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

October 2026

Five grants of $10,000 each; project period typically January–November

Supports Minnesota-based mid-career public artists to create new, publicly accessible artworks in any discipline statewide.

Site permission and Minnesota residency required; projects must be original and free to the public.

--- ## Description The Mid-Career Project Grants, funded by the McKnight Foundation and administered by Forecast Public Art, support Minnesota-based mid-career public artists in creating new, publicly accessible artworks—temporary or permanent—anywhere in Minnesota. Projects may be in any artistic discipline, including but not limited to performance, dance, storytelling, photography, film, sculpture, and painting. The grant emphasizes diversity, prioritizing projects and artists that reflect the racial, cultural, gender, and geographic diversity of Minnesota and amplify underrepresented perspectives. Artists must demonstrate community engagement and benefit, and secure written site approval before applying. --- ## Due Dates - October 2026 (anticipated full application deadline) *All dates are projected based on the annual cycle; check the program page for updates.* --- ## Funding Amount - Five grants awarded annually, each for $10,000. - Funds support project costs for work completed typically between January and November of the grant year. - Projects may also receive additional support from public or nonprofit agencies or in-kind sources; private commissions are not eligible. --- ## Eligibility - **Residency:** Applicants must be based in Minnesota, having physically lived in the state for at least 12 of the past 24 months, and must remain a resident throughout the project period. - **Career Stage:** Only mid-career public artists are eligible (defined as artists with at least ten years of active practice and recognition in their field; see detailed criteria below). - **Project Requirements:** - Project must be new, original, and not a remount or reinstallation of previous work. - Must have written documentation of site approval at the time of application. - All projects must be freely accessible to the public (no ticket sales or fees). - Projects may not begin before the grant year starts and must not be ongoing. - **Restrictions:** - Only one Forecast grant application per artist per annual cycle. - Not open to organizations, Forecast Public Art staff, Board, Consulting Partners, Jury members, or currently enrolled students (K-12, undergraduate, or graduate). - Artists are not eligible to receive project grants from Forecast in two consecutive years. - Private commissions are not eligible. - Previous grantees must submit all outstanding final reports before applying for new funding. ### Definition of Mid-Career Artist - At least ten years of active creation and exhibition. - Established reputation and significant body of work; may have exhibited regionally, nationally, or internationally. - Recognition through public presentations, publications, or industry acknowledgment. - Career stage based on cumulative years of generating original work, not age. - Artists changing disciplines are still considered mid-career if they meet these criteria. --- ## Application Process - Applications are submitted online via [Forecast Public Art’s Submittable portal](https://forecastpublicart.submittable.com/submit) during the application period. - Required materials: - Brief project overview (75 words) - Full proposal (500 words) - Community connection and benefit (250 words) - Statement of mid-career status (250 words) - Diversity of lived experience and perspective (250 words) - Career impact (250 words) - Resume (2 pages max per member; for teams, one per member) - Written documentation of site approval - Project budget (use [budget template](https://forecastpublicart.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/PublicArtBudgetWorksheet.pdf) or own format) - Work samples (up to 10 images or equivalent in video, audio, or written work) - Work sample information (title, year, medium, location, etc.) - Applications may be submitted as video if preferred. - Only complete applications with all required documentation will be considered. --- ## Additional Information - Selection is based on quality and clarity of the proposal, value to artist’s development, benefit to the community, and quality of work samples. - Forecast Public Art emphasizes support for BIPOC, Native, LGBTQIA+, immigrant, rural, and disabled artists. - Projects must not charge the public for access. - Resources for applicants include [grant writing tips](https://forecastpublicart.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/GrantWritingTips_2018.pdf), budget templates, and info sessions via Forecast’s [YouTube channel](https://www.youtube.com/user/ForecastPublicArt/playlists). --- ## External Links - [Program Page & Guidelines](https://forecastpublicart.org/artist-support/mid-career-project-grant/) - [Application Portal (Submittable)](https://forecastpublicart.submittable.com/submit) - [Budget Template (PDF)](https://forecastpublicart.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/PublicArtBudgetWorksheet.pdf) - [Grant Writing Tips (PDF)](https://forecastpublicart.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/GrantWritingTips_2018.pdf) - [Forecast Public Art Artist Opportunities](https://forecastpublicart.org/artist-support/artist-opportunities/) - [McKnight Foundation](https://www.mcknight.org) --- ## Contact Information | Contact | Email | Phone | Address | |-------------------|---------------------------------|---------------|-------------------------------------------| | Forecast Grants | jenk@forecastpublicart.org | (651) 641-1128| 2380 Wycliff Street, Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55114 | | General Inquiries | info@forecastpublicart.org | | | | McKnight Foundation | [Contact Form](https://www.mcknight.org/about/contact-us/) | +1 612-333-4220 | 710 South 2nd Street, Suite 400, Minneapolis, MN 55401, USA | ---

Mid-Career Project Grants - McKnight Foundation

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