Leslye Orr Fund for Artists with Disabilities
Leslye Orr Fund for Artists with Disabilities supports Minnesota artists with disabilities through unrestricted grants to create work, invest in their careers, and foster inclusivity and community joy.
Funder: Springboard for the Arts
Due Dates: October 6, 2026 (Cycle I deadline) | April 6, 2027 (Cycle II deadline)
Funding Amounts: One-time $2,000 unrestricted grants for five artists per funding cycle
Summary: Direct support for Minnesota artists with disabilities to create work, invest in their careers, and foster inclusivity and community joy.
Key Information: Applicants must self-identify as artists with disabilities, and recipients are selected through a randomized drawing.
Description
The Leslye Orr Fund for Artists with Disabilities, managed by Springboard for the Arts, provides non-competitive direct support to artists with disabilities living in Minnesota. Its unrestricted grants help artists create work and invest in their careers across any artistic discipline. Eligible applicants enter a randomized drawing rather than a competitive review of their artistic work.
The fund is inspired by Leslye Orr’s advocacy for “the possibilities of disabilities” and her commitment to artistry, inclusivity, and community joy. Orr was a Minnesota playwright, performer, and teacher known for workshops integrating people with disabilities. The fund carries forward that commitment through direct financial support for artists.
