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 2026 Creative Individuals Program Overview and Application Instructions—All applicants should read this document thoroughly before beginning an online application.
Application deadline
March 7, 2025, before 4:30 p.m.
When will funds be awarded?
Grant awards will be approved at the November 2025 board meeting. The grant period for these awards will be January – December 2026. All funded activities must take place within the grant period.
Who can apply?
- 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 may submit an application in only one of the following programs in FY 2026: Creative Individuals, Arts Experiences, Arts Education, or Cultural Expression.
An individual who received a FY 2025 Creative Individuals grant cannot apply for a FY 2026 Creative Individuals grant.
Additional eligibility requirements are included in the FY 2026 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 2026 Creative Individuals Information Session and Q&A with Program Officers
Wednesday, January 29
12:00 – 1:00 p.m.
Learn more about the FY 2026 Creative Individuals grant program. This virtual information session provides details about the program purpose, eligibility, and application process. There will be time at the end of the session for a live Q&A with the program officer.
For information on how to join the session, visit the Information Sessions web page
If you have questions or need assistance
If you have questions about the content of the application form or narrative, please contact the program officer team:
Jenny Dodgson, Jamie Marshall, Adam Wiltgen
CreativeIndividuals@arts.state.mn.us
(651) 539-2670
If you have questions about the technical aspects of the online application forms, or questions about electronic submission, please e-mail the Arts Board at:
Apply.Arts@state.mn.us
Tom Miller, WebGrants administrator
(651) 539-2656
Chris Berry, grants management systems administrator
(651) 539-2668
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
The Arts Board offers accommodations, such as alternate format materials, transcription, and other technical assistance, upon request. Grant application deadlines are not able to be extended for any reason. To ensure we are able to provide you access, please make your accommodation request as soon as possible, and no less than two weeks prior to a grant application deadline.
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.
Grantee reports and amendments
The following links provide information and instructions regarding final reports and related material required from Arts Board grantees.