FEE: Free to apply

Artist Resources & Relief: Minnesota

In response to ongoing community disruption and its impacts on artists and creative workers across Minnesota, this evolving resource list brings together emergency relief funds, creative business recovery support, calls for artist-led community projects, mutual aid networks, toolkits, and legal resources.

Compiled by Springboard for the Arts in collaboration with arts organizations and community partners statewide, these resources are intended to support artists through immediate challenges and longer-term healing, recovery, and connection. Offerings include emergency and small business relief, opportunities for community-based creative action, mutual aid and solidarity networks, training resources, and practical toolkits.

This list will continue to be updated as new resources become available.

FEE: Free— Registration required

Creative Power, Civic Purpose:
How Artists Strengthen Democracy

Six-Part Virtual Series | 2026

Creative Power, Civic Purpose is a six-part virtual series exploring how artists and culture bearers strengthen civic health, deepen democratic participation, and help renew the civic fabric of communities nationwide. Grounded in civic health frameworks and national conversations around democratic renewal, the series combines field-framing dialogue with practical learning for artists, cultural leaders, civic partners, funders, and community practitioners.

Across six sessions, speakers and facilitators examine the role of arts and culture in civic infrastructure, public understanding of systems, belonging and trust, artist–government collaboration, and funding creative civic work. Registration provides access to all sessions, including calendar holds, Zoom links, updates, and recordings.

Dates & Times (all sessions):
Thursdays, 12:00–1:30 PM (CT)

• Feb 26, 2026

• Mar 26, 2026

• May 28, 2026

• June 25, 2026

• Sept 24, 2026

• Oct 29, 2026

Format: Virtual
Registration: Single registration covers the full series; individual sessions also available

FEE: Free to apply

CALL FOR ARTISTS
Metro Transit and the Metropolitan Council

Artists Wanted!

Muralists, illustrators, graphic designers, typographers, photographers—and more—are invited to join one of the largest public art programs in the Upper Midwest. Metro Transit and the Metropolitan Council are expanding their roster of pre-qualified artists for paid public art projects across the transit system, from station walls to bus and train exteriors.

The artist roster is the primary resource project managers and planners use to find artists. Signing up is free at metrotransit.org/artist-roster-form

FEE: Free to apply

Minnesota State Arts Board Grant
FY 2027 Arts Experiences

Grant Opportunity for Individuals and Organizations

Application materials are now available for the Arts Experiences grant program. This pilot program supports individuals and organizations in providing meaningful arts experiences for Minnesotans within their communities. Funds may be used for a variety of arts projects such as creating and/or presenting concerts, plays, tours, exhibitions, arts festivals, public art, or other kinds of activities that provide Minnesotans opportunities to engage in arts activities that are instilled into community or public life.

Applications must be submitted before 4:30 p.m. on May 1, 2026.

Details, including full program guidelines, more details on who is eligible to apply, and resources for applicants can be found on the Arts Experiences program page. https://www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/arts-experiences.htm

A free, virtual information session will be offered on Tuesday, March 31, 2026, from 12:00 – 1:00 p.m

FEE: Free to apply

Blandin Foundation: Small Communities Grants

Deadline: Letter of Inquiry due Thursday, April 17, 2026
Location: Rural Minnesota

The Blandin Foundation is now accepting Letters of Inquiry for its Small Communities Grant Program, supporting rural Minnesota communities—especially those with populations under 5,000.

This program prioritizes funding for projects that strengthen rural communities through:

• Planning

• Implementation

• Capacity Building

Projects should support positive economic, physical, and social change in rural communities and may include community development, beautification, leadership engagement, partnerships, workforce capacity, and more.

Timeline:

• Letter of Inquiry Opens: April 1, 2026

• Letter of Inquiry Closes: April 17, 2026

• Proposal Opens: April 27, 2026

• Proposal Closes: May 15, 2026

• Award Notifications: June 19, 2026

Eligibility: Statewide rural nonprofit organizations

More information & application details:
https://blandinfoundation.org/programs/grants/

FEE: Free to apply

Blandin Foundation: Rural Placemaking Grants

Deadline: Letter of Inquiry due Thursday, April 17, 2026
Location: Rural Minnesota

The Blandin Foundation is accepting applications for Rural Placemaking Grants, which support projects that help rural residents feel more connected, invested, and proud of where they live.

Placemaking projects may include:

• Community-centered design

• Public art and cultural activities

• Gathering spaces and public amenities

• Community beautification and revitalization

• Arts and cultural engagement initiatives

Funding is available in three categories:

• Capacity Building

• Planning

• Implementation

Projects should demonstrate how they will increase civic engagement, community pride, arts visibility, or local capacity for community development.

Timeline:

• Letter of Inquiry Opens: April 1, 2026

• Letter of Inquiry Closes: April 17, 2026

• Proposal Opens: April 27, 2026

• Proposal Closes: May 15, 2026

• Award Notifications: June 19, 2026

Eligibility: Statewide rural nonprofit organizations

More information & application details:
https://blandinfoundation.org/programs/grants/

FEE: Free to apply

Blandin Foundation: Community Wealth Building Grants

Deadline: Letter of Inquiry due Thursday, April 17, 2026
Location: Rural Minnesota

The Blandin Foundation is now accepting Letters of Inquiry for its Community Wealth Building Grants, which support projects that strengthen healthy rural communities by investing in local financial, cultural, social, and workforce assets.

This grant program supports work related to:

• Affordable housing and housing stability

• Community-based economic development

• Workforce and talent development

• Equitable access to capital

• Community-level wealth building strategies

The program is designed to help rural communities and Native Nations build long-term economic opportunity while reducing disparities tied to place, race, and class.

Timeline:

• Letter of Inquiry Opens: April 1, 2026

• Letter of Inquiry Closes: April 17, 2026

• Proposal Opens: April 27, 2026

• Proposal Closes: May 15, 2026

• Award Notifications: June 19, 2026

Eligibility: Statewide rural nonprofit organizations

More information & application details:
https://blandinfoundation.org/programs/grants/

FEE: Free to apply

Call for Artists: Joyful World Mural Park 2026

Deadline: May 18, 2026 at 8:00 PM CDT
Location: Minnesota State Fair, Saint Paul, MN

The Minnesota State Fair and Forecast Public Art are seeking four muralists to create new murals for the 2026 Joyful World Mural Park.

Selected artists will paint their murals on-site during the 2026 Minnesota State Fair as part of a public art experience that invites fairgoers to watch artists at work and engage with a wide range of creative styles. This year’s theme, “Joyful World,” invites artists to imagine and depict a world they want to live in through welcoming, vibrant, and family-friendly work.

Eligibility & Details:

• Open to artists 18+ who reside in Minnesota

• Four muralists will be selected

• Stipend: $4,500 (includes materials)

• Murals will be approximately 8' x 8'

• Artists must be available to paint on-site during the Fair: August 27 – September 6, 2026

• Previous Joyful World Mural Park artists are not eligible to apply again

Application Requirements:

• Responses to artist narrative questions

• Brief mural concept description

• Rough design sketch

• 2–4 examples of previous mural or large-scale paint-based work

Info Session:
April 25, 2026 at 11:00 AM CT (Zoom)

Apply:
bit.ly/JoyfulMuralPark

Questions may be directed to: tricia@forecastpublicart.org

FEE: Free to apply

Grant Opportunity for Individuals and Organizations: FY 2027 Cultural Expression

Application Deadline: Friday, June 5, 2026 by 4:30 p.m.
Info Session: Tuesday, May 5, 2026 | 12:00–1:00 p.m.
Location: Online

The Minnesota State Arts Board is now accepting applications for the FY 2027 Cultural Expression grant program. This pilot program supports arts activities that share, explore, preserve, pass on, express, or celebrate the culture of a community through traditional and contemporary art forms rooted in cultural traditions.

Eligible projects may include cultural festivals, performances, exhibitions, apprenticeships with master artists or culture bearers, documentation projects, and opportunities for community members to learn or practice traditional cultural art forms.

Application materials, eligibility details, program guidelines, and applicant resources are available here: https://www.arts.state.mn.us/grants/cultural-expression.htm

A free virtual information session will be held on Tuesday, May 5 from 12:00–1:00 p.m.