Change to 8 year minimum for McKnight Dancer and Choreographer Fellowship applications

In 2025 the McKnight Fellowship Program for Dancers and the McKnight Fellowship Program for Choreographers updated the required minimum number of years of demonstrated committed artistic work from 5 years to 8 years. This work must take place outside of any academic program. This change has been under consideration for some time for several reasons:

• 8 years is more reflective of artists who are clearly beyond early practice or the early stage of their career which is the aim of the McKnight Fellowship award.

• Most other McKnight Artist and Culture Bearer Fellowship Programs require at least 8 years of committed work and this discipline did not warrant a lesser amount.

• The vast majority of applicants are already meeting this minimum.

All applicants should clearly demonstrate that they meet this eligibility guideline in their materials, especially within the resume listings.

These accomplishments must be from outside of accredited degree programs (i.e. performances by a college or university student for their academic program will not count towards the eight-year period of committed artistic work.)

If you have any questions about this requirement and change, please contact us at mcknightfellowships(at)springboardforthearts.org