Early-Career Artist Project Grant

Grant Amount: Two grants, $8,000 each

Grant-Funded Period: January 1 – November 30, 2027
2026 Applications close October 18, 2026

Grant Intention: This grant supports the creation of a new public art project by a MN-based early-career artist.

Forecast Equity Commitment

We work to provide access to our grant applications for a diverse group of artists, who are working in all career stages and ranges of public art practices and media. We place particular emphasis on supporting and amplifying the artistic work of BIPOC and Native artists, LGBTQIA+ artists, womxn artists, immigrant artists, artists from rural communities, and artists with disabilities. It is our value that our applicants, panelists, and grantees reflect the racial, cultural, and geographic diversity of our state, as well as the stories and perspectives of the artists and communities we serve.

We know that there is no “one-size-fits-all” language when it comes to talking about race and identity and that this language is always evolving. If you relate to what we’ve described here, please apply!

Grant Overview

Early-Career Artist Project Grants support the creation of a temporary or permanent public artwork anywhere in the state of Minnesota by an early-career, Minnesota-based artist.

Projects may be additionally supported by public or nonprofit agencies, or through in-kind sources, however, private commissions are not eligible.

The project site must be secured/uploaded by the application deadline (written documentation of site approval is required for this grant).

What is Public Art? Broadly speaking, public art is artwork in the public realm, regardless of whether it is situated on public or private property, or whether it is supported through public or private funding. It can range from temporary to permanent work, murals to sculptures, interventions, performances, storytelling, iron pours, sound and light projects, dance and spoken word. It is free and accessible to all members of a community.
What is an Early-Career Artist? Early career grants are is supported by Jerome Foundation, and here is how the Jerome Foundation defines “Early career”:
- are in the early stages of their creative development with 2-10 years of generative experience, and:
- have a focused direction and goals, even while still developing their artistic “voice”
- have yet to be substantially celebrated within their field, the media, funding circles or the public at large
- are vocational (as opposed to avocational, academic, amateur or educational) artists
Artists who have been in the field for longer than 10 years (excluding any time in a degree-granting program; as a dancer in work created by others; remounting the work of other choreographers; or time away from working as an artist due to circumstances–e.g., having children, caring for family members, long-term illness, etc.) are generally not eligible, even if they feel under-recognized.
Age is not a determining factor. Career stage is assessed by the cumulative number of years an artist has been generating their own work. Mid-career or established artists shifting from one artistic discipline to another will not be considered early career. For example, a composer with a substantial career in music who is now moving into film will not be considered early career.
The Foundation has defined the 2–10 year span recognizing that some artists may experience enormous success and move past early career status well before their 5th year or 10th year. We know that the number of opportunities afforded to artists may differ significantly based on discipline, race/ethnicity, class, gender, physical ability, and geography among other factors. Consequently, some artists may be past their 10th year and still be on the spectrum of early career status due to taking time out of active artistic practice for school or other circumstances. Our use of early career is an attempt to be clearer about the kinds of artists we are supporting. We realize the lack of a rigid definition leaves room for interpretation, but we have embraced this flexibility out of our value around diversity and in recognition of the many variables that impact artists’ careers.

Application Process

Applications will only be accepted via the Submittable online application system (https://forecastpublicart.submittable.com/submit) during the grant application period. Submissions for 2027 grants close on October 18, 2026.
Complete applications include the following: brief proposal overview (limit 75 words), proposal (limit 500 words), community connection (250 words), early-career status (250 words), career impact (250 words), diversity of lived experience and perspective (250 words), resume (limit 2 pages), site permission, budget, work samples, and work sample information. You are welcome to submit your application as a video. Instructions are included at the Submittable link above.
- Budget template available to download
Please contact the Forecast Grants team if you need help submitting your application in English at jenk@forecastpublicart.org

These grants are made possible through generous funding from Jerome Foundation.

A P P L Y

Application Materials

See our Selection Criteria and visit our Public Artist Grants page for additional information regarding proposals and the selection process.

Project Overview (limit 75 words):
Brief summary of the proposed project. This will be used for reference during the panel review process and for public announcements if the application is awarded funding.

Project Proposal (limit 500 words):
Describe your proposed project and its implementation. What are you investigating? Who are your collaborators/partners? How will you implement it?

Community Benefit (limit 250 words):
How do you define community? What is your connection to that community? How do you plan to engage the community in your project, and how will they benefit from your project?

Diversity of Lived Experience and Perspective (limit 250 words):
Forecast seeks to fund a diverse group of artists working in a range of public art practices and media. It is our value that our applicants, panelists, and grantees reflect the racial, cultural, gender, artistic, and geographic diversity of our state, and the stories and perspectives of the artists and communities we serve. Describe your lived experience and perspective as an artist working on public art.

Early-Career Status (limit 250 words):
Describe your status as an early-career artist.

Impact on Artistic Development/Career (limit 250 words):
How will this project support or impact your artistic development/career?

Resume (limit 2 pages):

Upload a document (2 pages max) that lists your personal and professional experience.

If the applicant is a collective or artist team, upload a resume for each member (2 page max per person). Name file using the format LastName_Resume

Project Budget

Budget should include written documentation of any additional support, cash or in-kind, which has been received or is committed (not pending/applied for) upon application. You can use your own template or download this one to use.

Written Documentation of Site Approval

Provide documentation that you have permission to create your project in the desired location. This is NOT a letter or email of support from an entity you are working with to do the project. This must be a letter or email stating that you have permission from the owner of the location where you want to do the project.

Work Samples (limit 5 images):

Work samples are accepted for a range of media and are based on a limit of 5 images. Please see detailed work sample submission requirements below.

Applicants are allowed up to 5 images. Applicants choosing to submit sample types other than images should use the following guidelines:

1 image = 30 seconds of video/audio = half a page of written work (poetry, prose, fiction, etc.)
Select examples of allowed work samples include:
- 5 images OR
- 3 images and video/audio samples up to 1 minute OR
- 5 minutes of video/audio samples OR
- 2 pages of written work samples and 1 image, etc.
If submitting images:
- Limit of 5 images, if images are the only work sample type submitted.
If submitting video/audio:
- Limit of 2.5 minutes total of video/audio if video/audio samples are the only work sample types submitted. Samples may be split into multiple video/audio files, however, the total length must stay within work sample allowances.
- Video/Audio samples must be edited to fit within length limits. Forecast will not accept video/audio samples that exceed the total length limits stated above.
- Edit and organize video/audio samples mindfully – do note that panelists may not watch video/audio submissions in their entirety. Keeping individual video/audio samples to a 30 second-2 minute limit will make it more likely that jurors will experience the particular sections you would most like them to review.
If submitting written work samples:
- Limit of 2.5 written pages if written work is the only work sample type submitted.
- PDF documents are preferred.
- Edit and format mindfully – do note that panelists may skim longer text submissions.

Formats other than those listed above are discouraged, but may be accepted on a case-by-case basis, if approved prior to our application deadline. Email grants@forecastpublicart.org with any questions.

Work Sample Information:
When uploading materials to Submittable, you will be asked to share basic project information, including: title, year, medium, location, temporary / permanent (or duration for performative work), and dimensions (if applicable). Applicants may also include brief additional information as necessary.

Eligibility Requirements

Forecast’s grants support public art and public art-related activities. Forecast defines public art broadly to support a range of processes, formats, and contexts. See definition of public art below.
Applicants must be in the appropriate career stage for the opportunity for which they apply – either mid-career or early-career.
Applicants for the McKnight-funded Mid-Career Project and Professional Development Grants must be mid-career artists. Applicants for the Jerome-funded Early-Career Artist Research + Development and Early-Career Artist Project grants must be early-career artists.
An artist may only apply for one grant from Forecast during an annual grant cycle.
Applicant must be based in Minnesota, having physically lived in the state for 12 of the past 24 months, and remain a resident throughout the project period.
Applicant’s project must be original and not duplicate previous work. Forecast grants do not support remounts or reinstallations, projects that begin prior to the start of the grant year, or projects that are ongoing.
No ticket sales or fees may be charged; all events and installations must be freely accessible.
Organizations and Forecast Public Art staff, Board, Consulting Partners and Jury members are not eligible.
Students in K-12 educational programs or enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs are not eligible.
Projects may be additionally supported by public or nonprofit agencies, or through in-kind sources, however, private commissions are not eligible.
Former grantees with outstanding final reports cannot be considered for additional Forecast grant funding until all final reports have been submitted and approved.
An artist is not eligible to receive a project grant from Forecast in two consecutive years. An artist can receive a Research + Development grant in consecutive years, or a Research + Development or Professional Development grant followed by a Project Grant.

Selection Criteria

Quality & Clarity of Proposal:
The strength of the proposed idea, clear consideration of the scope of work proposed and the applicant’s ability to see it through to completion.

Value of Project to Artist’s Development:
Applicants for this opportunity must be early-career artists with potential for development, innovation, deepened practice, or new growth.

Benefit to the Community:
This criterion can take many forms from enjoyment to beautification, civic engagement, filling a need or meaningful collaboration. Community can be defined in a variety of ways and applicants should speak to how their work will benefit their defined community.

Quality of Work Samples:
This criterion relates both the quality of the work shared as well as the degree to which the work samples support the artist’s ability to complete the proposed work.

Resources

Visit our YouTube channel for videos on grantee projects and info session recordings.
Visit our legacy Grantee Vimeo Channel to watch short documentaries highlighting previously funded projects.
Read our Grant Tips to strengthen your application.
Check out the FAQs on our public artist grants page for information about proposed work, Forecast’s grant program and our selection process.

Staff Help

contact jenk@forecastpublicart.org with any questions

CONTACT US

2380 Wycliff Street
SUITE 200
ST. PAUL, MN 55114

(651) 641-1128

INFO@FORECAST
PUBLICART.ORG