Best Grants for Visual Artists in Minnesota

Mid-career ceramic artists working in Minnesota can receive $25,000 McKnight Fellowships to advance their fine art practice, including experimentation, equipment, collaborations, education, exhibitions, or travel. Grants from Northern Clay Center support two artists annually with unrestricted funding plus a workshop, catalogue feature, and group exhibition touring Minnesota and western Wisconsin.

Grants from Arts Midwest help Minnesota visual and other arts organizations run arts-and-wellness projects by engaging professional artists or ensembles. Eligible 501(c)(3) nonprofits, hospitals, clinics, and tribal organizations in the Midwest can receive US $2,000 - US $15,000 for performances, workshops, creative aging, veteran arts programs, and related activities between December 2025 and June 2026.

Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in Minnesota and other Midwestern states can access funding through the Illinois Arts Council Agency’s GIG Fund to present public-facing arts projects. Grants of US $2,000 - US $15,000 support performances, exhibits, festivals, public art, and similar activities featuring professional artists and reaching underserved audiences, with a required 1:1 match.

Minnesota visual arts organizations and educational institutions can access funding through Windgate Charitable Trust to support contemporary craft and visual arts programs, equipment, and scholarships. Eligible projects include artist residencies, fellowships, K–12 visual art-integrated programs, and professional development for teachers and school leaders in the U.S., including Minnesota.

Nonprofit arts and cultural organizations in Minnesota can receive US $2,000 - US $15,000 to present professional artists and offer creative projects or educational events. Arts Midwest provides flexible support for touring or local artist fees, accessibility accommodations, marketing, and at least two public, educational, and accessible activities, including one reaching underserved audiences.

Minnesota artists, culture bearers, and arts organizations needing rapid support for creative projects or urgent needs can access flexible funding through the Resiliency Grant. East Central Regional Arts Council offers up to US $600 for equipment replacement, emergency travel, time-sensitive collaborations, or sudden opportunities like pop-up exhibitions and cultural gatherings, including online or in-person formats.

Mid-career visual artists in Minnesota can receive unrestricted funding and professional development support for their fine art practice, including painting, sculpture, photography, mixed media, film, video, and more. With a mission to support working artists, Minneapolis College of Art and Design administers McKnight Visual Artist Fellowships totaling US $28,000 over a two-year period.

Minnesota visual and other arts organizations, government units, fiscally sponsored groups, and individual artists can receive funding for community-based arts experiences such as exhibitions, public art, festivals, and other visual arts activities in Minnesota. With a mission to expand arts access, Minnesota State Arts Board provides $5,000 - $35,000 for meaningful arts programming embedded in community life.

Minnesota visual and fine artists and culture bearers can access funding via the Joyce Foundation’s Joyce Awards to support creative work advancing racial equity. Administered by United States Artists, this program offers up to US $140,000 total, including unrestricted artist support and a grant to a Great Lakes organization collaborating on the project.

Nonprofit arts organizations and eligible K–12 schools in southeastern Minnesota can apply for Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council’s Programming Grants, awarding US $5,000 for arts programming and touring artist presentations. Projects must focus on fine or visual arts, include a public component, and occur within the 11-county SEMAC region.

Visual artists, nonprofits, and institutions in Minnesota creating new public or nontraditional visual art commissions can apply for VIA Art Fund’s Artistic Production Grant, awarding US $25,000 - US $100,000 per project. Eligible projects emphasize artistic excellence, thought leadership, and strong public engagement, often presented outside traditional museum or gallery spaces.

American Indian and Alaska Native vocational, undergraduate, and graduate students in fine or visual arts fields can apply for Native Forward Scholars Fund’s Hillman Barnett Adkins Endowed Fund Scholarship; awards range from $100 to $30,000 per year. Eligible students in Minnesota studying studio arts, photography, film, fashion, or related disciplines at accredited U.S. institutions may benefit.

American Indian and Alaska Native female graduate students in fine and visual arts can receive need-based scholarship support for full-time study at accredited institutions, including those in Minnesota. Grants from Native Forward Scholars Fund help students in fields like crafts, performing arts, creative writing, and poetry who can document Tribal affiliation with a Tribal Eligibility Certificate.

U.S. college students in fine, visual, performing, or technical arts can receive scholarship support to continue full-time campus-based study, including those from Minnesota. UNICO Foundation provides $2,500 awards to two eligible students who meet GPA, citizenship, and residency-in-a-UNICO-chapter-state requirements through sponsorship from a local chapter, district governor, or the national office.

Nonprofits, fiscally sponsored groups, university departments, and individual visual artists can seek support for exhibitions, convenings, and scholarship related to the Thoma Foundation’s collection areas, including digital and media art. Carl and Marilynn Thoma Foundation funds projects across the U.S., with special interest in rural regions, which may include Minnesota-based visual arts initiatives.

Graduating high school seniors planning to major in music, visual arts, dance, or drama can use this scholarship to begin their higher education, including students who are visual artists in Minnesota. Focused on arts-focused college study, Communities Foundation of Oklahoma invites eligible students to apply if they meet the GPA and school residency requirements.

Women-identifying visual artists with environmental art projects in Minnesota and across the U.S. can receive up to US $20,000 to advance in-progress work with public engagement. Grants from New York Foundation for the Arts support projects led by individual artists that address ecological and social ethics through visual and fine art practices.

Minnesota college and graduate students in visual arts or music can receive scholarship support for BFA, BA in Studio Art, MFA, or music degree programs through the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee. Eligible applicants must study areas like painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramics, photography, or printmaking and maintain at least a 3.0 GPA.

The Jonathan and Barbara Silver Foundation offers a $20,000 grant for writers focusing on sculpture, encouraging diverse voices in this field. Eligible applicants must be U.S. citizens or permanent residents, or hold an O-1 visa, and have published work within the last five years. The grant aims to support fresh perspectives on the history and aesthetics of sculpture, promoting artistic growth and innovation. Applications are limited to one submission per individual, ensuring a fair opportunity for all.

The Jonathan and Barbara Silver Foundation offers a $20,000 grant annually to support sculptors and writers on sculpture, promoting creativity and artistic development. This grant is open to U.S. citizens and permanent residents, as well as O-1 Visa holders, who demonstrate a strong commitment to sculpture. Eligible expenses include materials, research, and living costs. The foundation values diversity and does not discriminate based on background, ensuring a wide range of applicants can apply.

Generally the Community Foundation's scholarships are awarded to applicants who have high financial need. Applicants with household income exceeding $100,000 are less likely to be awarded, but applying will allow you to be considered for targeted scholarships.

Mathilda & Carolyn Gallmeyer Scholarship

Open to students who are residents of Kent County for 5+ years, studying fine arts and with a minimum 2.75 GPA.

Graduating high school seniors pursuing instrumental music or art degrees and living in the Solomon Valley area may be eligible for this fine arts scholarship, which could interest visual arts students in Minnesota searching broadly. With a mission to enhance quality of life, Greater Salina Community Foundation supports future arts study through this award.

The Community Foundation of Western Massachusetts administers over 160 scholarships. Some of the funds help students from a particular school or area; others provide financial assistance to those pursuing a specific field of study; still others assist students that are most in need. Students who apply to the Scholarship program may be eligible for many of these funds. 

Scholarships are provided for one academic year and are not automatically renewed each year. You can reapply to our program every year you are going to attend college, and the application you submit that year will be considered for all scholarships for which you are eligible.

Edward A. and Shirley B. Livi Scholarship Fund

To support residents of Franklin, Hampden and Hampshire Counties who are pursuing fine or performing arts beyond their college freshman year.

Additional Guidelines

• Students can receive up to $3,000 in scholarships from the Community Foundation.
• Scholarship awards could impact the financial aid offered by a college, and students are advised to check with their college financial aid offices about this.
• Scholarships may be used to offset tuition, fees, room and board, and other items included as part of the cost for attending the institution. Some part and/or all the award could be considered taxable income. It is advisable students check with the college or tax accountant regarding this matter.

The Puffin Foundation's Environmental Artistic Activism Grant Program supports artists addressing environmental issues through diverse artistic genres such as film, music, and theater. Grants, typically around $1,750, fund projects that prioritize sustainability and innovative solutions to the climate crisis. Eligible applicants include U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and current DACA recipients. The foundation emphasizes projects that avoid contributing to environmental harm while fostering artistic expression and community engagement.

The WACF - New London Spicer Area Fund Grant supports community advancements through citizen participation and professional management. As a fund of the Willmar Area Community Foundation, it focuses on arts, healthy lifestyles, environmental sustainability, and collaborative initiatives. Eligible organizations include 501(c)(3) nonprofits, schools, and government entities, while it avoids funding individuals, political campaigns, and completed projects. The grant emphasizes diversity, inclusion, and equity in funded projects.

The MFA Fellowship, funded by the Dedalus Foundation, provides a $15,000 stipend to final-year students graduating from MFA programs in Painting and Sculpture in the U.S. Annually, four fellowships are awarded based on nominations from department chairpersons, allowing institutions to nominate two candidates each. Nominees must graduate in the following spring semester and submit application materials including work samples and a biographical statement. This initiative supports emerging artists in their professional development.

Minnesota visual and fine artists, musicians, and photography-focused art organizations can access funding through Puffin Foundation for creative projects in these genres. U.S. citizens, permanent residents, and DACA recipients may apply as individuals, nonprofits, or with a fiscal sponsor, with awards up to US $3,500 supporting projects often excluded from mainstream opportunities.