Welcome to the 2026 McKnight Visual Artist Fellowships application.     

Deadline: Friday, March 20 at noon (CT) 

PLEASE READ the Application Guidelines (download here) prior to starting your application. 

The MCAD-administered fellowship program uses an independent jury of three arts professionals to competitively award six fellowships. The fellowship runs for two years, June 1, 2026–May 31, 2028, and includes:   

• $25,000 unrestricted fellowship funding may be used to enhance any aspect of the artist’s life, such as overhead costs, the purchase of materials, travel, and other living expenses. (2026 payment in June, 2027 payment in January)
• $3,500 professional development funds may be used for publications, equipment/material purchases, travel expenses, workshops, etc. You can request it at any time during your fellowship. Send fellowship staff your receipts, and we will reimburse you.
• $500 of professional documentation of artwork.
• Access to MCAD’s facilities, library, and ½ off tuition for Continuing Education courses (one per semester). 
• 5 studio visits total. 4 from national critics/curators/arts professionals (selected by the cohort) that will meet with each fellow individually for a one-hour visit (2 in 2027 and 2 in 2028) and 1 individualized visit that the fellow selects from either a local curator or virtual visit.
• Participation in a 1–2 week artist residency at one of twenty partnering residency programs with the Artists Communities Alliance (ACA). 
• Eight hours of consulting time, support, and resources from Springboard for the Arts. 

INFORMATION SESSIONS AND ONE-ON-ONE MEETINGS 

Check out the info sessions to learn more about the application process.   

• Application Overview (with Program Director, Keisha Williams) 

• Work Samples, Statements, and Application Strategies (with 2025 McKnight fellow Laura Wennstrom) 

•  Learn more about the cohort experience with the 2022 McKnight Fellows:

Applicants are also welcome to schedule one-on-one meetings (via phone or Zoom) with the program director or fellowship coordinator before submitting their applications online. To schedule a meeting please email gallery@mcad.edu. In order to provide cohesive feedback, applicants must email the fellowship staff their application materials (ten work samples, resume, artist statement) one day prior to their scheduled meeting. Please note we will not be able to schedule one-on-one meetings the week prior to the deadline (March 16–20). 

For further information, contact:                   

Keisha Williams, Program Director                    

612.874.3667                    

gallery@mcad.edu                       

Melanie Pankau, Fellowship Coordinator                   

612.874.3803                    

gallery@mcad.edu