At the September 10, 2026, meeting, the Central MN Arts Board (CMAB) awarded $39,002 in Artist Career Development grants to artists in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright counties.
The CMAB Artist Career Development program provides up to $4,000 in funding to support projects, training opportunities, creative time, purchases and other activities that assist artists in making the next step in their creative development and artistic careers. Funding for this program is made possible by the McKnight Foundation.
The following applicants were awarded:
1. Anita Douglas, Otsego, $4,000, to support writing a contemporary adaption of Shakespeare’s Taming of the Shrew.
2. Ellen Fee, Sauk Rapids, $3,990, to support Home, Body, Belief series of five large-scale acrylic and mixed media paintings examining beliefs, grief, illness, and other experiences that shape us.
3. Sarah Flicek, Delano, $4,000, to purchase a hydraulic press that will maximize studio and workshop time creating custom jewelry designs.
4. Kelly Foster Lundquist, Monticello, $3,997, in support of attending Mira Ptacin’s 2027 Nonfiction Writers Workshop in New Orleans, LA.
5. Marian Lyndgaard, Avon, $3,015, to support a collaborative interactive workshop on the process of creating textiles with integrated sound resulting in 10 woven pieces and sound for an exhibit at the College of St. Benedict, Saint Joseph, MN.
6. Emmanuel Modi, Saint Cloud, $4,000, to support the publishing of Sudan Fire USA ICE: A memoire of Resilience.
7. Tanya Piatz, Foley, $4,000, in support of a Residency and Exhibit at Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Jamestown, New York.
8. Laura Ruprecht, Saint Cloud, $4,000, for studio resources and the creation of two new mosaics in preparation for an exhibition at the MN State Capitol, Saint Paul.
9. Timothy C. Takach, Big Lake, $4,000, for support in writing and workshopping a portion of a new opera commissioned for a 2028 production.
10. Shari Zimmermann, Delano, $4,000, to support the production and documentation for Landscape & Joy Series Exhibition.
A panel of volunteers read and score each application using three criteria: artistic quality and merit, professional need and ability to complete the proposal. An applicant must receive an average score of 15 points (50%) or higher to be considered for funding.
The Central Minnesota Arts Board supports collaborative and innovative arts opportunities through partnerships and financial investments in Benton, Sherburne, Stearns, and Wright counties. The CMAB is one of eleven Regional Arts Councils designated by the Minnesota State Arts Board working with community partners to increase access to the unique cultural assets of Minnesota.
For more information about the Central MN Arts Board programs visit www.centralmnartsboard.org or call the office at 320-968-4290 or toll free at 1-866-825-1471.