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 2025 Creative Individuals Program Overview and Application Instructions—All applicants should read this document thoroughly before beginning online application.

Application deadline

April 5, 2024, before 4:30 p.m.

New for FY 2025
There will be one application deadline for Creative Individuals in FY 2025.

When will funds be awarded?

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 2025: Creative Individuals, Arts Experiences, Arts Education, or Cultural Expression.

Additional eligibility requirements are included in the FY 2025 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 2025 Creative Individuals Information Session and Q&A with Program Officers
Recording | Download PowerPoint

Learn more about the FY 2025 Creative Individuals grant program. This virtual information session provides details about the program purpose, eligibility, and application process.


FY 2025 Grant Programs Overview
The Arts Board hosted two virtual sessions giving a high-level overview of the grant programs offered for individuals in fiscal year 2025. Potential applicants may wish to review the recording of either of these sessions to help determine which is the best fit for their work. Note that the program specific information session linked above will provide a more in-depth understanding of the Creative Individuals grant program for potential applicants.

FY 2025 Grant Programs Overview for Individuals– Recording | Download PowerPoint

If you have questions about the technical aspects of the online application form, or about how to submit the online forms, please send an e-mail message to:
Chris Berry, grants management systems administrator
Apply.Arts@state.mn.us
(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.

• Signing your contract-DocuSign Tutorial
• Contract Amendment Instructions
• FY 2024 Program Overview and Application Instructions