Arts & Cultural Affairs Dept. announces inaugural Cultural Districts Arts Fund recipients

The City of Minneapolis Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs is thrilled to announce the inaugural recipients of the 2024 Cultural Districts Arts Fund. In its first year, the fund will grant 65 awards totaling $690,000 across the city's seven cultural districts. This initiative is designed to empower local artists, creative entrepreneurs, community place makers, and cultural organizations by providing critical financial support.

"The Cultural Districts Arts Fund is a bold investment in the heart of Minneapolis - our communities and their stories," said Mayor Jacob Frey. "Through this initiative, we're not just funding art, we're empowering creativity, amplifying local voices, diversifying neighborhoods, and beautifying our city. Thank you to our incredible Arts and Cultural Affairs Department for their dedication and for championing the arts in Minneapolis."

"Minneapolis is brimming with diverse creative artists and innovators, and this this fund showcases a direct investment by the City of Minneapolis in supporting the artists and projects creative positive impacts across our city," said Ben Johnson, Director of Arts & Cultural Affairs.

A dynamic portfolio of art projects is supported by this fund, including: 1) the appointment of one arts ambassador per Cultural District for a 12-month period; 2) funding for new and existing festivals and cultural venues/spaces, and 3) supporting pop-up projects and creative activations. A total of fifty-eight projects plus seven arts ambassadors will showcase a vibrant tapestry of community engagement, artistic expression, and cultural celebration across the seven Minneapolis Cultural Districts: Lowry Avenue North, 38^th Street, Cedar Avenue South, Central Avenue, East Lake Street, Franklin Avenue East, and West Broadway.

"I'm so thrilled that the Cultural District Arts Fund is underway," said Council Member Andrea Jenkins, Ward 8. "The arts represent the heart of our communities. It enlivens public spaces, it informs, creates awareness and elevates. Congratulations to all of the awardees on this first round."

"Growing up, my family and I would feel welcome on the Lake Street corridor because of the beautiful murals, the smell of the wonderful food and the art and culture," said Council Member Jason Chavez, Ward 9. "I know that these projects are going to help improve the livability and the vibrancy of these beautiful cultural districts"

Highlights of the funded projects include:

• Lowry Ave North - Legal Graffiti and Murals: Transforming train rail cars into canvases while hosting family-friendly gatherings.

• Franklin Ave East - Native Storytelling Exhibition: Engaging community elders, stakeholders, and youth to document and exhibit Native stories, preserving the cultural heritage of local Indigenous peoples.

• Cedar Ave South - Youth Art Workshops: Providing various art forms to empower youth through self-expression.

• East Lake Street - Cultural Celebrations: Events featuring Día de los Muertos, art demos, and workshops promoting connections among diverse residents.

• 38^thStreet - Community events throughout the year: Monthly photo exhibition, iron pour, and a celebration of native artists - Before Chicago Ave.

• West Broadway: Northside Art Crawl:A collaborative event revitalizing the local art economy.

• Central Ave - Film Screenings and Fashion Show: Showcasing local fashion designers and artists, and celebrating the creativity of the Central Avenue community.

"I applied to this ambassadorship with the first hand understanding of the types of barriers artists face when trying to grow their work to larger scales," said Ashley Kodou, founder & CEO of Mango Day and the Cultural Distract Ambassador for Central Ave. "With this opportunity, I will address these barriers creating a collaborative hub for the selected artists to gain new skills, exposure, network and receive some financial relief."

"I am truly grateful for the city having this new fund. It will allow me to have my space in Listen 2 Us studio, said KingDemetrius Pendleton, founder of Listen 2 Us Studio and a Festivals and Cultural Spaces Activation awardee. "We're moving in the right direction, having conversations and collaborations with artists. We are what we do. This fund will help individuals come out of their shell and showcase their artwork."

A full list of award recipients can be found on the fund's website.

The Arts & Cultural Affairs Department exists to advance, support, stimulate, and promote a diverse and active arts and cultural environment that recognizes and draws on the full potential of Minneapolis' artists and arts organizations, reflects, and responds to civic concerns and aspirations, and enriches the lives of all people who live in, work in and visit Minneapolis.

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