Bridge Fund for Dance

Purpose

The Bridge Fund for Dance Program is designed to support the local dance ecosystem and broader dance community by investing in Minneapolis and Minnesota-based choreographers, dance companies, event producers, and performing arts organizations for the creation of new and existing creative dance & choreography projects in downtown Minneapolis. This Program aims to energize Minneapolis’ internationally recognized dance scene while attracting artists, audiences, and creative experiences to downtown. A total $450,000 is available for the Bridge Fund for Dance 2025 application round.

Projects must align with one of the following three categories:  

  • Development and Research Residency Support ($5k – $15K):

    Funding can be used for Choreographers, independent dance artists, companies, and collectives, to host 1–3-week creative development and research residences to incubate new dance ideas, innovation and collaboration.

    Examples:

    • Choreographer X would like to book one week of creative research time with five dancers to work on idea about climate change.

    • Choreographer would like to create a two-week site-specific residency on the river to develop new ideas for site specific work.

    • Opera Company X would like to incorporate 20 dancers into the next production and is seeking one week of dance residency to develop the choreographies.

    • Choreographer would like a two-week residency to explore movement possibility with puppetry and the workplace environment.

       

  • Production & Tech Week Support ($15k – $30k): 

    Funding can be used for expanding / adding additional, final production elements to a confirmed future public presentation. Applicants must submit proof of actual plans and agreements for presentation in their proposal. Minneapolis-based touring project development is eligible for funding, but the applicant must mount a minimum of a one-week tech residency and presentation of a showcase in advance of the tour.

    Examples:

    • Festival X would like to provide additional tech support and research for dance company to incorporate complicated new digital lighting and production elements.

    • Company X has been invited to perform in Duluth and is requesting a one-week tech residency to mount, rehearse, and bring together artistic elements before touring.

    • Dance Company X would like to present their latest production at a theater and is requesting more time for rehearsals and tech staff to incorporate a non-traditional seating arrangement.

       

  • Presentation Support ($15k – $30k)

    Funding can be used to incentivize new or expand existing fully-produced dance showcases / presentations / events in Minneapolis.

    Examples:

Eligible Locations

Projects must take place within the following Minneapolis neighborhoods:

Cedar Riverside, Downtown East, Downtown West, East Isles, East Phillips, Elliot Park, Logan Park, Loring Heights, Loring Park, Lowry Hill, Lowry Hill East, Marcy Holmes, Midtown Phillips, Nicollet Island – East Bank, Near North, North Loop, Phillips West, Seward, St. Anthony East, St. Anthony West, Stevens Square, Sumner-Glenwood, University of Minnesota, Ventura Village, Whittier, Willard Hay. 

Check the neighborhood boundaries on this map link: https://cityoflakes.maps.arcgis.com/apps/mapviewer/index.html?webmap=687b83365dd34e48b759ce3121ff4497

Project spaces can include traditional settings, such as theaters, venues, and dance studios, and non-traditional spaces, such as restaurants, bars, galleries, museums, public parks, plazas, storefronts, skyways, festivals, pop-ups, schools, churches, senior homes, parking structures, community gatherings, parades, and more.

Venue Examples: (Site specific spaces in all the neighborhoods below)

Hennepin Arts Theater/Tek Box

Hennepin Center for the Arts

Luminary Arts Center

The Luminaire

Lundstrom Performing Arts

Capri Theater

Northrop / University of Minnesota

Barbara Barker Center for Dance

Cedar Cultural Center

Minneapolis American Indian Center

Mixed Blood Theater

Guthrie Theater

Red Eye Theater

Ivy Building

Walker Art Center

Hennepin Arts

(Site specific spaces in all these neighborhoods)

Priority will be given to dance projects that are presented in the Minneapolis Downtown Taxing Area

Eligible Applicants

Projects must primarily feature Minneapolis artists and collaborators and may include performers of all ages. 

Anyone from Minnesota can apply for this grant. The location of the proposed work must meet the eligibility. (see the eligible locations section above)

All Projects must meet the following criteria:  

  • Must have 1 – 3 weeks minimum of residency time. One week means 40 hours, which can be scheduled in consecutive days or through rehearsals over a designate amount of time. 

  • Every awardee must provide one informal open rehearsal and /or final work-in-progress showing at the end of the residency – free and open to the public. 

  • Additional support can be provided to dance educators and companies creating one-week dance intensives for youth, adults, professional that provide dance class and dance education in all forms of dance including hip hop, modern, jazz, ballet, South Asian, traditional, popular, Broadway, technique-based, folkloric, contemporary, experimental, etc. 

  • Application must be submitted by the application deadline. Late applications will not be considered.

IMPORTANT DATES 

Application opens: June 2, 2025 

Award information sessions: June 5, 2025, 12:00 p.m. (RSVP here)

Questions on NOFA due: June 23, 2025

Responses to Questions posted: June 25, 2025

Application deadline: July 15, 2025, at 4:30 PM CST

Applications review: July 17 to August 6, 2025

Award notifications: August 7, 2025

Eligible funding period (estimated): September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2026

Eligible Project Expenses

Award funding can be used for expenses such as:

  • Dance artists and choreographer fees, collaborator expenses (commission fees, designers, technicians, costume design, commissions, dramaturge, props development, technology.

  • Space rental, equipment rental (lighting, sound, stage, van/truck) permits, security, parking/transportation expenses for the project team.

  • Costumes, scenic, visual, digital, and creative elements. Photography and film expenses.

  • Project planning expenses including community feedback/research, Planning and budgeting support.

Award funding cannot be used for costs such as an applicant’s general operating expenses; political, religious, or lobbying activities; and gift cards, cash incentives, participation stipend, or giveaway items such as food & beverages.

All expenditures must meet  public purpose expenditure criteria. 

Evaluation Criteria

In reviewing applications, the review team/panel will consider the criteria below. The City may, in its sole discretion, expand or reduce the criteria upon which it bases its final decisions.

  • Artistic merit and innovation as well as site-specific and site-responsive sensibility in their proposed project.  

  • Whether the applicant and application meet all eligibility criteria and satisfy all NOFA requirements. 

  • Whether Program funds are available. 

  • Quality, thoroughness, and clarity of the application. 

  • Qualifications and experience of the applicant. 

  • Feasibility of proposed Project and ability of applicant to complete proposed Project. 

Questions? email mplsaca@minneapolismn.gov or meena.mangalvedhekar@minneapolismn.gov