The Loft's Access Fund Pool is open for programming taking place in June 2024 - August 2025. The Loft's Access Fund model allows you to submit a single online application to join the Pool and learn about Loft programs as they become available. The following programs are eligible for Loft Access Funds:
- Adult and youth education classes and workshops
- Lit!Commons program
- Year-Long Writing Project (separate application)
These opportunities are meant to reduce financial barriers to participation in Loft classes and are available to individuals who are experiencing financial hardship and to whom the cost of tuition is a barrier to participation. Once accepted, available seats are emailed out as they become available, about 1-2 times a month. These email alerts will give you access to a list of offerings that are access fund viable. If you are interested in any of these offerings, you will need to follow the given instructions to request a seat in the class. Seats for most offerings are available on a first-come, first-serve basis. If a seat is available, you will be given a promo code (applied during checkout) that will provide a 95% reduction in tuition for a class. The access fund recipient is responsible for the remaining 5% cost, which will vary depending on the regular price of the class.
The Loft is committed to equity in our programming by creating opportunities for folks who face barriers to participation in artistic career development. While Loft class access funds are focused on reducing financial barriers, we want to strongly encourage individuals from historically marginalized communities to apply, including, but not limited to, Black and Indigenous people and people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA+ individuals, people with disabilities, as well as low income individuals.
It is not mandatory to provide proof of financial hardship, but if you would like to provide documentation**, please submit documentation that includes: 1) Your name & address 2) Public assistance program name** 3) A recent date. Then, use your mobile phone's camera, scanner, or good old snail mail to send us your documentation after, or along with your online application below.
More questions? Read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).
**Optional documentation, if provided, should include 1) Your name & address 2) Public assistance program name** 3) A recent date. Then, use your mobile phone's camera, scanner, or good old snail mail to send us your documentation after, or along with your online application.
Examples of Accepted Public Assistance Programs:
- TANF
- MFIP
- General Assistance
- WIC
- Medicaid, Medical Assistance, or Minnesota Care
- SSI (Disability, Not Retirement)
- Food Stamps
- Unemployment
- Section 8 Housing
- Free or Reduced Price School Meals
The Loft’s Young Writers’ Program offers year-round, high-quality, enrichment-based creative writing instruction across genres, to all levels, for kids and teens ages 6-18. Many classes are taught by award-winning, published writers. Loft classes are process based, rather than product based, and seek to support children and teens as they become excited, engaged writers and readers.
The Loft's Young Writers' Program publishes an annual anthology of students' writing in the Loft Young Writers Anthology from youth participants in community programs and in-house programs. Our goal is to provide a safe space for youth to express themselves, regardless of their experience, background, ethnicity, and/or identity, and elevate their voices and unique perspectives.
Eligible students may submit up to 3 double-spaced pages. Work must have been written, started, or revised in a Loft workshop or class between September 2024 to September 2025. Submissions close on September 8, 2025 at 11:59 PM.
Please note that we do not accept any submissions or publish work that contains hateful language, bigotry, homophobia, or violate the Loft's Code of Conduct policy or Strategic Framework. If your work contains any sensitive or difficult topics, please include a content warning with your submission.
The Loft’s Summer Youth Writing Intensives
Calling all young writers! Join the Loft's Summer Youth Writing Intensives at Open Book for a one-of-a-kind opportunity for campers to immerse themselves in a creative writing community with their peers. Led by published, award-winning writers, each camp fosters creativity, self-expression, and a love of writing. Over the course of four days, campers will work closely with teaching artists across a variety of genres, complete at least one polished piece, and leave with fresh ideas for future work and countless new memories with new friends.
The camp culminates in a public reading where students can share their writing (participation optional). Plus, there’s an opportunity for all Loft Young Writers to contribute to our professionally-produced youth anthology. All experience levels are welcome—we seek campers excited to write and connect with a community of young writers.
Camp Details:
Location: The Loft at Open Book
Ages 10-13: July 22-25, 2025
Ages 14-18: July 29-August 1, 2025
Hours: 9:30 AM – 3:30 PM (lunch break included)
Note: This is NOT an overnight camp. Campers should bring lunch, a water bottle, and writing materials.
What to Expect:
- Full-day workshops with published teaching artists
- A focus on craft, creativity, and community
- Opportunities for free-writing, rooftop hangs, zine-making, and new friendships
- A professionally published anthology featuring student work
- An Anthology Release Party on December 4, 2025, at Open Book
Admissions Policy:
We accept applications starting January 2025 on a rolling basis. Prospective campers will need to fill out a short application and submit a short writing sample (no more than 1,000 words) to help us gauge student fit and placement. Campers will hear back within two weeks of applying. If a camp fills, a waitlist will be created, and we’ll notify campers if spots open up. Availability will be updated on our website.
What We’re Looking For:
We welcome campers who:
✨ Show a passion for writing
✨ Are curious, creative, and eager to explore new ideas
✨ Respect peers and teaching artists
✨ Come from diverse backgrounds and have varied interests
Whether you’ve written a novel or simply want to try something new, this summer writing intensive is for you! Financial need will not affect acceptance. There is space in the application to apply for Access Funds if tuition is a barrier for you.
Payment & Access Funds:
Camp Cost: $550 (includes a copy of the summer anthology)
Once accepted, payment is required to secure your spot. You can register online, call to pay by phone, or send a check. For cancellations, refer to our cancellation policy.
Access Funds: We offer Access Funds for fully-funded seats for families in need. To request assistance, complete the Access Fund section of the application form. We’ll contact you about aid options upon acceptance.
Thank you for your interest in applying for an Access Fund spot in one of our Yearlong Writing Project cohorts! Please use the form below to complete the application. If you have questions or if this virtual form is a barrier for you, please contact education staff at 612-379-8999 or edu@loft.org for assistance. The Loft is committed to equity in our programming by creating opportunities for folks who face barriers to participation in artistic career development. We encourage individuals from historically marginalized communities to apply, including, but not limited to, Black and Indigenous people and people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA+ individuals, low-income individuals, and people with disabilities. 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 five central factors (in no particular order):
- Describe your current writing project. What is your current writing project about and how can the Loft community help you achieve your goals? Why are you interested in working with this particular teaching artist? Why the Loft, why now?
- Demonstrated interest in the art and craft of writing. What experience do you have with writing and writing workshops? How have you demonstrated a commitment to the craft, whether professionally or personally?
- Desire for resources and community. What other resources or opportunities have you had (or not had) access to? Why do you seek the community a small, intensive cohort provides?
- Experienced financial and lived 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 participate in similar programs? Do you identify as part of a historically marginalized community? Please describe what factors impact your need for financial assistance. 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?
Application Timeline
- March 5: Application opens - April 18 at 11:59 PM CST: Application closes
- April 18 - June 1: Selection committee will review applications and Loft will reach out to Access Fund finalists to schedule interviews
- June 12: Finalists will be notified of their status no later than this date
This form is for a Youth Class for Fall 2025 and/or Winter Youth 2026. Proposals are accepted on a rolling basis while this project is live. Want to get immediate feedback on your class proposal? Email edu@loft.org if you have any question about the proposal process.
On our website, we have resources and FAQs to assist you in submitting proposals. Before contacting Program Manager Marianne Manzler <mmanzler@loft.org> with questions, please review the following:
- Reference Guide for Teaching Artists
- Inclusion, Equity, and Antiracism
- Loft Code of Conduct
- Submittable Guide
The Loft is dedicated to offering classes that are imaginative, multicultural, and responsive. We seek reading lists, class content, and approaches to discussions on craft that are inclusive and diverse, as well as timely, contemporary and accessible (readily available online, not out of print).
You must include a strong, considered statement on how your class plan and teaching strategies will align with the Loft’s goal to be equitable, inclusive, and anti-racist in its classrooms and with its programming. If you need time to understand what the Loft means by this, or are simply curious for more information, here are some suggested resources—especially if you need help leading and navigating classroom discussions of student work as they relate to these topics:
- How to Be An Anti-Racist by Ibram X. Kendi
- A Good Time for the Truth, edited by Sun Yung Shin
- Craft in the Real World by Matthew Salesses
- Anti-Racism Writing Workshop: How to Decolonize the Creative Classroom by Felicia Rose Chavez
- Appropriate: A Provocation by Paisley Rekdal
Online Learning Resources:
For an idea of how the Loft continues to build knowledge and capacity on this, please visit Team Dynamics.com and IDIInventory.com National SEED Project (Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity) ASDICircle.orgThese are just a few of the many resources available on creating an inclusive learning environment in your classroom; if you are unsure of how to do this, or don't understand how to articulate how your lesson plan and teaching strategies will create this kind of environment in your classroom, feel free to connect with the Loft's Program Manager before you propose your class - Marianne Manzler <mmanzler@loft.org>.
In order to teach online, Loft teaching artists must have a reliable and high speed internet connection and a computer, as well as basic knowledge of computer use, Zoom and Google Classroom, or WetInk. The Loft can not provide you with a computer or internet access.
What We're Looking For:
Reading lists and class content that are inclusive and diverse. Please ensure one perspective is not centered on a monolithic approach to experience and expression.
Classes across genre. We will note though that as of late, classes in fiction and screenwriting fill quickest. According to our surveys of youth students, horror, fantasy, and sci-fi are our most requested subgenres.
Strong and flexible lesson plans. Loft classes give young writers opportunities to engage with their teaching artist and one another, while also providing instruction on craft, engaging discussion, and in-class writing activities, as well as writing prompts students can work on between class meetings.
Special Needs for Fall Youth 2025 and Winter Youth 2026:
Themed youth classes around holidays - Fall/nature writing, halloween/writing scary stories, winter/snowflakes, etc.
Writing Groups/Creative Writing Workshop classes across age ranges - These classes are meant to build community, provide opportunities to meet and connect other writers, get feedback, get prompts, and share ideas. These are generic, multi-genre, and more “informal” classes with a main goal of connecting young writers with each other.
Saturday, single session programming in-person - This Fall we will be scheduling single session three hour classes on Saturdays. These classes will take place in-person at Open Book
"Use Your Words" - tentatively the theme for fall youth program! Any classes around storytelling and empowerment, tell your story, topic-based courses on story structure, characterization, etc.
Online academic support session and self-care for young writers (fall and winter options) - This hour-long, drop-in online support session is free for students and a place where students ages 7 and older can work with a trained teaching artist on homework, reading, and literacy skills, with a focus on creative writing.
Fall Youth Timeline
- April 1, 2025 - May 1, 2025: Proposal Period
- May - June 2025: Craft team reviews proposals and schedules classes with teaching artists
- Orientation in September
- Fall Young Writers registration opens: Week of June 15
- Fall Young Writers' Weekend Intensive - (Thursday and Saturday of MEA break): October 16-17, 2025
- Fall Young Writers' Saturday Studios: October 4, 11, 18, 25; November 1, 8, 15; Nov 6, 13 from 9am-12PM or 1-4 PM; lunchcare add-on for any TAs interested in covering lunch
- Drop-In Academic Support Session: Wednesdays (October - November) after school, 4:00-5:00 PM
- December 4, 2025 in OBPH at 6-7:30 PM Young Writers Anthology Release Party
Winter Youth Timeline
- September 1 - October 1, 2025: TA Proposal Period
- October 2025: Craft team proposal reviews proposals and schedules classes with teaching artists
- October 30, 2025: Winter Young Writers' Saturday Studio registration opens
- Feb 14, 2026 and April 18, 2026 Winter Youth Saturday Studio in person at Open Book (9:30am-3:30pm) and academic support sessions
Compensation
You’ll be paid $7.00 per student per contact hour based on enrollment for your second class meeting (students may drop the class during the first week). For example, if you are teaching a 6-week class (meeting 2 hours per week for 6 weeks) with an enrollment of 14 students, your compensation will be $1,176. Youth classes are also paid on a flat-fee basis of $50/hr. Minimum enrollment is 4 students, maximum enrollment is 17 students (you are paid for a minimum of 7 students for enrollment-based classes). If this is a flat fee class, you are paid $50/hr.
Please contact Program Manager Marianne Manzler <mmanzler@loft.org> with any questions.
Thanks for your interest in volunteering with the Loft! Volunteers work closely with staff, author/personalities, and the literary community to execute Loft programming and events. The Loft primarily seeks volunteers interested in helping with literary events and occasional administrative projects. Please complete this form to tell us about yourself and what activities you'd be most interested in supporting as a volunteer.