McKnight Fellowships for Dancers

The McKnight Fellowships for Dancers annually award three fellowships of $25,000 each to Minnesota dancers. The awards are unrestricted and can help an artist set aside periods of time for study, reflection, experimentation, and exploration; take advantage of an opportunity, or work on a new project.

The intent of the McKnight Artist and Culture Bearers Fellowship is to recognize and support Minnesota artists and culture bearers who are beyond early practice, have sustained experience in their discipline, and demonstrate exceptional accomplishments. In addition to the cash award, fellows receive additional support for career development, are invited to attend a four-day retreat in rural Minnesota, and are eligible to have an original solo work commissioned for an evening titled SOLO.

Support for individual artists has been a focus of the McKnight Foundation’s Arts and Culture program since its inception. The foundation recognizes that the arts cannot flourish or enhance community life without the ideas, energy, and drive of individual artists & culture bearers and that artists cannot make these contributions without unfettered creative time. Fellowship awards are made in 15 disciplines through 13 arts organizations and presenters.

AWARDS

Three unrestricted fellowships of $25,000 will be awarded. 

APPLICATION DEADLINES

The Intent to Apply step closed in September 2024.

Final Application: Wednesday, March 19th, 2025 at 3:00 pm CST

The full application will open in mid-January.

The final deadline is firm, the application site will close at exactly 3:00 pm CST on the deadline day.

Applicants will be notified of the decisions in early June 2025.

CRITERIA

Fellowships provide recognition and financial support for Minnesota dancers beyond the early practicing stage of their careers. The program is designed to award dancers who have sustained experience in their discipline and demonstrate exceptional accomplishment. Applicants are asked to demonstrate a substantial body of work over a period of time.

The intent of this program is to recognize and support dance artists living and working in Minnesota (or in a Native Nation that shares this geography) who demonstrate a sustained level of accomplishment and commitment. Artists should be part of and contributing to the creative, cultural and community fabric of Minnesota.

Resumé and application materials should indicate a history of sus­tained and committed dance work over a period of at least eight years, demonstrated through public performances and creative work. Accomplishments must be outside of accredited degree programs, i.e. student performances will not count towards the minimum eight-year period of committed dance work.

ELIGIBILITY

Artists who are eligible for these fellowships:

• Have or maintain Minnesota residency (or in a Native Nation that shares this geography) for at least one year prior to application and for the duration of the fellowship year. Proof of residency is required.
• Are beyond early practice, or the emerging stage of their career, with a body of work that demonstrates a sustained level of accomplishment and commitment. Applicants must demonstrate a substantial body of work, created over a period of time. A minimum of 8 years of committed dance work is required. (This number increased for the 2025 application year. Learn more here.)
• Can only apply to one McKnight Artist Fellowship program in any artistic discipline within a year.
• Have not been a recipient of a McKnight Artist Fellowship within any artistic discipline in the last five years (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024).
• Demonstrate growth and ongoing artistry since their most recent McKnight Fellowship.
• Are not staff, board, or immediate family of the McKnight Foundation or Artspace.
• Are not enrolled full-time in an academic program.
• Applicants must have a social security number or other US federal tax number to be awarded.

SELECTION PROCESS

A panel of two out-of-state and two Minnesota-based dance artists and administration will review applications and select fellowship recipients. As possible throughout the season, local panelists will view applicants’ live performances.

FELLOWSHIP BENEFITS: SOLO COMMISSIONING PROJECT

The fellowship program will fund a newly commissioned solo dance work for each selected dance fellow. These commissions will go to choreographers selected by each dancer fellow in consultation with the fellowship program. The new works, performed by the dancer fellows, will premiere on a joint showcase titled SOLO, presented within two years of the award date. The awarded dancer may not be the commissioned choreographer.

Fellows receive additional support for career development and are invited to attend a four-day retreat in rural Minnesota.