional organizations supporting Minnesota’s creative community during emergencies. Launched in 2025 and stewarded by Springboard for the Arts, the network provides one-time relief for artists and creative workers, including individual artists and culture bearers facing unexpected hardships. Its focus is rapid, short-term assistance.
Rather than operating as a single statewide grant program, the network brings together independently managed regional relief funds. As of summer 2026, all eleven Minnesota Regional Arts Councils manage an emergency relief fund. Each council determines its own geographic scope, eligibility requirements, and application cycles. Applicants should use the council serving their region to find current availability and application instructions.
