Deadline: 11-Jan-21
The Next Step Fund, funded by the McKnight Foundation has been announced that provides project grants up to $5,000 to artists in any discipline for the purpose of research, career development and artistic achievement.
The McKnight Foundation’s arts program is founded on the belief that Minnesota thrives when its artists thrive. The McKnight Foundation supports working artists to create and contribute to vibrant communities.
Applicants may be at any stage in their career but must demonstrate achievement in their artistic field and have a history of public presentation or community contribution.
Funding Information
- Amount requested may not exceed $5,000.
Stronger proposals will accomplish one or more of the following:
- Help an artist adapt or transition their creative process to address current social realities;
- Help an artist overcome a barrier to success, professionalize, or increase artistic output and quality;
- Complete a project that marks a significant milestone in their career;
- Reach a new community or market.
The following are some examples of potential projects:
- The acquisition of equipment to help an artist increase quality, diversify, or otherwise improve upon their artistic process or product.
- The development of a business plan, creation of promotional materials, or an artist portfolio.
- The development of new methods of sharing artistic creations and staying connected to audiences (e.g. new or expanded websites, virtual galleries or stores, implementation of web streaming technology, new marketing or social media strategies, etc.)
- Participation in training, master class or workshop that will enhance the artist’s abilities (enrollment in a degree or certificate program is not eligible).
- The production or presentation of a significant work that represents a milestone in an artist’s career.
- The production or presentation of a work that expands an artist’s community or market (e.g. geographic region, cultural community, galleries, curators, professional network, etc.).
- Projects, where the community is the primary beneficiary, are not compelling next Step projects as the focus needs to be on the individual artist’s needs.
This program does NOT fund:
- Projects where the applicant is applying on behalf of a duo, group, or organization. This program provides support for the professional and artistic development of an artist independent from their organizational identity. For example, a choreographer may apply for an independent study, but not to produce or stage a work marketed as a production of their dance company. MRAC has other grant programs to fund arts projects of groups and organizations.
- Projects that include expenses that will be paid or incurred before the earliest grant expenditure date (May 19, 2021). Examples: airline tickets, registration fees, etc.
- Activities that engage in projects that attempt to influence any state or federal legislation or appropriation, serve the religious socialization of participants, or discriminate against persons or groups.
Eligibility Criteria
- Emerging, mid-career and established artists, working in any discipline, who have evidence of artistic output respective of their career stage.
- Have resided in the seven-county metro area during the six months prior to the deadline (July 11, 2020 – January 11, 2021). Projects do NOT need to take place within the seven-county metro area but applicants MUST reside in the seven-county metro area.
- Recipients must live in the seven-county metro area for the entirety of the contract period.
- 18 years of age or older.
Applicants cannot be:
- Individuals seeking to begin a career as an artist, or make a professional transition to the arts.
- Individuals whose portfolio only reflects client or freelance work.
- Artists currently enrolled in a degree or certification program in their respective art form, unless the applicant can demonstrate they maintain a career as a professional artist outside of their educational program.
- Arts administrators seeking support for their administrative profession.
For more information, visit https://mrac.org/grants/next-step-fund/
