About This Event
Artist Call: More Than Lit - A Read With Me MN Fundraiser
Watch recap video from 2025 here*
*2025 LASAA, in partnership with Studio 42 MPLS
This year’s event, More Than Lit, will be independently produced by Read With Me MN with a refined focus on illustrators and literary arts but this video captures the scale, atmosphere, and impact sponsors can anticipate.
More Than Lit is a curated art auction and fundraising event benefiting Read With Me MN. The evening brings together authors, illustrators, artists, collectors, and community members in support of expanding access to culturally relevant books and literacy experiences for children.
This is your opportunity to have your work featured, your voice amplified, and your story shared. Apply now.
To create space for both emerging and established artists, this year’s event will feature three categories:
-
Youth Artists (ages 16–17)
-
Adult Artists (ages 18+)
-
Illustrators (18+)
Application & Selection Process
- Interested artists must complete this application form and include a link to your portfolio. Your portfolio should represent your artistic style and body of work. All art mediums accepted.
- From all eligible submissions, the top 100 applicants will be selected to participate in a brief interview in April at The Hennepin in Minneapolis. During the interview, artists will discuss one featured piece from their portfolio and share the story and inspiration behind it.
- Following the interview process, a panel will select 20 artists to be featured at the More Than Lit event.
Selected works will be showcased during the More Than Lit fundraising event on August 7, 2026 at The Hennepin in Downtown Minneapolis. It will be an inspiring evening that brings together community members and champions of racial and educational equity. Proceeds from the event support Read With Me MN’s mission to ensure all children see themselves reflected in the stories they read.
Auction & Revenue Split
Selected artwork will be auctioned during the event as part of the fundraising program.
-
Artists retain 90% of the final bid price.
-
Read With Me MN retains 10% to support its literacy mission.
This structure ensures artists are meaningfully compensated while contributing to a powerful community impact. Attendance is encouraged but not required. Artwork must be dropped off and picked up on the day of the event.
Share your work. Support literacy. Apply to be one of the featured artists at More Than Lit.
About Read With Me MN
Books and art are both powerful tools for storytelling. At Read with Me MN, we believe every child deserves to see their story reflected—on the page and on the canvas. More Than Lit brings that vision to life by showcasing diverse local artists while raising funds to put diverse books in children’s hands.
Learn more: https://readwithmemn.org/
About This Event
Artist Call: More Than Lit - A Read With Me MN Fundraiser
Watch recap video from 2025 here*
*2025 LASAA, in partnership with Studio 42 MPLS
This year’s event, More Than Lit, will be independently produced by Read With Me MN with a refined focus on illustrators and literary arts but this video captures the scale, atmosphere, and impact sponsors can anticipate.
More Than Lit is a curated art auction and fundraising event benefiting Read With Me MN. The evening brings together authors, illustrators, artists, collectors, and community members in support of expanding access to culturally relevant books and literacy experiences for children.
This is your opportunity to have your work featured, your voice amplified, and your story shared. Apply now.
To create space for both emerging and established artists, this year’s event will feature three categories:
-
Youth Artists (ages 16–17)
-
Adult Artists (ages 18+)
-
Illustrators (18+)
Application & Selection Process
- Interested artists must complete this application form and include a link to your portfolio. Your portfolio should represent your artistic style and body of work. All art mediums accepted.
- From all eligible submissions, the top 100 applicants will be selected to participate in a brief interview in April at The Hennepin in Minneapolis. During the interview, artists will discuss one featured piece from their portfolio and share the story and inspiration behind it.
- Following the interview process, a panel will select 20 artists to be featured at the More Than Lit event.
Selected works will be showcased during the More Than Lit fundraising event on August 7, 2026 at The Hennepin in Downtown Minneapolis. It will be an inspiring evening that brings together community members and champions of racial and educational equity. Proceeds from the event support Read With Me MN’s mission to ensure all children see themselves reflected in the stories they read.
Auction & Revenue Split
Selected artwork will be auctioned during the event as part of the fundraising program.
-
Artists retain 90% of the final bid price.
-
Read With Me MN retains 10% to support its literacy mission.
This structure ensures artists are meaningfully compensated while contributing to a powerful community impact. Attendance is encouraged but not required. Artwork must be dropped off and picked up on the day of the event.
Share your work. Support literacy. Apply to be one of the featured artists at More Than Lit.
About Read With Me MN
Books and art are both powerful tools for storytelling. At Read with Me MN, we believe every child deserves to see their story reflected—on the page and on the canvas. More Than Lit brings that vision to life by showcasing diverse local artists while raising funds to put diverse books in children’s hands.
Learn more: https://readwithmemn.org/