McKnight Fellowships for Choreographers: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)


What is the McKnight Fellowships for Choreographers Program?

This program, administered by The Cowles Center, awards three unrestricted $25,000 fellowships to beyond-emerging Minnesota choreographers each year. McKnight Fellowships have been awarded to choreographers since 1982. The program is one of 15 fellowship programs funded by the McKnight Foundation of Minneapolis, Minnesota. For more information on McKnight Artist and Culture Bearer Fellowships in other programs, and areas go to The McKnight Foundation website.

 How do I apply for a Fellowship?

Specific directions are available on this website under How to Apply.

There are two parts to the application process:
           (1) Submit the online Intent to Apply form and notify us of your upcoming performances using the Calendar form by September 6th, 2023, at 11:59pm CST.
           (2) Final applications will be due on March 20, 2024, at 3:00 pm CST. Check our website after mid-January 2023 for specific information on how to submit your final application. 

advice for applicants:

Read all the guidelines, eligibility information, and FAQs thoroughly.
Watch the videos about the program and application.
Attend a webinar in the late summer and/or spring.
Start your application materials early and Apply Early! No late applications will be accepted.
Contact us with any questions you may have at mckfell@thecowlescenter.org

I've missed the Intent to Apply deadline.  Can I still submit a final application?

Applicants who miss the Intent to Apply deadline may still submit a final application. However, the Intent to Apply is a very important step. Without an Intent to Apply you will not receive deadline reminders or important updates about the application. Also, the panel will not view your live performances. The only exception to this is those first-time applicants who missed the Intent to Apply deadline us at McKFell@cowlescenter.org for assistance.

What does the panel look for?

The panel looks for artists who are beyond the emerging stages, whose work is of exceptional artistic merit, and who have created a substantial body of work that's been built over time. In other words, these awards are not intended for a choreographer at the beginning stage of their career. This is also not for a single work of merit. Above all, the panel looks for artistic excellence in a choreographer's body of work. The panel also takes into account whether an applicant has received a prior McKnight Fellowship at the $25,000 level in any discipline – including how recently and how many prior awards since 2001. The fellowship program also holds a core value of diversity, equity, and inclusion.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE “BEYOND EMERGING OR EARLY PRACTICE"?

Artists who are beyond the emerging stage of their career will have a history of sustained and committed choreographic work over a period of at least five years, demonstrated through performances, creative work, or other work in the field. Applicants should have a substantial body of work, created over a period of time. These accomplishments must be from outside of accredited degree programs (i.e. student performances will not count towards the five-year period of committed artistic work.) The panel will review the application and assess whether an artist is clearly beyond the emerging stage of their career.

What are the eligibility requirements?

Applicants must be residents of Minnesota (or in a Native Nation that shares this geography) for at least one year before applying and fellows must remain in residence in Minnesota during the fellowship year or forfeit the award.  Applicants may not be enrolled full-time in an academic program. Recipients of 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 McKnight Fellowships in any field are not eligible. Applicants to this program may not apply to any other McKnight Artist Fellowship program in the same year. Applicants cannot be employed by The Cowles Center or the McKnight Foundation, nor be a partner or immediate family members to any employee. Applicants must have a social security number or other federal tax number to be awarded. Please see complete information on eligibility requirements in the guidelines

I don’t have a Minnesota Driver’s License. Is there something else I can use in my application to SHOW THAT I am a Minnesota resident?

The final application asks you to upload a copy of your Minnesota driver’s license Minnesota State Identification card or tribal ID indicating a geographic location in Minnesota or a Native Nation that shares this geography. If you do not have any of those documents, contact the program staff at McKFell@thecowlescenter.org for other supporting documents to use.

Here is a list of other ways to show you’re from MN:

  • Tribal identification card

  • Vehicle registration

  • Property tax statement for at least one year

  • Vehicle insurance card for at least one year

  • Paychecks stubs with MN address for at least one year

  • Rental or lease agreement at least one year

  • Utility statement in your name at MN address at least one year

What are the Fellowships for?

The McKnight Artist and Culture Bearer Fellowships are unrestricted funds available to choreographers to support their work and artistry. The fellowships are not project grants, and the panel does not evaluate project proposals as criteria in the selection process. A fellowship can help an artist set aside periods for study, reflection, experimentation, and exploration, take advantage of an opportunity, or work on a new project. Applicants cannot be enrolled in school full-time during the fellowship year and the fellowships’ funds may not be used to support work associated with a degree program. However, fellowships may be used to support professional study. If you have further questions about what the fellowship may support, please contact us at McKfell@thecowlescenter.org

What is the new professional development opportunity for Choreographer Fellows?

Choreography Fellows are offered a two-part opportunity.

Fellows will be invited to New York City during The Association for Performing Arts Presenters’ (APAP) annual conference. The goal of this fully supported opportunity is to establish dance contacts and connections outside of Minnesota, develop artist oral presentations and materials, connect with other Fellows, and immerse artists in the performances available during this period. An APAP experience in NYC allows Fellows to broaden their exposure and foster connections, perhaps setting the stage for future opportunities.  

The second part of the opportunity offers funds for artistic research and development, nicknamed “People & Space.”  It is designed so that fellows may tailor an opportunity suited to their needs that involves collaborators (People) rehearsal/performance/research space rental (Space) or a combination of the two. These funds must be utilized during the Fellowship year. This opportunity was created in response to a series of conversations with choreographers, who expressed a great need for funds in these areas.

Who reviews the applications?

A panel of three National and one Minnesota-based artist and /or arts administrators reviews applications and selects fellows. Panelists are knowledgeable about choreography and the panel represents a range of backgrounds and areas of expertise. Panelists will have a demonstrated experience with dance artists or choreographers or a background as a practitioner in the dance field. The panel makeup changes each year. The panel is confidential and the names of panelists are not revealed until after the selection process is complete. See below for list of past panelists.

HOW ARE THE WORK SAMPLES VIEWED?

The work samples for each applicant are viewed during the panel process on a large screen in a darkened room. Panelists are required to watch the video in its entirety before they arrive at the panel meeting, and may use a computer or laptop screen for this viewing.

Will panelists see my work live? how do I let the panel know about my live performances?

Yes. We have one Mn-based panelist, who attends live performances throughout the season. The panelist is available to see work prior to the Intent to Apply deadline and continues to see work until early May 2024. 

To keep the panel informed of your upcoming performances (if you have submitted an Intent to Apply) fill out the online Calendar Form for each of your performances this season. Fill out this form when you submit your Intent to Apply, letting us know about your performances for the entire season. You may add performances throughout the year. If you have performances in the summertime prior to the Intent to Apply deadline, you may fill out the Calendar Form even before you submit the Intent to Apply form.

While we cannot guarantee that every performance will be seen, we recommend submitting your performance information as early as possible (minimum 4-6 weeks suggested.)

What should I say in my artist Narrative?

Since the fellowship is an award for an artist and a body of work (rather than a specific project), we suggest using the artist narrative to help the panel get a better idea of who you are as an artist. The statement may take any direction: you may choose to write about your background, or the development of your work, or your particular interests as an artist or your future direction, or anything else pertinent to your art. The narrative is also a space to explain your work in terms of the application criteria and to help define the artistic excellence in your work. Do keep in mind that the artist narrative is not a project proposal. You may, if you wish, talk about your plans for the fellowship year, but it is not required. If you are a prior awardee at the $25,000 level, we encourage you to address your artistic development since your last award and why another fellowship would be time for you now.

The artist narrative is a maximum of 7,000 characters including spaces. It is recommended that you cut and paste your text from an outside document into the application. Note: All formatting will be lost when you paste to SlideRoom. We suggest putting all titles in quotation marks.

are there any examples of artist narratives I can read?

Select the button below to view past examples of past artist narratives submitted by Fellows. (Please respect the written work of artists who have given permission for us to post their statements. Text and information from these documents belong to the artists, and may not be used in any way.)

If you do not have any of those documents, contact the program staff at. McKFell@thecowlescenter.org for other supporting documents to use.

May I use the same artist narrative I submitted last year?

Yes, if it is still pertinent. The panel make-up changes every year, so each panel is seeing application materials anew.

For my work sample should I show only recent work or older work or both?

It is best to submit work that covers a span of time, as it is important to demonstrate a body of work created over a period of time. If you have previously received a McKnight Artist and Culture Bearers Fellowship, your work sample must only include work since your last award. All applicants must submit samples from at least three but not more than 6 different public performances. Your work samples do not need to be in chronological order. 

All applicants must submit samples from at least three different works. Your work samples do not need to be in chronological order. We strongly encourage you to use on-screen titles at the start of each excerpt for easy identification.

What should I include in my resume and what format should I use?

Your resume is extremely useful in determining whether you are a beyond early practice artist. It should reflect your choreography performances and other recognition in the field, as well as give information about your training and related work. It is extremely important to include clear dates with all listings.

The resume will be uploaded as a pdf file, 2 pages maximum, 12 pt font or larger.

If you would like assistance tailoring your resume for the fellowship application, please contact us at McKfell@thecowlescenter.org.

are there any resume examples I can read?

Select the button below to view past examples of resumes from Fellows. (Text and information from these documents belong to the artists, and may not be used in any way.)

I've received a fellowship in the previous year.  Can I reapply?

You may reapply if you received a McKnight Artist Fellowship and Culture Bearers in 2018 or earlier.  You are not eligible to apply if you received a McKnight fellowship in any category in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023. To check prior awards, go here.

I have questions about the fellowship that isn't covered here.  Who can I contact?

Email McKfell@thecowlescenter.org to reach Program Director Dana Kassel and Program Assistant Colin Edwards.

Can I get assistance with my application?

Yes, email us at McKfell@thecowlescenter.org with your questions or to schedule a phone appointment. In the weeks prior to the final deadline, Program Director Dana Kassel is available at specified times for individual in-person appointments to review application materials and answer your questions. Many applicants have found this assistance with application materials to be very helpful.

All those who submitted an Intent to Apply in September are welcome to request help. First-time applicants who may have missed the Intent to Apply deadline are also eligible for application assistance.

Can I get feedback about my application after selections are made?

Yes, we encourage you to make a phone appointment to receive feedback from the Program Director. If you do not receive a fellowship, the notification email you receive will contain information on how to make a phone appointment for panel comments.

How can I be sure to receive information about the fellowship program next year?

If you previously applied for a dancer or choreographer fellowship you will automatically be added to our email list to receive ongoing news and information about the McKnight Dancer and Choreographer Fellowship programs. Also, anyone may sign up for our McKnight Fellowship email list using the form at the bottom of our web pages.

I am a McKnight fellow. Where can I find the banner logo for my own use?

You can download a zip file of banner logos here to download the zip file.

Are there any websites offering more information about other grants or services for choreographers?

While not an exhaustive list, here are a few websites dancers and choreographers may find useful:

  • For more information about the McKnight Foundation Arts and Culture Program, go to their website.

  • Creative Capital’s website includes helpful tips on preparing an artist’s statement or narrative.

  • Metro Regional Arts Council (MRAC) offers several grants that may be of interest to dancers and choreographers, including the Next Step Fund, funded by the McKnight Foundation, which provides project grants of up to $5,000 to professional artists in any discipline for the purpose of career development and artistic achievement.

  • Minnesota State Arts Board offers grants to Minnesota artists.

  • New England Foundation for the Arts (NEFA) is a grantmaker, program initiator, aggregator of resources, and builder of creative partnerships among artists, arts organizations, and funders.

  • National Performance Network (NPN) supports national touring and the creation of new work for select artists.

  • Jerome Foundation and Fellowships support Minnesota or New York City-based choreographers, early in their careers, creating bold, innovative, and risk-taking new work that challenges conventional artistic forms.

  • www.mnartists.org has information about Midwestern artists, opportunities, and topics of interest to artists.

  • Springboard for the Arts is based in St. Paul, Minnesota, and offers various services for artists and non-profit arts organizations. They offer occasional workshops about writing artist statements and have computers on-site that artists can use to apply to this program and others. They also provide fellowships given individually to three (3) BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) and Native artists each year.

  • Dance/USA is a national service organization for professional dance artists.

Past Fellowship Selection Panelists:

2023 Panel:
Michele Byrd-McPhee: Executive Director, Ladies of Hip-Hop (Jersey City, NJ)
Silvana Cardell: Cardell Dance Theater, Artistic Director (Philadelphia, PA)
Dante Puleio: Artistic Director / Limón Dance Company (New York, NY)
Darrius Strong: Artistic Director, STRONGmovement (Burnsville, MN)

2022 Panel:
Stefanie Batten Bland: Choreographer & Movement Director (New York, NY)
Andrew Chiang: Executive Director, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company (New York, NY)
Adam W. McKinney: Co-Artistic Director, DNAWORKS (Fort Worth, TX)
Taja Will: Choreographer, Performer & Healing Justice Practitioner (Minneapolis, MN)

2021 Panel:
Adesola Osakalumi, Choreographer, NYTW (New York, NY)
Dianne McIntyre, Independent Choreographer (Columbus, OH)
Julie Warder, Choreographer/Dancer (Minneapolis, MN)
Phil Chan, Co-Founder, Final Bow for Yellowface (New York, NY)

2020 Panel:
Marc Bamuthi Joseph, Vice President, and Artistic Director, Social Impact at The Kennedy Center (Wash DC/Oakland, CA)
Megan Mayer, Choreographer (Minneapolis, MN)
Julie Nakagawa, Co-founder and Artistic Director, DanceWorks Chicago (IL)
Deneane Richburg, Choreographer, Brownbody (St. Paul, MN)

2019 Panel:
Charles O. Anderson​, Choreographer/Head of Dance UT Austin (Austin, TX) ​
Yolanda Cesta Cursach​, Independent Curator, Artistic Director of High Concept Labs (Chicago, IL) ​
Sam Kim​, Choreographer (New York, NY) ​
Kathleen Spehar​, Former Director, The O'Shaughnessy at St. Catherine University (St. Paul, MN) ​

2018 Panel:
Gabri Christa, Filmmaker, Choreographer and Assistant Professor, Barnard College of Columbia University, Department of Dance (New York, NY)
Miriam Must, Cofounder, Red Eye Theater (Minneapolis, MN)
Lionel Popkin, Choreographer and Professor, UCLA (Los Angeles,CA)
Sixto Wagan, Director, Center for Art & Social Engagement, University of Houston (Houston, TX)

2016 Panel:
Victoria Marks, Choreographer (Los Angeles, CA)
Donna Uchizono, Artistic Director, Donna Uchizono Company (New York, NY)
Onye Ozuzu, Dean, School of Fine and Performing Arts Columbia College Chicago (Chicago, IL)
Martin Wechsler, Director of Programming, The Joyce Theater (New York, NY)

2015 Panel:
John Malashock (New York, NY)
Julia Rhoads (Chicago, IL)
Keith Thompson (Chicago, IL)
Laurie Laurie (New York, NY)

2014 Panel:
Janet Lilly (Greensboro, NC)
David Shimotakahara (Akron, OH)
Sarah Slipper (Portland, OR)
Eva Yaa Asantewaa (New York, NY)

2013 Panel:
Sara Coffey ( Burlington, VT)
Mark Dendy (New York, NY)
George Lugg (Valencia, CA)
Elizabeth Streb (New York, NY)

2012 Panel:
Dayna Hansen ( Seattle, WA)
Jodee Nimerichter (Durham, NC)
Roell Schmidt (Chicago, IL)
Sydney Skybetter (New York, NY)

From 2002 - 2011 the panel consisted of 3-4 members from Minnesota, and 1-2 from out-of-state. Those from out-of-state will be specified.

2011 Panel:
Cynthia Oliver ( Urbana-Champaign, IL )
Lisa First
Judith Howard
Daniel Stark
Michael Engel

2010 Panel:
Chris Yon ( Ames, IA )
Claire Porter
( Newark, NJ )
Colleen Callahan
Tamara Kangas Erickson
Michele Steinwald

2009 Panel:
Deborah Jowitt ( New York, NY )
Mary Easter
David Moore
Sally Rousse
Chris Schlichting

2008 Panel:
Zvi Gotheiner ( New York, NY )
Rebecca Katz Harwood
( Duluth, MN )
Steve Busa
Linda Andrews
Georgia Stevens

2007 Panel:
Dean Moss ( New York, NY )
Wynn Fricke
John Munger
Barry Leon
Krista Langberg

2006 Panel:
Tere O'Connor ( New York, NY )
Leigh Dillard
( St. Cloud, MN )
Uri Sands
( St.Paul, MN )
Diane Aldis
Marcela Lorca

2005 Panel:
Claire Bataille ( Chicago, IL )
Gretchen Cohenour ( Winona, MN )
Carl Flink
Ben Heywood
Laurie Van Wieren

2004 Panel:
Douglas Nielsen ( Los Angeles, CA )
Paula Mann
Shawn McConneloug
Linda Shapiro
David White

2003 Panel:
Geol Leonard Weirs ( San Francisco, CA )
Mary Claire Lowy O'Brien
Lisa First
Ronald Tice
Tom Kanthak

2002 Panel:
Jan Erkert ( Chicago, IL )
Judith Brin Ingber
Danial Shapiro
Robin Stiehm
Roxane Wallace