Our Mission
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.
Our History
Previously, the Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy operated under the City’s Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) Department. Our newly formed Arts & Cultural Affairs Department builds upon and expands this foundation to ensure the achievement of the City's goals and the successful implementation of our 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
Photo: Corey Gaffer
Our work
ACA oversees and manages the city’s Public Art Program and Public Programs and Grants.
ACA and the City are committed to supporting a diverse, unique and inclusive arts community.
ACA highlights and nurtures local creative communities and ensures quality access to all of the arts.
ACA programs seek to achieve the City’s racial equity goals, the successful implementation of City’s and Mayor’s goals and priorities and the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
ACA champions Minneapolis’ image as a global hub of creativity and artistic excellence.
Our history
The City’s history of support for arts and culture dates to 1974 when the Minneapolis Arts Commission was chartered to advise the Mayor and City Council on arts-related matters. This ordinance, which is Chapter 36 of the Code of the Ordinances also defined “Arts.”
Over the years, multiple departments have housed and managed City arts programs.
In 1999 the City briefly formed an Office of Arts & Culture. The Office was disbanded in 2003 due to budget cuts.
Over the years, the City has also adopted arts and cultural plans, including “Culture Talks” (1993), “Arts Vision Statement and Policy” (2001), “Minneapolis Plan for the Arts and Culture”(2005) and the “Creative City Roadmap” (2016).
In more recent years, the arts functions of the City were in two departments. The Office of Arts, Culture & the Creative Economy, operated under the City Coordinator and Public Art and the Minneapolis Arts Commission operated under Community Planning and Economic Development.
The newly formed Arts & Cultural Affairs Department builds upon and expands this history to ensure a cohesive achievement of the City's goals and the successful implementation of the 2040 Comprehensive Plan.
Timeline:
November 2019
Minneapolis City Council directs staff to draft a plan and structure to grow the City’s current capacity to support public art and the creative economy.
Minneapolis City Council directs staff to draft an ordinance establishing a new department to serve as the centralized home for all City’s arts and culture work.
Public hearings are held regarding the draft ordinance.
This ordinance, which is now Chapter 43 of the Code of Ordinances is officially adopted.
January 4, 2023
New department created, and arts staff transferred.
March 13, 2023
Ben Johnson is hired as the new Director of the Arts & Cultural Affairs.
November 13, 2023
Executive manager is hired.
May 2024
Department is fully staffed with two program managers.
Arts & Cultural Affairs, staff
As practicing artists and skilled administrators, our staff and team of consultants bring valuable field experience, local knowledge and relationships to their work at the City.
Benjamin (Ben) Johnson
Ben is a native Minnesotan and serves as the Arts & Cultural Affairs Director for the City of Minneapolis. He comes to Minneapolis most recently from the Los Angeles area where he served as the Arts & Culture Manager for the City of Beverly Hills and the Director of Performing Arts for the Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs (DCA). Johnson’s experience includes leadership roles in arts and culture at the Center for the Art of Performance at UCLA (CAP-UCLA), the nonprofit foundation United States Artists Inc., University of Minnesota’s Northrop Concerts and Lectures, the University of Michigan’s University Musical Society, and the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts. Johnson received a B.A. Theater Arts/Mass Communications and an M.A in Arts Administration from St. Mary’s University of Minnesota in Winona.
Benjamin (Ben) Johnson (He/him/his)
Director | Arts & Cultural Affairs
Addy Gonzalez
Addy comes to Minneapolis from Los Angeles, California, where she co-founded and co-directed 11:11 Projects, a non-profit arts organization dedicated to empowering communities through the arts. As the Executive Manager she is responsible for overseeing the successful implementation of all programs and funding opportunities of the department as well as developing and strengthening strategic partnerships to advance the City's arts and cultural goals. This role works with key stakeholders to align efforts with community needs, promote Minneapolis as a cultural hub, and highlight the economic impact of the arts. Addy received her B.A. in Art History, Criticism and Conservation from UCLA and has an M.A. in Arts Administration from Drexel University. She’s dedicated her career to providing structure and support systems that ensure the transformational power of art is an integral part of healthy communities.
Addy Gonzalez (She/her/hers)
Executive Manager of Arts | Arts & Cultural Affairs
Mary Altman
Mary Altman has worked for decades years in the fields of public art, community art and art education as an administrator, organizer, instructor, volunteer and consultant. She has worked with arts groups across Minnesota and in several states on collaboration, cultural planning, artist training, rural arts development, budgeting, fundraising and evaluation. She is currently the Public Arts Supervisor for the City of Minneapolis. Her publications include A Handbook for Rural Arts Collaborations (COMPAS 1993).
Mary Altman (She/her/hers)
Supervisor, Public Art | Arts & Cultural Affairs
Talia Moorman
Talia Moorman was born and raised in Minneapolis, she has a Bachelor of Arts with a Major in Geography and a Minor in Studio Arts. Talia has been working for the City of Minneapolis for seven years managing the public art collection and permits for art. In her role managing the collection she determines what maintenance is needed for each artwork annually, recommends which artworks should receive intensive treatments, and supervises two art conservation firms who provide expert treatments on the Collection. In her role managing permits for art, she reviews every application in detail to ensure projects can last in the Minnesota climate, are safe for the public and environment, have lasting impact on the community, and coordinates work with Public Works and other City staff to help applicants obtain the necessary approvals to turn their vision into reality.
Talia Moorman (She/her/hers)
Public Arts Coordinator | Arts & Cultural Affairs
Meena Mangalvedhekar
Meena Mangalvedhekar manages Cultural Districts Arts Fund programming. The Cultural Districts Arts Fund is a new initiative coordinated through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Department of the City of Minneapolis. This initiative aligns with the City’s Comprehensive Plan: Minneapolis 2040 Policy 34 “Cultural Districts” to help the local community tell its story in imaginative ways, activate the neighborhood’s connectivity through partnerships and collaborations, and cultivate new arts and thought leaders in their community—leaders who are driven by the desire to make their community a better place to live by expanding its creative capacity. The overarching purpose is to provide local artists, creative entrepreneurs, arts advocates, and arts & culture service organizations with community-building opportunities through a series of financial awards.
Meena Mangalvedhekar (She/her/hers/they)
Program Manager | Arts & Cultural Affairs
Cassie Garner
Cassie Garner is a Program Manager for the Arts & Cultural Affairs (ACA) Department. She manages the Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts Initiative (Program), a city-led funding opportunity to support and grow creative opportunities within the ecosystem of Downtown, Uptown, and other parts of the city. Through this program, ACA is bringing together property owners with individual artists, arts organizations, and creative entrepreneurs by providing funding to subsidize rental costs, with the goal of increasing vibrancy, innovation, and sustainability.
Cassie Garner (She/her/hers)
Program Manager | Arts & Cultural Affairs