Mid-Career Artist Grants
Supports Minnesota mid-career artists in creating new public artworks with an emphasis on equity, professional development, and free public accessibility.
Funder: McKnight Foundation
Due Dates (Anticipated): October 2026 (Mid-Career Artist Grants, projected)
Funding Amounts: $10,000 per project grant; typically 5 grants awarded annually; funding period is January–November.
Summary: Supports Minnesota-based mid-career artists in creating new public artworks and advancing their public art careers, with a strong commitment to equity and professional development.
Key Information: Applicants must be Minnesota residents (12 of past 24 months), not students, and projects must be artist-initiated and freely accessible.
Description
This grant program supports individual mid-career artists based in Minnesota who are seeking to create new, original, publicly accessible artworks—either temporary or permanent—anywhere in the state. In addition to direct funding, recipients receive professional development support, including learning opportunities, consultation, and peer networking, to help expand their skills and impact in public art. The program places a strong emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion, prioritizing support for BIPOC and Native artists, LGBTQIA+ artists, artists who have experienced gender-based oppression, immigrant artists, artists from rural communities, and artists with disabilities. Projects must be artist-initiated, not commissioned or client-based, and must be accessible to the public without fees.
