Introducing the Leslye Orr Fund for Artists with Disabilities

Springboard is proud to formally announce the launch of a new annual fund that provides non-competitive direct support for artists with disabilities in Minnesota to create work and invest in their careers. Inspired by our friend Leslye Orr’s advocacy for “the possibilities of disabilities,” this fund fosters artistry, inclusivity, and community joy. 

About the Fund:

• Annually, 4 Minnesota-based artists will be selected through a randomized drawing process of eligible applicants
• Each artist will receive a $2,500 unrestricted grant
• This opportunity is open to artists of all disciplines that self-identify as an artist with disabilities

This is an unrestricted grant that can be used for artistic work, career development, creative exploration, living/family expenses, or any opportunity or need that contributes to the success of the artist.

About Leslye Orr

Leslye Orr (1955-2025) was a Minnesota-based playwright, performer and teacher well-known for her workshops on the integration of people with disabilities. She was blind from birth, and learned to walk by following her mother’s finger snaps. After 18 eye surgeries, she gained low tunnel vision in her right eye. She proudly referred to herself as a “cyclops,” and saw her disability as a gift that fostered her big imagination.

Leslye was the creator of many unforgettable solo shows, from her signature comedy Women Who Drink, to Wisecracks from My Father, and What I Thought I Saw: Random Acts of Blindness. She toured her disability awareness play Hand in Hand to all fifty states, and internationally with the U.S. Department of State. From 2006 to 2023, she co-ran Dreamland Arts, a 40-seat black box theater attached to her family’s house in Saint. Paul. It was a space for artists of all backgrounds to tell their stories. Learn more about Leslye’s work and legacy at https://www.leslyeorr.com.