Apply for MRAC Next Step Fund (United States)

Applicants may be at any stage in their career, but must be able to provide samples of their own artwork. Individual artists must have a primary residential address in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, or Washington county.

MRAC values artists at every stage in their development and in any artistic discipline. The Next Step Fund grant is designed for artists to propose a project that has the potential to help them overcome a barrier to success, sustain the continued success of their artistic career, and/or leverage an opportunity that could benefit their career in the future.

Funding Information

• Up to $6,000.

Project Eligibility

• Projects must outline strategies that will help the artist overcome barriers to success, sustain the continued success of their artistic career, and/or help them leverage an opportunity. Proposed projects will range from plans that propel an artist’s career forward, to projects designed to maintain an artist’s ability to create. MRAC values both ends of this spectrum and everything in between. Most importantly, projects should be right fitted to the career stage of the applicant, and in alignment with their stated goals.
• Individual artists may seek support for any of the following (or a combination of the following):
  • Support to learn new skills that adapt, transition or expand their creative process or artistic practice. For example, participation in a training, master class or workshop (enrollment in a degree or credited college/university program is not eligible).
  • Support to overcome a barrier to success, professionalize or increase artistic output and quality. For example, the acquisition of equipment to help an artist increase quality, diversify, or otherwise improve upon their artistic process or product.
  • Research, produce or present new creative work.
  • Support for development of a business plan, creation of promotional materials, and/or documentation of a creative portfolio.

Who is eligible to apply?

• Individuals must be all of the following:
  • Identify as an artist, working in any discipline, at any stage in their career, who have evidence of artistic output respective of their career stage.
  • Individual artists must be able to submit work samples of their own artwork. Artists should have had decision-making authority over the artwork depicted in the work samples.
  • Have a primary residential street address in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, or Washington county for at least the 6 months prior to the application deadline (July 27, 2024 – January 27, 2025) and continue to reside in this region for the entirety of the project period. Please note: projects do NOT need to take place within the sevencounty metro area or Minnesota, but applicants MUST reside in the seven-county metro area; P.O. Box addresses are not acceptable.
  • Be at least 18 years of age on the grant deadline date (January 27, 2025).
• The following applicants are not eligible for this grant program:
  • Organizations/Groups, LLCs or any other incorporated entity. Applicants must be individuals. Grants awards checks will not be made to businesses.
  • Individuals who do not have a social security number. (If you are awarded a Next Step Fund grant, you must submit an individual W-9 form with your personal social security number or ITIN. LLC and nonprofit EINs will not be accepted.)
  • Individuals who are under the age of 18 on the grant deadline date.
  • Individuals with primary residential addresses outside of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, or Washington county.
  • Individuals seeking to begin a career as an artist, or make a professional transition to the arts.
  • Individuals whose portfolio only reflects client or freelance work.
  • Artists currently enrolled in a degree or certification program in their respective art form, unless the applicant can demonstrate they maintain a career/practice as a professional artist outside of their educational program.
  • Creatives who cannot demonstrate a history of producing original artworks.

For more information, visit MRAC.