Calling all Minnesota artists!

Saint Paul, Minnesota (November 16, 2022) — The Arts Partnership, a nonprofit collaboration between the Minnesota Opera, the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts, The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra, and Schubert Club, is now accepting proposals for its Knight Foundation Cultural Opportunity Fund. Founded in 2015, the fund provides both full and partial grants that allow Minnesota artists to rent the Ordway Concert Hall.

“Minnesota is blessed with so many amazing artists and artistic organizations of all sizes. We are excited to help cover the rental costs at the Concert Hall through this unique program. We thank the Knight Foundation for their vision in providing the essential funding for this effort. The Arts Partnership is deeply committed to accessibility for audiences and artists,” said Jon Limbacher, president of The Arts Partnership and managing director and president of The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra.

In 2014, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation endowed $1 million to create the Knight Foundation Cultural Opportunity Fund—intended for those who could not otherwise afford to rent the Concert Hall for an evening performance. Since then, 53 artists have received more than $219,000 in support to host concerts, film screenings, stage productions and author readings in the Concert Hall. The fund offers a $5,000 subsidy to artists and organizations whose annual budget is less than $500,000, or a $2,500 subsidy to larger groups.

Submissions will be evaluated by a panel of judges looking for clearly articulated outreach strategies and productions that help fulfill the organization’s mission or advance the artist’s career. Learn more about the fund and eligibility here. The online application portal will close Feb. 1, 2023, and award recipients will be notified in mid-March.

Published
November 16, 2022