Black and white photo with two people and a video camera. The right third of the page has a green background with black text that says Learn Documentary Skills

Whether you are a beginner, emerging, or somewhere in-between we have a documentary program for you.

Our Doc U program is for first time media makers. This 16 week program takes you through the process of story construction, learning our cameras and field gear (while shooting your documentary) and Adobe Premiere (while editing your doc). You (and your fellow participants) will screen your five minute documentary at our community screening. This program runs May-mid August. Applications are open March 1-March 31. This program is made possible through a grant from the McKnight Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. 

In Spotlight Shorts you will learn more advanced media making skills while working in a team. Unlike in our other programs, the Spotlight Shorts team selects the topic of the documentary and you and three others will work with a mentor artists to create a short documentary. This program runs October through February. Applications are open September 1-September 30. This program is made possible with a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board.

Emerging artists who are looking to build skills in pitching, story development, funding, and marketing can do so in our New Angle Fellows program. This seven month program runs November through May. We meet every other week. Applications are open October 1-October 31. This program is made possible with a grant from the Jerome Foundation and the National Endowment for the Arts. 

With a grant from the Raymond J Christensen Foundation of the St. Paul & Minnesota Foundation SPNN is able to offer $15,000 post production grants to emerging artists through our Fresh Vantage Program. This eleven month program runs April through February. Applications are open February 1-February 28.

 

Foundation Support

Our documentary programs are made possible with support from the following foundations. 

  • Black broken circle with Jerome Foundation in capital Black letters

    Jerome Foundation

  • Clean water Land and legacy amendment logo and the Minnesota State Arts Board logo

    Minnesota State Arts Board

  • Red background with McKnight Foundation in white letters

    McKnight Foundation

  • Black background with white Letters that say National Endowment for the Arts with red, white, and blue lines underneath that lead to arts.gov

    National Endowment for the Arts

  • Black with green outline circle with eye in the right half. Black letters say Raymond J. Christensen Foundation

    Raymond J. Christensen