mid-career project grants

Grant-Funded Period: January 1 – November 30, 2026

Grant Intention: This grant supports the creation of new, publicly accessible, temporary or permanent artwork anywhere in the state of Minnesota by a Minnesota-based mid-career public artist.

Grant Overview

This grant supports the creation of new, publicly accessible, temporary or permanent artwork anywhere in the state of Minnesota by a Minnesota-based mid-career public artist. Projects may be in any form or discipline, including performance, dance, storytelling, photography, film, sculpture, painting, and more.

Projects may be additionally supported by public or nonprofit agencies, or through in-kind sources, however, private commissions are not eligible.

• What is Public Art? Broadly speaking, public art is artwork in the public realm, regardless of whether it is situated on public or private property, or whether it is supported through public or private funding. It can range from temporary to permanent work, murals to sculptures, interventions, performances, storytelling, iron pours, sound and light projects, dance and spoken word. It is free and accessible to all members of a community.
• What is a Mid-Career Artist? A mid-career artist is an artist who has been actively creating and exhibiting their work for at least ten years. They have established a reputation in the art world, have a larger body of work, and may exhibit their work regionally, nationally, or internationally. Mid-career artists may also have received some kind of recognition from the art world, such as through public presentations, magazine publications, online commentary, or industry acknowledgement. Other criteria for mid-career artists include having numerous solo art shows and collectors both nationally and internationally. Age is not a determining factor. Career stage is assessed by the cumulative number of years an artist has been generating their own work. Mid-career or established artists shifting from one artistic discipline to another will still be considered mid-career. For example, a composer with a substantial career in music who is now moving into sculpture will be considered mid-career.