Emerging and experienced writers in North & South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Nebraska can receive grant funding through state art councils.

What are Arts Council Grants?

Grants provide money for artists to work on specific projects, to further their careers, or as recognition for outstanding contributions in their fields. Artist categories range from dance to visual arts to literature; the literature area may be open to any creative writing, or divided between poetry, fiction, creative non-fiction, etc., on different years.

In general, applicants must be residents of the state, must be over 18 or 21, and must not be pursuing a college degree or certificate. Read Applying for State Art Grants for tips.

Grants for Writers Come in Several Forms:

• Matching, where the organization will fund part of your project.
• Non-matching, where the amount does not require money from you or other contributors.
• Specific project expenses, such as travel, research, supplies, etc.
• Professional development, which is often set up for workshops, conferences, retreats, etc., that will help you as a writer.
• Fellowships, highly competitive awards for writers based upon the quality of their previous work. Always non-matching.

North Dakota Grants for Writers

Professional Development Grant: up to $500 to develop artistic or business skills, and can be used for conferences and workshops. Writers can request up to 80% of costs. There is no deadline, but applications must be received at least a month before the event, and are awarded on a first-come, first-served basis. Funding is limited and early application is encouraged.

Individual Artist Fellowship: $2,500 to highly skilled professional artists to “improve their artistic skills and enhance their career opportunities.” Three-year rotation, next literature deadline is February, 2010.

Visit the North Dakota Council on the Arts for more information.

South Dakota Grants for Writers

Artist Grants: $3,000 grants to professional artists for a variety of uses. Applicants who do not receive a $3,000 grant will be considered for a $1,000 grant, which are given as career incentives to artists showing potential. Fiction, non-fiction, playwriting and poetry are accepted in the literature discipline. Deadline is March 1 each year.

Visit the South Dakota Arts Council for more information.

Iowa Grants for Writers

Priority will be given to projects that involve an underserved population or art form, that show cultural diversity, or that involve exploring new directions in an artist’s work or create a substantial new body of work. Artists living in towns bordering Iowa may also apply if the majority of the participants will be Iowa residents.

Major Grant: up to $10,000, but no more than 50% of the project cost. Applications are accepted twice a year, with April 1 and October 1 deadlines.

Mini Grant: up to $1,500, but no more than 50% of the project cost. Monthly application deadlines, on the first day of the month prior to the month the project will begin.

Visit the Iowa Arts Council for more information.

Minnesota Grants for Writers

Artist Initiative Grants: $2,000-$6,000 grants for “career building and creative development of artists.” Two year rotation, with literature in the odd-numbered years. Deadline: September 7, 2007.

Visit the Minnesota State Arts Board for more information.

Nebraska Grants for Writers

Individual Artist Fellowships to reward “outstanding achievement in work that has already been completed.” Three year rotation between literature and film; performing arts; and visual arts. Two $5,000 Distinguished Achievement Awards are given, with additional $1,000-$2,000 Merit Awards. The next deadline for literature (fiction, non-fiction, and poetry) is November 15, 2008.

Visit the Nebraska Arts Council for more information.

See Applying for Writer’s Grants for tips on applying, as well as links to grants for other states.