The McKnight Fellowship for Ceramic Artists, administered by the Northern Clay Center and funded by the McKnight Foundation, supports outstanding midcareer ceramic artists living and working in Minnesota. The program seeks to recognize artistic excellence across all methodologies, including functional, sculptural, and relational ceramic art forms.
For 2025, two $25,000 fellowships will be awarded. Fellowship funds may be used for a variety of activities, such as experimenting with new techniques, purchasing equipment or materials, collaborating with other artists, or pursuing educational, exhibition, or travel opportunities. Fellowship recipients are required to deliver a workshop and will be featured in a group exhibition hosted by the Northern Clay Center. The exhibition will also tour 3–5 locations across Minnesota and western Wisconsin and will be documented in a published catalogue.
Applications open on March 14, 2025, and are due by Friday, May 16, 2025, at 5 PM CT. Applicants are evaluated based on artistic excellence and professional achievement by a three-member panel, which for 2025 includes Tom Bartel, Sara Morris, and Amy Santoferraro.
Eligibility criteria include maintaining Minnesota residency for at least one year prior to application, midcareer status, non-enrollment in full-time academic programs, and no prior receipt of a McKnight Fellowship in any discipline within the last five years.
There is no application fee, but incomplete applications will not be reviewed. Artists must submit a combination of an artist statement, resume, image list, artwork images, and either physical work samples or additional detailed images.
