Scholarships

Applications Currently Closed

Scholarships are reviewed holistically and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis as funding allows. Due to the high volume of applications and funding limitations, scholarship applications are currently closed. Please check back later for class scholarship opportunities.

Scholarship Info

The Loft has traditionally offered a 30% discount on tuition to low-income students via the honor system, plus scholarship discounts of 95% for select classes to households enrolled in a public assistance program. However, we have been listening to constituents and understand that the 30% discount was often insufficient to make our classes affordable to low-income families and that income thresholds for public assistance are so low, they often leave out low-income and historically marginalized people. Additionally, financial barriers are not the only barriers to participation, and the Loft seeks to support students experiencing various barriers to participation in our writing classes.

Through the Minnesota State Arts Board*, the Loft has received funding to implement a new scholarship program that better reflects our goals to expand financial assistance for students! We welcome all who seek financial assistance to apply for this opportunity and encourage individuals from historically marginalized communities to apply, including, but not limited to, Black and Indigenous people and people of color, LGBTQIA+ individuals, low-income individuals, and people with disabilities. Scholarship recipients will be able to register for two classes of their choice with the 95% scholarship discount. Scholarships are reviewed holistically via the factors outlined below and awarded on a first-come, first-served basis as funding allows. 

We anticipate far more applications from highly qualified candidates than we can possibly accept. Please know our scholarship committee reads every application we receive and evaluates them holistically based on three central factors: 

1. A demonstrated interest in the craft of writing and commitment to Loft class participation

Do you have specific genres or types of classes at the Loft you're passionate about? What skills do you seek to gain from a writing class? Are you excited about a specific project you're working on? What is your writing journey? What drives your commitment to taking a class at the Loft? 

2. Expressed need for financial support

Are you enrolled in a public assistance program, such as: TANF; MFIP; General Assistance; WIC; Medicaid, Medical Assistance, or Minnesota Care; SSI (Disability, Not Retirement); Food Stamps; Section 8 Housing? If not, what factors impact your need for financial assistance to take a Loft class? 

3. Experienced barriers to participation in artistic career development 

The Loft understands that financial barriers are not the only barriers to participation in writing development opportunities. Have other factors impacted your ability to take a writing class? Do you identify as part of a historically marginalized community?  

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis at the beginning of each month by a scholarship review committee. Please be patient when waiting to hear back on the status of your application, as this process may take up to four to five weeks. If your application is approved, you will receive further communication detailing how to register for two scholarship classes of your choice. These two scholarship classes must be claimed by the end of 2021. 

Previous recipients are welcome to reapply after their two scholarship classes have been completed. Each application will be reviewed through the same process detailed above. However, please note reapproval is not guaranteed. With this new program, the Loft aims to provide financial aid for as many students as possible, so previous recipients will be provided additional scholarships if/as funding allows on a first-come, first-served basis. Thank you for your understanding as we seek to support as many applicants as possible. 

If you have questions or if this virtual application is a barrier for you, please contact Emma Saks, program associate, at 612-215-2587 or esaks@loft.org for assistance.

*This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.