Minnesota Humanities Center

2025-2027 Minnesota Musicians Grants

Through the State of Minnesota’s 2025-2027 biennial legislation and the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (Legacy), the Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) will award $400,000 in Minnesota Musicians grants (less allowable administrative fee) organizations for design, award, and monitoring of the grant program.

Questions?

Have questions about this RFP, applying in English is a barrier, or you need a reasonable accommodation to submit your application? Contact Lizzie Neary, MHC Grants Administrator.

lizzie@mnhum.org

Minnesota Musicians Grant Snapshot

RFP Posted:Thursday, July 30, 2026
Open To: Individual Minnesota Musicians
Deadline to Request MHC Feedback:
(MHC will complete one proposal review per application)		Friday, September 4, 2026
Application Deadline:
6:00 p.m. CDT Friday, September 11, 2026
Applications Under Review:Monday, September 14, 2026
Grant Term:
May 31, 2027
Grant Reporting:
June 30, 2027
View Complete RFP

Grant Goals

For individual Minnesota Musicians to create, produce, and perform music throughout the state.

An applicant that receives funding under this grant opportunity must do at least one of the following:

  • Preserve and honor the cultural heritage of Minnesota,
  • Provide education and student outreach in cultural diversity,
  • Support the development of culturally diverse humanities programming, including arts programming, or
  • Empower communities in building identity and culture, including preserving and honoring communities whose Indigenous cultures are endangered or disappearing.

Grant Information Sessions

MHC will host two virtual information sessions for applicants to ask additional questions about this grant opportunity and/or technical questions related to the application process.

Information sessions will be conducted via Zoom.

Session #1
August 6, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Register Now

Session #2
August 7, 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Register Now

Funding Availability

MHC will award $400,000 in Minnesota Musician grants (less allowable administrative fee) to MHC for design, award, and monitoring of the grant program, to individual Minnesota Musicians.

Minnesota Musician grants to individuals are to be used to create, produce, and perform music in Minnesota.

You may request any amount of funding up to $50,000. If you request $50,000 or more, you will need to submit financial documentation with your application.

Legacy funding may only be used for new work or new additions to existing work. Funding must supplement and not substitute existing funding sources or be used as reimbursement of expenses for existing projects.

Applicants must provide free or at reduced cost for admission to attendees for performances.

Applicants must submit a biography describing their experience creating, producing, and/or performing music.

Applicants must submit two letters of recommendation from a person or organization to which the applicant has recently created, produced, or performed music.

Eligibility

An applicant is eligible to apply for funding:

  • If the applicant is in good standing with the IRS,
  • If the applicant is in good standing with MHC, and
  • If the applicant is working to:
    • Preserve and honor the cultural heritage of Minnesota,
    • Provide education and student outreach in cultural diversity,
    • Support the development of culturally diverse humanities programming, including arts programming, by individuals, or
    • Empower communities in building identity and culture, including preserving and honoring communities whose Indigenous cultures are endangered or disappearing.

MHC uses the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search to confirm compliance. If you are unsure whether you are in good standing with MHC, please contact Grants Administrator Lizzie Neary at lizzie@mnhum.org. MHC may grant an exemption to an organization that is not in good standing if the applicant uses a fiscal agent.

Additional financial information may be requested based on review and assessment of applications submitted.

Selection Criteria & Weight
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All eligible applications will be evaluated using a 75-point scale using the following scoring factors and weight criteria:

Project Details (30)

  • How well does the project (select as many as applicable but at least one of the following):
    • Amplify arts, culture, and heritage in Minnesota,
    • Increase the depth and breadth of Minnesota who will connect with arts, culture, and heritage, and
    • Provided opportunities for individuals in Minnesota to enjoy arts and culture for free or at reduced cost to allow access for economically disadvantaged individuals and families in Minnesota to attend Legacy programs.
  • Is the primary purpose of the project to create, produce, and/or perform music in Minnesota? Please clearly describe which components (creation, production, performance) are included.
    • The timeliness of the response.
    • How was the community involved in developing the application?
    • How will the goals of the project be accomplished?
    • Are itemized expenses detailed, clear, and consistent with Legacy?
    • Is the budget in MHC’s required template?
  • Please describe the audience you are attempting to reach with the project.
  • If applicable, please describe how your music or performance is unique to the cultural heritage within Minnesota or is from a cultural community residing within Minnesota.
  • If applicable, please describe how your music or performance supports greater understanding of the history of Minnesota or understanding of the cultural communities residing within Minnesota.
  • Where in Minnesota will the project take place and/or performances occur? Please be as specific as possible.
  • Please identify past success in creating, producing, or performing music.

Community Connection & Audience Engagement (25)

  • How does the project connect to and serve its intended audience or community?
  • What steps will be taken to engage the audience or community in meaningful ways (e.g., performances, outreach, accessibility, or participation)?
  • If applicable, how is the project informed by or reflective of a specific cultural community or cultural tradition in Minnesota?
  • If applicable, describe any partnerships, collaborations, or community relationships that will support the success of the project?

Project Management (20)

  • Is the project plan clear and feasible within the proposed timeline?
  • How well does the applicant demonstrate the ability to correctly and consistently track and report expenses and hours?
  • Are the project goals clear, and is there a realistic plan to achieve them?
  • Does the budget submitted align with the proposed project?
  • Are the itemized expenses detailed, clear and consistent with Legacy?
  • If applicable, how will compliance with Minnesota competitive bid laws be ensured?
Application Content
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Applicants must submit a complete application to be considered. Applications contain the following sections:

  • Application Contact Information
  • Project Overview
  • Project Alignment
  • Project Narrative
  • Project Budget
  • Biography
  • Two letters of recommendation

Please don’t submit any additional materials other than what is requested, such as binders or photos, in the application. Unrequested materials will not be reviewed.
Funding Requirements
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Please make sure that your proposal only seeks funding for events and activities that are allowable. Minnesota law does not allow Legacy funding to be used for:

  • Reimburse costs incurred before the grant agreement is fully signed,
  • Start, match, add, support or complete any type of fundraiser,
  • Support a benefit(s),
  • Support investments (such as improvements, construction, property, or equipment),
  • Purchase promotional giveaway items such as t-shirts, keychains,
  • Fund out-of-state expenses, such as out-of-state travel and lodging and contractor expenses,
  • Pay for expenses or other institutional overhead costs that are not directly related to the activities outlined in the project proposal.
  • Food expenses when expenses are either (i) incurred during the planning phase of the project, or (ii) are not essential to the final program.
  • Wages, salary, and benefits of staff for the time that such individuals are not working on the project.
Additional Information
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How to Apply

Applicants are encouraged to apply online through MHC’s grants management system.

We recommend reviewing the full application (PDF) prior to logging on and setting up an account. You may save your initial application entries and subsequently return to the document to finish your application.

The application will require a budget submission using MHC’s budget template.

Complete Grant Application

Technical Support

If you have any questions about this RFP, applying in English is a barrier, or you need a reasonable accommodation to submit your application, please contact:

Lizzie Neary
MHC Grants Administrator
987 Ivy Avenue East
St. Paul, MN 55016
lizzie@mnhum.org
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