[McKnight Foundation](https://www.mcknight.org)

May 15, 2026

$25,000 per fellowship; 2 awards available in 2026; one-year grant period

Supports midcareer Minnesota ceramic artists with resources to advance their creative practice and participate in exhibitions.

--- ## Description The McKnight Fellowship for Ceramic Artists recognizes and supports outstanding midcareer ceramic artists living and working in Minnesota, regardless of their chosen methodology—functional, sculptural, or relational. The fellowship is designed to foster artistic excellence, sustained accomplishment, and commitment by providing recipients with financial resources to experiment with new techniques and materials, collaborate, or pursue further education, exhibition, or travel opportunities. In addition to the cash award, fellows are expected to lead a workshop and participate in a group exhibition and catalogue, with the exhibition traveling to several sites across Minnesota and western Wisconsin. --- ## Due Dates - May 15, 2026: Full application submission deadline (by 5 pm CST) --- ## Funding Amount - Two fellowships of $25,000 each will be awarded in 2026. - Funding is unrestricted and may be used for experimentation, materials, equipment, collaborations, education, exhibition, or travel. - Fellowship period is one year. --- ## Eligibility Applicants must: - Have or maintain Minnesota residency for at least one year prior to application and for the fellowship year. - Be midcareer ceramic artists with a demonstrated body of work showing sustained accomplishment, commitment, and artistic excellence. - Not have received any McKnight Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowship in any discipline within the last five years. - Apply to only one McKnight Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowship in any discipline per year. - Not be staff, board, or immediate family of the McKnight Foundation or fellowship administrative partners. - Not be enrolled full-time in an academic program. - Demonstrate growth and ongoing artistry since any previous McKnight Fellowship. - No college degree is required. --- ## Application Process - Applications open March 13, 2026, at 10 am CST and close May 15, 2026, at 5 pm CST. - Submit online or hard copy application, including: - Artist statement (max 2 pages, PDF) - Resume (max 5 pages, PDF) - Image list (PDF): artist’s name, date, medium, dimensions - 10 digital images of completed work (JPG or PNG, 1500 px minimum on shortest side, 300 ppi; no names on images) - 1–3 physical work samples (up to 30 linear inches) or additional images showing details/angles - References: names and contact information for three individuals - No application fee. - Incomplete, faxed, emailed, or late applications will not be reviewed. - Selection is by a three-member panel based on artistic excellence and professional achievement. - Notification of results by mid-summer 2026. [Printable application instructions (PDF)](https://northernclaycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/McKnight_Fellowship_Application_NCC.pdf) [Apply online](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEc04BPQxbFR57bLOt0GEO7KkaW8ft75RAShBzajnV3fGcOQ/viewform?usp=sf_link) --- ## Additional Information - Fellowship recipients are required to lead a workshop and participate in a group exhibition and catalogue, with the exhibition traveling to multiple venues. - The program is administered by Northern Clay Center and funded by the McKnight Foundation. - The McKnight Foundation’s Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowships Program provides annual, unrestricted cash awards to midcareer Minnesota artists in 15 creative disciplines. --- ## External Links - [Fellowship Program Details – Northern Clay Center](https://northernclaycenter.org/artist-services/grants-for-artists/mcknight-fellowships/) - [McKnight Artist Fellowships Overview](https://www.mcknight.org/programs/arts/the-mcknight-artist-fellowships/) - [Printable Application Instructions (PDF)](https://northernclaycenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/McKnight_Fellowship_Application_NCC.pdf) - [Online Application Form](https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeEc04BPQxbFR57bLOt0GEO7KkaW8ft75RAShBzajnV3fGcOQ/viewform?usp=sf_link) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | |-------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------|--------------------| | Studio Program Coordinator | [anastasiaspeer@northernclaycenter.org](mailto:anastasiaspeer@northernclaycenter.org) | | | Artist Services Coordinator | [seanlofton@northernclaycenter.org](mailto:seanlofton@northernclaycenter.org) | 612.339.8007 x 302 | Northern Clay Center 2424 Franklin Avenue East Minneapolis, MN 55406 [www.northernclaycenter.org/artist-services](https://northernclaycenter.org/artist-services)

McKnight Fellowship for Ceramic Artists

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