APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN FOR THE 2027 ACF MCKNIGHT COMPOSER FELLOWSHIPS

Applications for our 2027 McKnight Composer Fellowships are now open. These awards are presented in partnership with the McKnight Foundation as part of their Artist & Culture Bearers Fellowships, which support Minnesota-based creative work by mid-career artists and culture bearers who demonstrate achievement, commitment, and a high level of proficiency in their area of practice.

ACF will award four fellowships consisting of $25,000 in unrestricted funds, up to $2,500 for professional development activities or to develop works-in-progress, and up to $2,000 in performance support. Fellows will also receive consultation, time, and resources from ACF and Springboard for the Arts. A panel of artist-curators will review all applications and select the four awardees. Visit the ACF McKnight Composer Fellowship webpage to read the complete program guidelines and learn more about the panelists.

ACF envisions a world where living music creators are celebrated as essential to human culture. We believe that our cultural, political, and social landscapes shape how we create, share, and receive art, and we see artmaking as a profound form of expression and engagement with the world around us. We seek to support creators who intentionally engage with this larger context, especially those who have been historically excluded from funded opportunities.

Furthermore, we seek to deconstruct the historical concept of “composer,” as well as assumed definitions of who is “American.” We encourage applications from a broad range of musical perspectives, and we are committed to supporting projects that represent a diversity of creative approaches, ethnicities, races, genders, and perspectives.

Artists who are interested in applying are encouraged to attend our application information sessions on August 24 and 25. Hosted by ACF Program Director Brian Dowdy and Executive Director Loki Karuna, these live sessions will walk potential applicants through the online application process and share successful applications from previous winners.

Applications are due by 11:59 PM CT on Monday, October 12. For more information, visit the McKnight Composer Fellowship program page on our website.

Please note: we will not be inviting applications for the McKnight Visiting Composer Residency this year. 2027 Residencies will be curated as part of ACF’s Recomposing America initiative.

ABOUT AMERICAN COMPOSERS FORUM

ACF’s mission is to support and advocate for individuals and groups creating music today by demonstrating the vitality and relevance of their art. We do this by empowering composers, modeling creative partnerships, and advocating for them through storytelling and connections. Working with an ecosystem of artists, programmers, presenters, teachers, funders, and audiences, we frame all of our work with a commitment to racial equity, believing that creating a fairer world for artists benefits all of us.

Founded in 1973 by composers Libby Larsen and Stephen Paulus as the Minnesota Composers Forum, the organization continues to invest in its Minnesota home while connecting artists and advocates across the United States, its territories, and beyond. ACF frames our work with a focus on racial equity and includes within that scope, but does not limit it to: diverse gender identities, musical approaches and perspectives, religions, ages, (dis)abilities, cultures, backgrounds, sexual orientations, and broad definitions of “American.” Visit www.composersforum.org for more information.

ABOUT THE MCKNIGHT FOUNDATION

The McKnight Foundation, a Minnesota-based family foundation, advances a more just, creative, and abundant future where people and planet thrive. Established in 1953, the McKnight Foundation is deeply committed to advancing climate solutions in the Midwest; building an equitable and inclusive Minnesota; and supporting the arts and culture in Minnesota, neuroscience, and global food systems.

ABOUT THE MCKNIGHT ARTIST & CULTURE BEARER FELLOWSHIPS

Founded on the belief that Minnesota thrives when its artists and culture bearers thrive, the McKnight Foundation’s arts and culture program is one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the country. Support for individual working Minnesota artists and culture bearers has been a cornerstone of the program since it began in 1982. The McKnight Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowships Program provides annual, unrestricted cash awards to outstanding mid-career Minnesota artists in 15 different creative disciplines. Program partner organizations administer the fellowships and structure them to respond to the unique challenges of different disciplines. Currently, the foundation contributes about $3 million per year to its statewide fellowships. For more information, visit mcknight.org/artistfellowships.