Statewide Meetings Planned for Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund
History and Cultural Programs

Passage of the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment to the Minnesota Constitution raises new funds from a sales tax increase, to be divided among projects benefitting the outdoors, clean water, parks and trails, and arts and cultural heritage. A total of 19.75% of the additional sales tax revenue will be dedicated to an arts and cultural heritage fund, with a portion of that amount designated for history-related projects around the state. In May the Minnesota Legislature appropriated $22 million of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund to the Minnesota Historical Society to be used for a variety of history programs. The appropriation includes $6.75 million for statewide historic and cultural grants to be awarded during the 2010-11 biennium and an additional $4 million for collaborations between history organizations and other partners.  

This is wonderful news for Minnesota’s history community and expectations are high for what these funds can accomplish across the state – projects of enduring value for the cause of history and historic preservation. The input and advocacy from a broad-based coalition of partners in history, historic preservation and archaeology were crucial toward winning legislative support. Your help is needed to ensure a successful launch for these programs.

The responsibility for administering these programs lies with the Minnesota Historical Society. The Society will provide an update on Legacy funds and recent actions of the legislature and invites input from the history field and interested members of the public at a series of upcoming meetings:

• Wednesday, July 15, Duluth Depot, 10 a.m. to noon
  506 West Michigan St., Duluth
  
  
• Wednesday, July 15, Anoka City Hall, 7 to 9 p.m.
  2015 First Ave. N, Anoka
  
  
• Monday, July 20, Ridgewater Community College, Willmar, 10 a.m. to noon
  Building A, Conference Center, 2101 15th Ave. NW, Willmar
  
  
• Monday, July 20, Rochester Public Library, 7 to 9 p.m.
  Auditorium, 101 2nd St. SE, Rochester
  
  
• Date to be announced, Moorhead

Please plan on attending a meeting to learn more about Legacy funds, including the grant programs and the various conditions and requirements contained in the legislation and to provide further input in shaping the effective use of Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund in the coming years.