McKnight Choreographer Fellowships Grant

McKnight Choreographer Fellowships Grant

Status: ACTIVE
Funder: Cowles Center
Amount: US $25,000
Last Updated: February 18, 2026

Summary

The McKnight Choreographer Fellowships provide three $25,000 awards annually to Minnesota choreographers, offering unrestricted support for artistic development. This fellowship encourages study, experimentation, and new project exploration. It aims to recognize experienced artists who have made significant contributions to their field. In addition to financial support, fellows receive career development resources and can attend a four-day retreat in Minnesota, along with funding for collaborative opportunities in New York City.

Overview

McKnight Choreographer Fellowships The McKnight Fellowships for Choreographers annually awards three fellowships of $25,000 each to Minnesota choreographers. 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 and are invited to attend a four-day retreat in rural Minnesota. Fellows are also offered funds for research and development that can be used to visit New York City during APAP and engage collaborators and spaces in their creative process. 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 and culture bearers and that artists cannot make these contributions without unfettered creative time. Awards are made in 15 disciplines through 13 arts organizations. Fellowship Benefits Fellows receive additional support for career development and are invited to attend a four-day retreat in rural Minnesota. Funds are available to visit New York City during the APAP conference and engage collaborators and spaces for their creative process. Please see FAQs for additional guidelines.

Eligibility

You can learn more about this opportunity by visiting the funder's website. Artists who are eligible for these fellowships: Have or maintain Minnesota (or in a Native Nation that shares this geography) residency for at least one year prior to application and for the duration of the fellowship year. Proof of residency will be required.Are clearly 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 choreographic is required. (This number has changed for the 2024 application year. Learn more here.)Can only apply to one McKnight Artist Fellowship 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 any past McKnight Artist Fellowship.Are not staff, board, or immediate family of the McKnight Foundation or The Cowles Center.Are not enrolled full-time in an academic program.Applicants must have a social security number or other federal tax number to be awarded.Individual choreographers and choreographic collaborators are eligible to apply.A choreographer whose principal body of work has been created in collaboration is not able to apply as an individual unless they have a significant body of independent work in their recent career. Instead, they are encouraged to apply as a collaborative group. Work samples and resume should clearly support this.