Early-Career Artist Project Grant
Supports early-career Minnesota artists to create new, original public art projects that engage and benefit diverse communities statewide.
Funder: McKnight Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 (Full application deadline, projected)
Funding Amounts: Two grants of $8,000 each; project period typically January–November; funds support temporary or permanent public art projects.
Summary: Supports early-career Minnesota artists creating new, original public artwork that benefits diverse communities across the state.
Key Information: Applicants must be early-career artists based in Minnesota; projects must be original, site-secured, and freely accessible to the public.
Description
This grant is designed to support early-career, Minnesota-based artists in the creation of new public art projects. The program values diversity in artist backgrounds, artistic practices, and the communities served. Eligible projects can be temporary or permanent and must be freely accessible to the public, reflecting the racial, cultural, and geographic diversity of Minnesota. The grant encourages a wide range of public art forms, including but not limited to murals, sculpture, performance, storytelling, sound/light installations, dance, and spoken word. Projects must be original (not remounts or re-installations), with the site secured by the application deadline. Funding is intended to benefit both the artist’s career development and the broader community.
