McKnight Fellowship for Printmakers

Two mid-career Minnesota printmakers who have demonstrated a sustained level of accomplishment, commitment, and artistic excellence will be selected as the 2020 McKnight Printmaking Fellows. Selected fellows will receive an unrestricted $25,000 award, access to Highpoint's state-of-the-art printshop, technical support from the fellowship coordinator, storage space for materials and use of inks and standard shop supplies, access to Highpoint classes, group discussions and critiques with local and national experts, a McKnight Printmakers' exhibition with public talk and reception at Highpoint, professional digital documentation of exhibited artwork, and Highpoint supporting membership.

Eligibility requirements include: Minnesota residency for at least one year prior to application and for the duration of the fellowship; mid-career status with a body of work demonstrating sustained accomplishment, commitment, and artistic excellence; no receipt of a McKnight Artist Fellowship within any artistic discipline in the last five years; demonstration of growth and ongoing artistry since most recent McKnight Artist Fellowship (if applicable); not staff, board, or immediate family of the McKnight Foundation or fellowship administrative partners; not enrolled full-time in an academic program. Artists must demonstrate excellence in at least one or a combination of traditional printmaking mediums (intaglio, lithography, screenprinting, monoprinting, or relief). Work may incorporate other materials but must be primarily printmaking and must be printed by the applicant artist. Applicants may only apply to one McKnight Artist Fellowship per year. A formal degree is not required, but qualified candidates should present a substantial history (5 years minimum) of participation in regional and national exhibitions and receipt of grants, awards, or fellowships.

Applications require 15 examples of print work made within the last 10 years (JPEG or JPG format, under 5MB, 1200 pixels or greater on longest side), a resume (maximum 5 pages, under 2MB), and an artist statement (maximum 2 pages, under 2MB) describing background, approach to printmaking, professional development, and goals during the fellowship. A panel of two jurors will review applications remotely and select finalists. Jurors will conduct individual studio visits with finalists before making final decisions. Applications are accepted through callforentry.org with no application fee. Timeline: October 10, 2019 free public information session; November 11, 2019 application deadline; December 2019 finalist studio visits; January 2020 fellows announced; February 2020-January 2021 fellowship period; January 2021 fellowship exhibition at Highpoint.