Grants for Artists

The Arts Board offers two programs that make grants to individual artists, and two services that help promote the work of artists who teach and artists that are interested in public art. These programs and services include:

Artist Initiative — This pilot program supports and assists artists at various stages in their careers. It encourages artistic development, nurtures artistic creativity, and recognizes the contributions individual artists make to the creative environment of the state of Minnesota.

The Arts Board alternates disciplines eligible to apply from year to year.; Music, photography, media arts/new media, poetry, and prose applications will be accepted during this grant round (fiscal year 2010). Dance, theater, and two- and three-dimensional visual arts grants were awarded last year (fiscal year 2009).

Applications will be due July 30, 2009.

Arts in Education Roster of Artists — The roster is a juried catalogue of individual or paired artists who demonstrate high artistic quality and the ability to teach students in grades K-12, a resource for schools interested in hosting artist residences, and a marketing tool for teaching artists.

Roster applications are accepted every two years. The last application deadline was March 14, 2008, for artists to renew their listing in the roster; and April 1, 2008, for artists to join the roster.

Cultural Community Partnership — This program is designed to enhance the careers of individual artists of color. Artists, at any stage in their careers, can apply for grants to help support a collaborative project. An applicant can collaborate with another Minnesota artist of color or a Minnesota nonprofit organization.

Applications will be due July 31, 2009.

Percent for Art in Public Places — Under Minnesota statute, state buildings with construction or renovation budgets of $500,000 or more may designate one percent of their total construction budget to purchase or commission original artwork. Artists who would like to be considered for Percent for Art projects must have current files in the Percent for Art artist registry.

Artist registry applications are accepted at any time.

The Minnesota State Arts Board provides information about funding and opportunities outside the Arts Board as a service to artists, but the Arts board neither sponsors nor endorses any of these organizations or opportunities. If you have questions about the information provided in the resources below, please contact the person or organization listed.

A Basic Guide to Grants for Minnesota Artists is a tool to help you begin exploring other potential funding opportunities for your work beyond the Arts Board.

Opportunities for Artists provides listings of other types of opportunities that may provide support for creating or exhibiting artwork.