Festivals & Cultural Spaces Activation Program

Purpose

The Festivals & Cultural Spaces Activation Program is meant to support new or existing festivals and cultural centers, community arts centers, galleries and studios, healing arts centers, community celebrations, art markets, art-centered events, art-focused block parties, parks, plazas, streets, and arts educational events.

This program aims to bolster festivals and cultural spaces as they champion Minneapolis-based artists and foster community connections. Additionally, it strives to actively embrace the inclusion of underrepresented and diverse creatives, broaden community engagement, and cultivate dynamic, celebratory environments within their projects.

Funding Availability

Eligible Locations

  • All Festivals & Cultural Spaces Activation projects must benefit communities and residents within the city of Minneapolis Cultural Districts, with projects taking place within and in *close proximity to the Minneapolis Cultural Districts.

    *ACA is open to considering proposals located within a 5-block radius of the boundaries delineating the cultural district. Each proposal will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine its alignment with our objectives and requirements.

    The seven Cultural Districts include:

    Eligible Applicants

  • Applicants must be Minnesota residents and be able to work in-person throughout the term of their work on this Program. Preference to Minneapolis residents.

  • Local individual artists, artist groups/teams, arts organizations and arts/culture service organizations focusing on these artistic and community-building practices: visual, performing, literary, media, traditional, culinary, digital and public arts as well as design and craft and those working in non-traditional media.

    • If the applicant is a group, art space, school, or neighborhood association, an individual representing this group must be named.

    • If the applicant is an informal collective that is not a registered business with the state, a Minnesotan resident in compliance with state laws must be willing to contract with the City on behalf of the group

  • Application must be submitted by the application deadline. Late applications will not be considered.

IMPORTANT DATES 

Application opens: February 14, 2025 

Award information sessions: February 26, 2025

Questions on NOFA due: March 10, 2025

Responses to Questions posted: March 14, 2025

Application deadline: April 15, 2025, at 4:30 PM CST

Applications review: April 22 to May 16, 2025

Award notifications: May 30, 2025

Eligible funding period (estimated): June 10, 2025 to June 9, 2026

Eligible Activities

This Program aims to bolster festivals and cultural spaces by providing award funding for work that champions Minneapolis-based artists and fosters community connections. Additionally, it strives to actively embrace the inclusion of underrepresented and diverse creatives, broaden community engagement, and cultivate dynamic, celebratory environments within their Activations. As these awards support community-based artists responding to Cultural District's needs, we empower artists to define what community support means within their work, based on their engagement with the Cultural District they aim to serve. All Activations that receive award funding must be free and open to the public.

 

Activations may include, but are not limited to, the following: 

  • New and existing arts festivals, community celebrations, art markets, art-centered events, and arts-focused block parties. 

  • Partner-based projects in the Cultural District bridging cultural spaces with other businesses, restaurants, venues, and vacant spaces within the Cultural District.  

  • Operating support for existing or new cultural programs in cultural spaces that are open and accessible to the public and benefit the community. 

  • Artist-created outdoor spaces on private or public property for community gathering and celebrations.  (Note: this program is not intended to fund or engage with the City’s ongoing public art programming. Public art projects, such as murals created through this program may need to follow the City’s public art policies, particularly all projects in the Right of Way or on City property. Project timelines will need to accommodate these processes.) 

  • Activities connecting Cultural Districts to other city-wide initiatives (i.e. allowing a Cultural District gallery to participate in Minneapolis Arts Week; Cultural District theater to participate in local or national theater festival; or a Cultural District venue to produce a showcase of Minneapolis-based performers in a city-wide music festival).  

  • All arts project proposals are welcome, including programs that serve diverse communities including but not limited to: children, youth, teens, single parents, college-aged communities, seniors, families, migrants, people with disabilities, K-12 arts programs, Two-Spirit and LGBTAQI+, POCII communities, hospitality/culture workers, unsheltered, formally and currently incarcerated, and recovery communities.   

 

Visit example projects here https://mplsartsandculture.org/creative-response-fund

Eligible Project Expenses

Awards of up to $16,700 per selected applicant will be provided. Award funding can be used for expenses such as:

  • Staff wages & benefits expended on Program work  

  • Supplies & equipment necessary to carry out proposed Activation

  • Commissions of Minneapolis-based artists for new work 

  • Artist and Partner Fees 

  • Planning and organizing expenses 

  • Communication and outreach expenses 

  • Marketing expenses such as flyers and posters printing 

  • Team-Building expenses 

  • Expenses to enhance accessibility to the proposed Activation. 

  • Expenses that support enhanced representation and inclusion  

  • Expenses that allow for free and/or affordable events (Note: giveaways such as meals, refreshments, transit vouchers, gift cards are not eligible) 

  • Care of artists and community expenses

     

    Award funding cannot be used for costs such as an applicant’s general operating expenses; political, religious, or lobbying activities; and gift cards, cash incentives, participation stipend, or giveaway items such as food & beverages.

    Applicant’s final budget, including any proposed expenses, must be pre-approved by ACA staff and all expenditures must meet  public purpose expenditure criteria. 

Evaluation Criteria

In reviewing applications, the review team/panel will consider the criteria below. The City may, in its sole discretion, expand or reduce the criteria upon which it bases its final decisions.

  • Artistic merit and innovation of proposed project

  • Site-specific and site-responsive sensibility of proposed project. 

  • community building expressed in the application. 

  • Community impact and the ability to stimulate dialogue, provoke thought and/or inspire action in their proposed Activations

  • Whether the applicant and application meet all eligibility criteria and satisfy all NOFA requirements.  

  • Whether Program funds are available.  

  • How well the application meets City goals (https://www.minneapolismn.gov/government/city-goals/), priorities and plans, including the reduction of climate impact and ensure equity.  

  • Expressed needs of the applicant and affiliated arts sector. 

  • Quality, thoroughness, and clarity of the application.  

  • Qualifications and experience of the applicant.  

  • Feasibility of proposed Activations and ability of applicant to complete proposed Activations.  

  • Ability to support a broad range of unique artists and diverse arts activities that support creative art making and cultural exchange. 

Commonly Asked Questions 

1. I’m a new artist, can I still apply?  

Yes. Artists working in any creative mediums at any career development stage can apply.  

2. I want to collaborate with another organization (e.g., church, mosque, temple or neighborhood group, nonprofit) on a larger initiative they’re doing. Can I use this funding for that? 

Maybe. Funds cannot be used to pay for costs of the larger initiative that are not related to the Festivals & Cultural Spaces activation project. However, your Festivals & Cultural Spaces Activation project can take place as part of a larger initiative, so long as it still meets all the requirements of this NOFA.  

3. I’m applying with a proposal for one of the Cultural Districts and have been asked by another team to subcontract in their project for a different Cultural District. Is this allowed? 

Yes. 

4. I’m an organization, can I apply? 

Yes. As long as you are an arts organization, you may apply.  

5. My project will be located in more than one Cultural District, is that ok? 

Yes. However, the proposal must present a realistic budget to show how it will be feasible in $16,700 or less. 

7. I am planning for some of my project activities to take place outside the city of Minneapolis in other parts of the Twin Cities Metro, is this ok? 

No. All project activities must benefit Minneapolis communities and take place within the city of Minneapolis Cultural Districts. 

8. I have received Creative Response Funding in the past, can I apply for the Cultural Districts Arts Fund in 2024?  

Yes. There are no restrictions to apply if you had received funding from Office of Arts Culture and Creative Economy in past. 

9. I am a Minneapolis resident artist but I'm planning to work remotely from another State, can I apply? 

No, you must be a Minnesota resident and living in Minnesota for the duration of the award. Our intention is to support grounded community-based artist-led projects and these are difficult to implement remotely without authentic community relationships. 

Additional Q&A

Question: I see in the map on the city's website that we are just outside of the highlighted "Cedar Avenue South", but wanted to confirm if we might still be considered for Festival and Cultural Spaces program funding. 

Answer: All Festivals & Cultural Spaces Activation projects must benefit communities and residents within the city of Minneapolis Cultural Districts, with projects taking place within and in close proximity to the Minneapolis Cultural Districts. ACA is open to considering proposals located within a 5-block radius of the boundaries delineating the cultural district. Each proposal will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine its alignment with our objectives and requirements. 

 

Question: What do you consider as a non-profit arts organization? We are a 501(c) (3) non profit organization in Minneapolis and one of our programs houses a theatre near a CD. Would we be considered an arts organization? 

Answer: Yes, you are an arts service organization and eligible to apply for CDAF. 

 

Question: Can the programming on/by a lake apply? There are no lakes in CD map. 

Answer: Projects that are not located within the Cultural Districts boundaries or within a 5 block radius of these boundaries are not eligible for CD funding. If you believe your project will benefit the communities and residents of CUltural Districts, please contact us. Each proposal will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis to determine its alignment with our objectives and requirements.

Visit ACA website https://mplsartsandculture.org/ and subscribe to the ACA newsletter to be the first one know about our 2025 programs and future funding opportunities. 

Question: How to contact in case of questions? 

Answer: Contact us at mplsaca@minneapolismn.gov or ask question to the program manager meena.mangalvedhekar@minneapolismn.gov . Please include your question, context for your question, and contact details. 

 

Question: How many applicants are required to work on a project? 

Answer: One applicant is required for CD Ambassador applicant. (write NA for applicant #2 fields) 

Two applicants are required to be named on Pop-up Art Activation as well as Festival & Cultural Spaces program. Only one of the two applicants needs to step forward to sign the award contract. 

 

Question: What if I live and work in Minneapolis but not in or within close proximity of a Minneapolis Cultural District. 

Answer: It’s possible that you may not have authentic connection, lived experiences and/or understanding of the community needs of cultural districts. ACA is supporting applicants that demonstrate such capacity for deep and meaningful ways of community engagement. 

 

Question: How are you going to select applicants? 

Answer: A review panel consisting of representatives from nonprofit, non-arts organizations serving priority communities, community arts experts and members of the Minneapolis Arts Commission will recommend applicants for awards after a round of blind review voting and a panel discussion meeting. 

 

Question: Why should I apply for Pop-up Art Activation program? How does this program help me as a creative professional? 

Answer: The program is designed to incentivize community-based artists of all disciplines, and emerging designers. It supports temporary projects and activities that incorporate a primary creative component. These activations will showcase creative ambition of local artists to enhance community-building. This Program will incentivize temporary, new and innovative Activations in the communities of Minneapolis Cultural Districts. 

These Activations can be temporary and ephemeral, responding directly to community needs while centering on community-driven cultural practices. Funded Activations will integrate community engagement and site-specific responsiveness. Activations can include various arts activities such as dance, drumming, songwriting, performance, improv theater, poetry, bilingual plays, puppetry, sound healing, audio storytelling, interactive installations, hands-on activities for youth/families, and storytelling through film and visual art, etc.  

 

Question: Can one organization submit two separate projects for the same opportunity? 

Answer: yes, if there are two separate project teams. However, in this case, contact us to determine if one of your projects is eligible for a different cultural districts arts fund program. So, you are not competing against yourself for funding. 

 

Question: Can I request funding for a performance event series that is fully virtual? i.e. released on youtube 

Answer: Yes. However, closely consider the evaluation criteria including “Applicant must demonstrate the capacity to engage communities in diverse, deep and meaningful ways.” If there’s a possibility of hosting free to attend in-person screenings in eligible locations, we encourage you to invite CD community to such events before releasing the content online. 

 

Question: Can I use the award dollars to make a film? 

Answer: Film-making can be the creative component of your proposal. Make sure to elaborate how all the overall deliverables benefit communities and residents within the Cultural Districts, with activities taking place within the selected Cultural District. 

Question: Can I buy equipment such as a printer or video camera because it is required to create proposed project? 

Answer: All funded Activations must incorporate a primary creative component and must benefit communities (rather than the applicant) and residents within the Cultural Districts, with Activations taking place within a Cultural District. See the eligible expenses section for each applicable program. Basically, you may rent any equipment to an eligible project, to present/create the creative component of the project. 

 

Question: Can we invite artists from overseas or from other states to present at an event we're proposing? 

Answer: Yes. 

 

Question: Can I invite community for a meal as a part of a festival?  

Answer: Yes. As long as the meal is to be consumed at the activation, and is a part of primary creative component of the project. Meals give away is not an eligible expense.