Funder: McKnight Foundation
Due Dates: December 7, 2026 (Fiber artists) | January 5, 2027 (Culture bearers) | March 14, 2027 (Dancers and choreographers)
Funding Amounts: $25,000 unrestricted per fellowship, plus discipline-specific development opportunities
Summary: Supports Minnesota midcareer artists and culture bearers with unrestricted funding to expand exploration, economic stability, and productive capacity.
Key Information: Applicants may apply to only one McKnight Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowship per fellowship year.
Description
The McKnight Foundation’s Arts & Culture program provides annual, unrestricted fellowships to Minnesota artists and culture bearers who are beyond emerging practice. Discipline-specific partner organizations administer the awards and tailor artistic and professional development opportunities to their fields. The fellowships recognize sustained accomplishment, commitment, and artistic excellence rather than funding only proposed projects.
The program spans 15 disciplines, from book arts and ceramics to writing, performance, and cultural practices. Culture bearer support recognizes intergenerational lifeways, sacred and healing traditions, and the transmission of ancestral knowledge. Alongside cash awards, fellows can access professional consultations, discipline-specific resources, and residency opportunities. The program aims to strengthen artists’ exploratory opportunity, economic stability, and capacity to develop and share their work.
