The Next Step Fund, administered by the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC) with support from the McKnight Foundation, offers grants of up to $6,000 to individual artists in Minnesota. The program aims to help artists in any discipline overcome career barriers, sustain their practice, or leverage opportunities that propel their careers forward. The fund supports a range of projects tailored to the applicant's career stage, emphasizing alignment with their artistic goals. Approximately $160,000 is available for the FY25 grant cycle, with awards anticipated for about 26 applicants.

Eligible applicants must be individual artists residing in Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, or Washington counties for at least six months before the application deadline of January 27, 2025. Artists must be at least 18 years old, not enrolled in degree programs specific to their art form, and able to provide work samples of original creative output. The fund does not support organizations, group projects, or artists currently holding open Next Step Fund grants.

Projects may include professional development, acquisition of tools or equipment, research, new creative work production, business planning, or portfolio documentation. Activities must begin after June 25, 2025, and align with the applicant’s goals. Expenses like artist compensation, contracted services, accessibility improvements, and travel are eligible, while fundraising, lobbying, or educational tuition are not. All expenses must occur within the designated project timeline.

Applications are submitted online through Submittable and include personal information, narrative responses, a budget plan, and work samples. The narrative sections focus on the artist’s vision, accomplishments, goals, and the specific project for which funding is sought. Applications are evaluated by a panel based on "Artist & Goals" and "Project Design" criteria, with a maximum score of 30 points. Work samples play a crucial role in demonstrating the artist's discipline and alignment with project objectives.

Key dates include informational sessions, the application deadline of January 27, 2025, at 11:59 PM CST, and notification of awards by June 25, 2025. Successful applicants must submit a W-9 form to receive payment and comply with reporting requirements to document their project outcomes. Accessibility and translation support are available upon request. Artists are encouraged to contact the program director, Masami Kawazato, for guidance on eligibility or application preparation.