ST. PAUL, MINN. –– Starting April 20, the Knight Arts Challenge St. Paul will be seeking the best ideas for the arts in St. Paul. Anyone—whether they are an individual, organization or a business—may apply to win a share of $1.5 million for arts and culture projects that engage and enrich the city. The deadline for the challenge, a project of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, is May 18.
Knight Foundation will host one-hour community Q&A sessions April 27–29 in four St. Paul and Minneapolis locations to answer applicants’ questions. Knight staff and winners from 2014, the first year of the challenge in St. Paul, will be on hand to offer tips on creating a standout application and to provide information on the challenge timeline. Though all projects must either take place in or benefit St. Paul, Minneapolis-based artists and organizations are encouraged to apply.
The Community Q&As will take place:
· Monday, April 27, 6:00 p.m., Open Book, 1011 Washington Ave., Minneapolis
· Tuesday, April 28, 8:30 a.m., The Dubliner, 2162 University Ave. W, St. Paul
· Tuesday, April 28, 6 p.m., Rondo Library, 461 N. Dale St., St. Paul
· Wednesday, April 29, 8:30 a.m., Walker West, 760 Selby Ave., St. Paul
“Whether you are an individual artist, small ensemble or arts organization, are based in Minneapolis or St. Paul, or applied last year or not, we want to hear from you,” said Dennis Scholl, Knight Foundation’s vice president for arts. “Our goal is to seek out the best grassroots ideas for enriching St. Paul through the arts.”
The challenge is open to anyone who has a great idea for the arts. The simple application, which will be available at KnightArts.org, asks for a project description in just 150 words and is designed to encourage submissions from a broad range of applicants.
There are only three rules for the challenge:
1) The idea must be about the arts;
2) The project must take place in or benefit St. Paul;
3) The grant recipients must find funds to match Knight’s commitment.
Last year, the St. Paul challenge drew 868 applications, with 42 winners.
“We were thrilled and surprised by the community’s innovative and authentically St. Paul ideas,” said Polly Talen, St. Paul program director for Knight Foundation.
The 42 winners sharing $1.365 million included: a collective of artists designing a light show projected onto a steam plume of the landmark St. Paul power plant; the Center for Hmong Arts and Talent, for highlighting the best of Hmong design; Workhorse Coffee Bar, creating the smallest museum in St. Paul in a vintage fire-hose cabinet; Mu Performing Arts, for an original play about 21st century immigrant experiences; Zeitgeist, melding the musical and culinary arts by pairing foods with new musical compositions; and Stahl Construction Co., restoring historic company signs that distinguish Lowertown.
The challenge is part of an $8 million investment in the arts in St. Paul that Knight Foundation announced in early 2014. In addition to the three-year challenge, Knight Foundation has contributed $3.5 million to five of St. Paul’s anchor arts institutions: The Arts Partnership, Penumbra Theatre, Springboard for the Arts, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and TU Dance.
For updates, follow @knightarts and #knightarts on Twitter, @knightfdn on Instagram and Knight Foundation on Facebook.
About the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation
Knight Foundation supports transformational ideas that promote quality journalism, advance media innovation, engage communities and foster the arts. We believe that democracy thrives when people and communities are informed and engaged. For more, visit knightfoundation.org.
Contacts:
Kathy Graves, Parenteau Graves, 612-242-3184, [email protected]
Marika Lynch, Knight Foundation communications, 305-908-2677, [email protected]