Creative Individuals

This pilot program provides support to help individual artists and culture bearers develop or sustain their creative practices and meaningfully engage with Minnesotans. Grantees may use funds to support their creative practice and meaningfully connect to and engage with audiences, participants, students, and/or communities during the grant period.

Program overview and application instructions

FY 2024 Creative Individuals Program Overview and Application Instructions—All applicants should read this document thoroughly before beginning online application.

Application deadline

There are two application deadlines:

• April 21, 2023, before 4:30 p.m.
• July 28, 2023, before 4:30 p.m.

Individuals can submit an application by the first or second deadline, but not both. There is no advantage to apply to the first versus the second deadline. The likelihood of being funded is the same for both deadlines.

When will funds be awarded?

The first round of awards, for applications submitted in April, will be approved at the October 2023 board meeting. The grant period for these awards will begin in January 2024.

The second round of awards, for applications submitted in July, will be approved at the February 2024 board meeting. The grant period for these awards will begin in April 2024.

Grantees will have one year to use the funds.

Who can apply?

• Individual artists working in dance, media arts, music, photography, poetry, prose, theater, or two-and three-dimensional visual art; and
• Culture bearers who have been trained by traditional elders or master artists and whose artistic practice is reflective of the cultural life of a community.

An individual may submit an application in only one of the following programs in FY 2024: Creative Individuals, Arts Experiences, Arts Education, or Cultural Expression.

Additional eligibility requirements are included in the FY 2024 Creative Individuals Program Overview and Application Instructions. Please review all eligibility requirements carefully before beginning an application.

Grant range

Applicants may request between $2,000 - $10,000. No cash match is required.

Resources for applicants

Information Session
FY 2024 Creative Individuals: Round 2 Virtual Information Session and Program Officer Q & A
Tuesday, June 13, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
Free, virtual, no registration required

The Arts Board hosted a similar virtual information session for the first round of the FY 2024 Creative Individuals grant program. A recording of that information session can be found below.
Recording | Download PowerPoint

Sample applications
Creative Individuals is a new program, so no past applications are available. However, applicants may want to review the following Creative Support for Individuals applications which can provide ideas on how to clearly describe arts engagement, project planning, service to underserved communities, or other aspects of the proposal narrative.

FAQ
FY 2024 Creative Individuals: Frequently Asked Questions

FY 2024 Grant Programs Overview
On March 23, 2023, the Arts Board hosted a virtual session giving a high-level overview of the grant programs offered for individuals in fiscal year 2024. Potential applicants may wish to review the recording of this session 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 Creative Individuals grant program for potential applicants.

FY 2024 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:
Jamie Marshall, program officer
CreativeIndividuals@arts.state.mn.us
(651) 539-2670

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:
Apply.Arts@state.mn.us

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

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.