Submit Applications for LRAC Career Development Grant Program (US)

Individual artists in the LRAC nine-county region may apply in all disciplines, including literary, music, performance, and visual arts disciplines.

Funding Information

• The Career Development Grant awards up to $2,000.

Eligible Projects

• Training: fees and expenses to attend a workshop or master class or direct payment to work one on one with a professional in your field.
• Production or Presentation: expenses for your visual art show preparations, portfolio production, music production, video production, editorial assistance, development of promotional brochure, online and social media promotion, etc.
• Supplies: supplies and materials for the completion or production of new work.
• Equipment: specific equipment that would be needed to create your new work. Arts-related computer software is eligible.
• Services: fees related to venue, site or equipment rental, or other services provided by other professionals or services to accomplish your new work.
• Creative Time and Travel: expenses for time to create new work and/or travel to study or create new work.

Ineligible Projects 

• You may not ask for funding to pay for:
  • Tuition or materials for college or university credit.
  • Projects that have received Minnesota State Arts Board funding.
  • Routine completion of work in progress. Your project must be new work with a new expanded focus or audience.
  • Curriculum plans, teaching materials, or teaching programs for classes, workshops, or trainings, regardless of the location to be presented (public schools or private studios).
  • Translation or editing of materials that is not a literary work or translation or editing of someone else’s literary work; it must be your literary work.
  • Expenses or debts incurred before the grant request is approved. No money should be spent before the Career Development Grant Project Start Date.
  • Religious socialization of the audience or participants such as a worship service, bible study, denominational hymn, altar cloth, etc. Projects may be spiritual in content without a specific religious indoctrination focus.

Eligibility Criteria

• Are you a practicing artist, dancer, singer, musician, actor, performer, etc. or any other art form?
• Have you lived in the LRAC nine county region for at least six months? (Becker, Clay, Douglas, Grant, Otter Tail, Pope, Stevens, Traverse, and Wilkin counties).
• Are you 18 years or older?
• Are you a United States citizen or do you have permanent resident alien status?
• Are you submitting online your complete and accurate application with all required supporting documents and work samples?
• If all your answers are yes, then you are eligible to apply for the grant.

Review Criteria

• Grants requests will be reviewed on the basis of the following three criteria, with artistic quality being the most significant:
  • Overall excellence of the artwork, and demonstration of exceptional talent.
  • The project’s contribution to the artist’s professional growth.
  • Evidence of serious professional commitment.

For more information, visit LRAC.