Creative Individuals

Program Purpose

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.

Eligibility

Individual artists working in dance, media arts, music, photography, poetry, prose, theater, two-dimensional or 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 who received a FY 2026 Creative Individuals grant cannot apply for a FY 2027 Creative Individuals grant. An individual may submit an application in only one of the following programs in FY 2027: Creative Individuals, Arts Experiences, Arts Education, or Cultural Expression.

Grant Amount

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

Key Dates

• Application deadline: March 6, 2026, before 4:30 p.m.
• Board approval of grants: November 2026
• Grant period: January 2027 - December 2027

How to Apply

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.

Review Criteria

• The applicant demonstrates a commitment to their creative practice (12 points)
• The applicant has a clear idea of how to develop their creative practice appropriate to where they are in their creative journey (15 points)
• The applicant has a feasible idea to meaningfully engage Minnesotans with their creative work in the upcoming grant period (15 points)
• The applicant has an authentic connection to one or more underserved communities and those communities will benefit from grant activities (12 points)