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Program Description
The Next Step Fund, funded by The McKnight Foundation*, provides project grants up to $5,000 to professional artists in any discipline for the purpose of career development and artistic achievement. Applicants may be at any stage of their career, but must demonstrate achievement in their artistic field and have a history of public presentation or community contribution. Successful projects will communicate a clearly defined set of activities that respond to a compelling challenge or opportunity for the individual applicant. MRAC will award approximately 30 Next Step grants in FY2012. Consequently, this will be a highly competitive program.
An ideal Next Step project is one that helps an artist:
- overcome a barrier to significant, long-term success;
- professionalize or increase artistic output and quality;
- complete a project that marks a significant milestone in their career;
- reach a new community or market.
How to apply
Next Step Fund grant applications will only be accepted through an online application process.
To apply, go to the online application site here: https://www.grantinterface.com/Common/LogOn.aspx?urlkey=mrac
Applicants must begin my setting up a user account. Click on the “Create New User” button at the link above. Once a user account is established, applicants can log on any time using their email and password to apply. For further instructions on how to use the online application site, please download and read the Next Step Fund grant guidelines.
Who is eligible for a Next Step Fund grant?
- Emerging, mid-career and established artists, working in any discipline, who have evidence of artistic excellence respective of their career stage.
- Applicants must have resided in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott or Washington County during the entire year prior to the deadline.
- Projects do NOT need to take place within the seven-county metro area, but the outcomes must be of benefit to the region. For example, an artist may seek funds to exhibit work outside of the region, but they must explain how doing so is also a benefit to the seven-county Twin Cities metro area.
- Applicants must be 18 years of age or older.
What does this program NOT fund?
- Projects being produced by an organization. This program provides support for the professional and artistic development of an artist independent from their organizational identity. For example, a choreographer may apply for an independent study, but not to produce or stage a work marketed as a production of their dance company. MRAC has other grant programs to fund arts projects of organizations.
- Fellowship support to sustain an established artist’s profession. There must be a clearly defined project that helps an artist take the “Next Step” in their career.
- Activities that engage in political lobbying, serve the religious socialization of participants, or discriminate against persons or groups.
Timeline
The Next Step Fund has one deadline in MRAC’s fiscal year. Applications must be submitted using on online form. For more information on the application process, including instructions on how to use the online software, please see the Next Step Fund guidelines.
MRAC will offer free application workshops approximately one-month prior to the deadline. These workshops will be posted on this page when they are scheduled. For further information, see the grant application workshops
page.
A select number of finalists will be chosen to submit work samples. Work samples will not be accepted as part of the initial grant application review. Please see the Next Step Fund grant guidelines for further explanation on work sample requirements.
*The McKnight Foundation's vision is to support an environment in which artists are valued leaders in our community, with access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed.
Application Materials
Click the links above to download the grant guidelines and form(s) in PDF format.
You must have the free Adobe Acrobat Reader or the commercial Adobe Acrobat
installed on your computer to view these files. Click
here to download Acrobat Reader. If you have trouble downloading or reading
these forms, call the MRAC office at 651-645-0402 and ask us to send you the
application materials by U.S. mail.
Read the instructions carefully before filling out the grant application.
You may fill out the grant application electronically by filling in the
fields and printing.
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