McKnight Visiting Composer Residencies
National
Applications are now closed.
We will not be inviting applications for the McKnight Visiting Composer Residency this year. Funding for this program for the 2025-26 year has been allocated to a collaboration between the Orchestra of Indigenous Instruments and New Technologies (Argentina) and Indigenous Roots (Minnesota) as part of our ongoing Recomposing America initiative.
The intent of the McKnight Artist and Culture Programs is to recognize and support artists and culture bearers who are beyond emerging and have sustained experience in their area of practice. Visiting Composers demonstrate achievement, commitment, and high-level proficiency in artistic and/or culture-bearer practice. This program invites artists to respond to or reflect on the unique qualities of people and communities in Minnesota.
The addition of culture bearer acknowledges that the McKnight programs support creative leaders from cultures that don’t use the word “artist” (such as Native American and Hmong), as well as those who center the transmission and preservation of cultural lifeways.
2025
Program Panelists
Program Description
The ACF McKnight Visiting Composer Residencies invite music creators living outside of Minnesota to spend approximately 30 days in the state over an 18-month period, fostering connections and taking part in creative projects that engage the local community. New work may be part of the residency but is not required. The focus is on the exploration of an artist within a Minnesota community.
Proposals should respond to or reflect on the unique qualities of people and communities in our home state. For example, the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area is currently home to one of the largest and most tribally diverse urban Indigenous populations.
Awards
American Composers Forum encourages applicants from the full range of musical approaches and perspectives, and is committed to supporting a diverse pool of artists who demonstrate compelling artistic work. Accordingly, awards for our programs will represent, as far as possible, artists and projects that are diverse in creative methodology, gender, race, ethnicity, and geography.
- Two residencies of $10,000 will be awarded. Awards are subject to state and federal income tax guidelines
- There is a $3,000 stipend for travel and lodging expenses during the residency
- Funds are distributed directly to the music creator across four installments
- Awardees also received consultation, time, and resources from ACF
For general questions regarding the McKnight Visiting Composer Residencies, please contact Brian Dowdy, Community Director, at bdowdy@composersforum.org.
National
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Partnership between ACF, The Juilliard School’s Preparatory Division, and the NY Philharmonic to create flex scores for multigenerational ensembles.
Regional
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Supports the creation and presentation of new work. Five grants are available for early career artists in Minnesota or NYC.
Regional
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Four annual fellowships of $25,000 in unrestricted funds awarded to mid-career artists and culture bearers based in Minnesota.
National
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Provides opportunities for composers to build relationships with ensembles to create new work and engage with new communities.