Our Mission

The Arts & Cultural Affairs Department works to support and grow a diverse arts and culture community in Minneapolis. We help artists and arts organizations do their best work, listen to the needs and hopes of the city, and make life better for everyone who lives in, works in, or visits Minneapolis.

Our History

Before, the Office of Arts, Culture, and the Creative Economy was part of the City’s Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) department. Today, the Arts & Cultural Affairs department (ACA) continues and expands that work. As its own department, ACA can better support the City’s goals and carry out the Minneapolis 2040 Comprehensive Plan.

Photo: Corey Gaffer

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Our programs

Programs that celebrate and grow the arts in Minneapolis.

Opportunities

Currently there no opportunities available.

Public art

Public art in public places.

Our results

Explore our guides, dashboards and reports

Press releases

Latest news from the City of Minneapolis.

Calendar

Information on featured ACA awardees events.

To carry out this work, we:

Develop arts and culture programs
Create, maintain and promote public art across the city
Draft the arts vision and policy for the City of Minneapolis
Support the arts community, such as:
- Artists
- Arts and cultural organizations
- Community-initiated arts efforts
Strengthen neighborhoods and communities through arts and culture
Strive to grow a strong and welcoming arts community.
Work to ensure everyone has access to meaningful arts experiences.
Promote Minneapolis as a global center for creativity and artistic excellence

The Arts and Cultural Affairs history:

The City’s support for arts and culture goes back to 1974, when the Minneapolis Arts Commission was created to advise the Mayor and City Council on arts issues. This law, found in Chapter 36 of the City’s Ordinances, also defined what “arts” means.
In 1999, the City created an Office of Arts & Culture, but it closed in 2003 because of budget cuts.
The City has also adopted several arts and culture plans over the years, including:
- “Culture Talks” (1993)
- “Arts Vision Statement and Policy” (2001)
- “Minneapolis Plan for the Arts and Culture” (2005)
- “Creative City Roadmap” (2016)
In more recent years, the City’s arts work was handled between two departments:
- The Office of Arts, Culture & the Creative Economy was part of the City Coordinator’s Office
- Public Art and the Minneapolis Arts Commission were part of the Community Planning and Economic Development department (CPED).
Now, the Arts & Cultural Affairs Department builds on this long history. Bringing these functions together so the City can better support its goals and serve the community.