2025 McKnight Printmaking Fellowship at Highpoint

The specific intent of the McKnight Printmaking Fellowship is to recognize and support artists  living and working in Minnesota who are considered beyond emerging status and can demonstrate a sustained level of accomplishment, commitment, and artistic excellence in the field of printmaking.

Two selected artists will receive:

• An unrestricted $25,000 award
• One year access to Highpoint’s state-of-the-art print shop
• Technical support from the fellowship coordinator
• Professional development opportunities
• Storage space for materials, use of inks, and standard shop supplies
• $500 credit toward Highpoint printmaking classes and/or individual instruction
• Group discussions and critiques with local and national experts in the field
• McKnight Printmakers' exhibition, reception, and public event at Highpoint
• Professional digital documentation of exhibition
• Opportunity to participate in a fully-funded artist residency through a partnership with the Artist Communities Alliance following the fellowship year
• Highpoint supporting membership

Eligibility Requirements:

• This program is open to Minnesota-based printmakers, including artists living outside the metro area
• Have or maintain MN residency for at least one year prior to application and for the duration of the fellowship 
• Are beyond emerging with a body of work that demonstrates a sustained level of accomplishment, commitment, and excellence in the field of printmaking
• Have not been awarded a McKnight Artist Fellowship in any artistic discipline in the last five years
• Demonstrate growth and ongoing artistry since their most recent McKnight Artist Fellowship (if applicable)
• Are not staff, board, or immediate family of the McKnight Foundation or fellowship administrative partners.
• Are not enrolled full-time in an academic program
• Artists must demonstrate accomplishment in the artistic discipline of printmaking
• Applicant may only apply to one McKnight Artist Fellowship per year (in any/all artistic disciplines).

Questions about eligibility or anything else? Contact josh@highpointprintmaking.org

Fellowship Timeline: 

Tuesday, October 29 @ 7:30pm - info session (join here)

Sunday, November 24 @11:59pm - application deadline

mid-January - finalist studio visits

Tuesday, January 21 - applicant notification

Selection Process:

A panel of two arts professionals will review all applications remotely and select a group of finalists. In mid January, finalists will host the jurors for an in-person studio visit, after which the jurors will make their final decision. 

The initial evaluation of applications will be done using a rubric. The rubric criteria are as follows, criteria 1-4 will be numerically scored, criteria 5 is yes/no.

1. The applicant provides strong evidence of sustained experience, commitment, and contribution to the printmaking

    artform 

2. The application demonstrates a high level of artistic proficiency conceptually

3. The application demonstrates a high level of artistic proficiency technically

4. The accomplishments and recognition of the applicant are commensurate with a career stage that is beyond

    emerging

5. If applicant has previously received a McKnight Fellowship, their application demonstrates a new body of work and

    growth in their creative practice since that fellowship award

The scoring rubric alone does not determine who the fellowship will be awarded to, rather it is simply a tool for the panelists and also helps us provide more concrete feedback to the applicants.

Much more about the selection process as well as helpful information about preparing your application can be found in the FAQ here.

About the McKnight Arts and Culture bearer's Program: Founded on the belief that Minnesota thrives when its artists and culture bearers thrive, the McKnight Foundation’s arts and culture program is one of the oldest and largest of its kind in the country. Support for individual working Minnesota artists and culture bearers has been a cornerstone of the program since it began in 1982. The McKnight Artist & Culture Bearer Fellowships Program provides annual, unrestricted cash awards to outstanding mid-career Minnesota artists in 15 different creative disciplines. Program partner organizations administer the fellowships and structure them to respond to the unique challenges of different disciplines. Currently, the foundation contributes about $2.8 million per year to its statewide fellowships. For more information, visit mcknight.org/artistfellowships.