-Minnesota State Arts Board - Minnesota North Star

Arts Experiences

This pilot program supports individuals and organizations in providing meaningful arts experiences for Minnesotans within their communities. Funds may be used for a variety of arts programming such as creating and/or presenting concerts, plays, tours, exhibitions, arts festivals, public art, or other kinds of activities that provide Minnesotans opportunities to engage in arts activities that are instilled into community or public life.

Program overview and application instructions

The FY 2025 Arts Experiences Program Overview and Application Instructions will be posted approximately 8 weeks prior to the application deadline.

Application deadline

June 21, 2024, before 4:30 p.m.

When will funds be awarded?

Grant awards will be approved at the February 2025 board meeting. The grant period for these awards will be April 2025 - March 2026; all funded activities must take place within the grant period.

Who can apply?

Both individuals and organizations are eligible to apply. The applicant must be:

An individual

  • An artist working in dance, media arts, music, photography, poetry, prose, theater, or two-and three-dimensional visual art; or
  • A culture bearer who has been trained by traditional elders or master artists and whose artistic practice is reflective of the cultural life of a community; or

An organization

  • A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt arts organization; or
  • A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonarts organization that regularly offers arts programming as an integral part of its mission; or
  • A unit of state, local, or tribal government; or
  • An arts affiliate of a nonprofit organization or public entity; or
  • An arts group without 501(c)(3) status applying with a Minnesota tax-exempt or public fiscal sponsor

An individual may submit an application in only one of the following programs in FY 2025: Creative Individuals, Arts Experiences, Arts Education, or Cultural Expression.

An organization may submit an application in only one of the following programs in FY 2025: Arts Experiences, Arts Education, Cultural Expression.

Additional eligibility requirements will be included in the FY 2025 Arts Experiences Program Overview and Application Instructions. Please review all eligibility requirements carefully before beginning an application.

Grant range

Applicants may request between $5,000 - $35,000. No cash match is required.

Resources for applicants

Information Session
FY 2025 Arts Experiences Information Session and Q&A with Program Officer
Tuesday, May 21
12:00 - 1:00 p.m.
Free, virtual, no registration required

Learn more about the FY 2025 Arts Experiences grant program. This virtual information session will provide details about the program purpose, eligibility, and application process. There will be time at the end of the session for a live Q&A with the program officer.

For information on how to join the session, visit the Information Sessions web page.

FY 2025 Grant Programs Overview
The Arts Board hosted two virtual sessions giving a high-level overview of the grant programs offered for organizations and individuals in fiscal year 2025. Potential applicants may wish to review the recording of either of these sessions to help determine which is the best fit for their work. Note that the program specific information session linked above will provide a more in-depth understanding of the Arts Experiences grant program for potential applicants.

FY 2025 Grant Programs Overview for Organizations– Recording | Download PowerPoint
FY 2025 Grant Programs Overview for Individuals– Recording | Download PowerPoint


If you have questions or need assistance
If you have questions about the content of the application form or narrative, please contact the program officer team:
Jenny Dodgson, Jamie Marshall, Adam Wiltgen
ArtsExperiences@arts.state.mn.us
(651) 539-2671

If you have questions about the technical aspects of the online application form, or about how to submit the online forms, please send an e-mail message to:
Chris Berry, grants management systems administrator
Apply.Arts@state.mn.us
(651) 539-2668

For accessibility inquiries or accommodation requests, please contact:
Annick Dall-Desbois, outreach and accessibility coordinator
Annick.Dall-Desbois@arts.state.mn.us
(651) 539-2651

The Arts Board offers accommodations, such as alternate format materials, transcription, and other technical assistance, upon request. Grant application deadlines are not able to be extended for any reason. To ensure we are able to provide you access, please make your accommodation request as soon as possible, and no less than two weeks prior to a grant application deadline.

All staff can be reached toll-free at (800) 866-2787 or via Minnesota Relay 711.

How to apply

Application method—All applicants are required to use the WebGrants system to apply and will submit all materials electronically. Registration is required of all applicants before beginning an application to any Arts Board program. It is only necessary to register once.

Two online tutorials are available to acquaint users with the WebGrants system:

Grantee reports and amendments

The following links provide information and instructions regarding final reports and related material required from Arts Board grantees.

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