The Knight Fund

Knight Foundation Cultural Opportunity Fund

The Knight Foundation Cultural Opportunity Fund provides artists and organizations the opportunity to receive a partial or full subsidy towards renting the Ordway’s Concert Hall. Intended for those who could not otherwise afford the cost of an evening’s rental, the Fund offers a $5,000 subsidy to artists/organizations whose annual budget is less than $500,000, or a $2,500 subsidy to larger groups.

How it works

Develop an idea for a concert, film screening, author reading, or stage production—you name it, so long as it’s venue-appropriate—and submit an application online. All submissions will be reviewed for feasibility, and evaluated by a panel of judges who will be looking for clearly articulated outreach strategies—you are responsible for attracting people to your event!—as well as productions that help fulfill the organization’s mission, or advance the artist’s career.

Knight Fund Guidelines

Who is eligible?

• Non-profit organizations and individual artists who book the Concert Hall for a rental engagement.

• Priority is given to proposals from emerging and mid-range arts organizations/individual artists, with an emphasis on cultural and artistic diversity.

• Applicants must be based in Minnesota to be eligible.

How do I apply?

• Proposals will be accepted mid-October–February annually, and may be submitted online.

• Proposals will be reviewed by a committee of Arts Partnership staff, and awardees notified in mid-March.

Frequently asked questions

What performance dates are available for Knight Fund recipients?

Ordway and Knight Fund recipients will work together to find dates that are mutually agreeable once the awards have been made.

How many dates will be available to me in the Concert Hall if I receive funding?

The Concert Hall is a busy space. It is unlikely that more than one (1) consecutive date will be available to rent unless the rental is occurring in July or August. Rehearsals in the space are most often restricted to same day only.

Does the Concert Hall have marley?

No, it does not.

What type of event is the Concert Hall ideally suited for?

The Concert Hall is perfectly suited to classical and popular music, family events, lectures and small corporate events. It does not have fly space, marley, wing space or side lights.

When will award notifications be made?

Notifications to all applicants will be sent by mid-March annually for awards to be used the following Fiscal Year.

How much supporting or backstage space does the Concert Hall have?

Use of the Concert Hall includes a Green Room (capacity of 40 – 50 people), 4-dressing rooms, and 2-changing rooms (capacity of ~15 people each) in the lower level of the facility.