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

  • Awards of up to $16,700 per selected applicant will be provided. (Up to 4 awards per Cultural District)

  • The awardee must have a signed contract before December 30, 2025.

  • Funding will be available to selected awardees during a 12-month period.

    Notice of funding availability (NOFA)

    Download NOFA here

    Or

    Read NOFA highlights below for the eligibility criteria for applicants, activations, and project expenses.

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 (RSVP here)

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.