Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Grant

Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Grant is sponsored by McKnight Foundation (administered by Five Wings Arts Council). Supports enrolled tribal members or descendants residing in specified northern Minnesota counties for exhibition/performance costs, materials, equipment, educational opportunities (not academic credit), or career‑enhancing projects.

Services 4 — Five Wings Art Council Emergency Relief Program for Artists Thanks to the generosity of a coalition of Minnesota-based funders, the Five Wings Arts Council will offer a pilot year of Emergency Relief Funding to artists and creatives, ages 18 years and older, who live in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties, and the residents of the Leech Lake Tribal community.

Eligible applicants will be selected through a randomized selection process to receive a one-time award of $500. What emergencies are eligible for funding?

Healthcare emergencies, including medical debt Property loss emergencies, including theft, loss due to natural disasters, etc. Emergencies resulting from loss of employment, income, or food benefits Transportation emergencies (e.g., urgent car repairs, loss of access to reliable transport) To determine eligibility and for complete details, please review the Emergency Relief Program Guidelines prior to completing the application .

All applications are online and can be accessed by clicking here . Applications are accepted on a rolling basis. Eligible recipients will be randomly selected on a monthly basis on the Friday before the fourth Monday of each month.

Please contact the Five Wings office for questions. The Artists Emergency Relief Fund Network is stewarded by Springboard for the Arts and supported in part by F. R.

Bigelow Foundation, Jerome Foundation, McKnight Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, and Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation.

Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Grant Made possible with funding from the McKnight Foundation, the Anishinaabe Arts Initiative Grant awards up to $2,000 to artists who are enrolled tribal members and descendants residing in the following Minnesota counties: Becker, Beltrami, Cass , Clearwater, Hubbard, Itasca, Lake of the Woods, Mahnomen, or Roseau.

This grant offers funding for costs associated with the exhibition, performance, or production of a creative work, purchase of materials or equipment to create works of art, educational opportunities in the arts (excluding academic credit), and proposals for projects or opportunities to enhance the career of an individual artist.

This grant is administered by our partners at Region 2 Arts Council , and reviewed by the The AAI Advisory Council, comprised of Indigenous artists and arts appreciators from the regions served by the AAI grant. To determine eligibility and for complete details, please click here. The online application can be accessed by clicking here after the application opens.

Important Deadline Information: Application opens: January 1st, 2026 Applications due: March 1st, 2026 Grant Review by AAI Council: April 1st 2026 Earliest Project Start Date: April 15th 2026 Thanks to the generosity of the McKnight Foundation , the Five Wings Arts Council supports the development of artists who live in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties, and the Leech Lake Tribal Communities by providing funding support for projects and professional development.

Artists can apply for up to $3,000 to help complete a project focused on their individual artistic and/or professional development goals within their artistic discipline.

As a result of this grant funding, the artist will be able to achieve one or more of the following: Overcome a barrier to significant, long-term success, Professionalize or increase artistic output and quality, Strengthen artistry or art career skills and knowledge, Complete a project that marks a milestone in his/her career, Reach a new community or market.

To determine eligibility and for complete details, please review the Guidelines for Individual Artist Grants prior to completing the application. All applications are online and can be accessed by clicking here. Important Deadline Information: ALL FUNDS FOR OUR CURRENT FISCAL YEAR HAVE BEEN EXPENDED.

The Artist Support Grant will re-open for applications in July, 2026. In the meantime, find opportunities for artists on our Workshops Page , or check out artist grants available from the Minnesota State Arts Board . Ready to Register & Apply?

Click Here to Get Started! Contact Vicki Chepulis, Grants & Program Coordinator by email: vicki@fwac. org or by calling: 218-895-5660 (toll-free: 877-654-2166)