McKnight Distinguished Artist Award

Recognizing the artists who have made significant lifelong contributions to Minnesota. Nominate an Artist or Culture Bearer Nominations received by May 1, 2026 will be considered for the current year’s award cycle. Those submitted after that date will automatically be reviewed for the following year. The annual $100,000 McKnight Distinguished Artist Award recognizes artists and culture bearers who have made a lifelong commitment to creating art that is locally, regionally, and/or nationally significant.