ARTS & CULTURE VIBRANT STOREFRONTS
The Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts Initiative is a city-led funding rolling opportunity to support and grow creative opportunities within the ecosystem of downtown and other parts of the city with the goal of increasing vibrancy, innovation, and sustainability.
Photo: Justin Sengly
Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts Initiative
Purpose
The Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts is a city-led funding rolling opportunity to support and grow creative opportunities within the ecosystem of downtown and other parts of the city with the goal of increasing vibrancy, innovation, and sustainability. The Arts & Cultural Affairs department is bringing together property owners with individual artists and arts organizations by providing funding to subsidize rental costs. This yields a dual advantage: ensuring stable tenants for property owners and furnishing essential space for the local creative community.
The overarching goal is to provide public financial support, advocacy, and community building for local artists, creative entrepreneurs, and arts organizations to:
Stimulate the economic revitalization of targeted areas in the downtown district by building a new sense of cross-sector creative cohesion.
Increase and catalyze arts vibrancy, foot traffic and cultural public engagement through supporting and incentivizing prime areas for arts activation.
Assist local artists, creative entrepreneurs and arts organizations with physical space to workshop, incubate, develop and offer their programming and artmaking to the public.
Address the ongoing space crisis affecting the creative community in Minneapolis and increase a sense of public safety in downtown.
Remediate patterns of systemic and institutionalized discrimination, disinvestment, economic exclusion, and disenfranchisement of peoples and identities that have been suppressed and erased.
Terms and conditions
The maximum award amount is up to $50,000 per year, per selected applicant, for partial or full rental costs of a Participating Property over a 2-year period.
Selected Applicants will be required to enter into an award agreement with the City
Selected applicants will be required to enter into a two-year lease agreement and follow the terms set forth with the owners of their chosen Participating Property in order to receive Program award funds, and the City will not be a party to that lease agreement.
Payments will only be made after a contract is executed and a signed copy of the lease agreement has been submitted to the Program manager. Up to 25% of the total award funds may be made available to selected applicants upon contract execution. Remaining award funds will be available to selected applicants upon submission of rent receipts and documented quarterly deliverables.
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, or giveaway items.
Eligible Locations
Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts
Applicants may choose from the current available listings here. Current Participating Properties are featured in the downloadable brochures. Brochures feature images, locations, rental rates and more.
Listings will be removed when they have been rented or no longer available and new properties will be added as they become available and with permission of the property owner.
Download Participating Property Brochure
Competitive applications on a rolling basis:
Competitive applications for the Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts initiative (“Program”) will be accepted and evaluated on a rolling basis in one or more rounds (depending on funding and space availability). Applicants will be accepted based on proposed use of the space, the fit of the applicant to venue and lease conditions, and ability to provide on-going positive impacts to the vibrancy of Downtown. Multiple applicants can “cluster” together in an application to maximize the potential of collaboration and use of the space
Eligible Applicants
Applicants must be Minnesota residents and be able to work in-person throughout the term of their work on this program. Preference will be given to Minneapolis residents.
Applicants must be local individual artists or artist groups/teams with professional artistic resumes spanning a minimum of three years or arts organizations or arts/culture service organizations that can demonstrate a minimum of three years of programmatic history.
Applicants must focus on one or more of the following artistic and community-building practices: visual, performing, literary, media, traditional, digital and public arts as well as design and craft and those working in non-traditional media.
Applicants who are able to commit to a 2-year lease in one of the Participating Properties.
Applicants must program the Participating Properties with on-going, at least quarterly accessible, free or low-cost events which are open to the public. These programs need to be reviewed and approved by ACA staff and should be relevant to the work of the artists/organization.
Multiple applicants may submit a joint application to “cluster” together in one of the Participating Properties to maximize the potential of collaboration and use of the space, so long as each applicant meets all eligibility requirements of this NOFA.
IMPORTANT DATES
Applications open: July 26, 2024
Program information webinar: August 2, 2024, at 2:00 p.m.
Questions on NOFA due: August 6, 2024
Responses to Questions posted: August 12, 2024
Properties site visits: August 16, 2024
First Round Application deadline: September 13, at 4:30 p.m. CST (the application portal will remain open for future funded awards)
Applications review: September 17 - October 1, 2024
Award notifications: October 8, 2024
Eligible funding period: 24 months from the executed contract date
Evaluation Criteria
Program applications will be based on the criteria below. The City may, in its sole discretion, expand or reduce the criteria upon which it bases its final decisions.
Ability to facilitate collaborative art or cultural activities that support the economic vitality of downtown, plus have the capacity to bring the community together by operating a Participating Property.
Ability to facilitate programming that celebrates or promotes the rich diverse character and identity of Minneapolis and greater Minnesota.
Demonstrated ability to ensure proposal is accessible to a diverse audience and inclusive of various backgrounds, abilities and perspectives.
Proposed use of one of the Participating Properties, the fit of the applicant to venue and lease conditions for one of the Participating Properties, and ability to provide on-going positive impacts to the vibrancy of Downtown.
Strength of the theme/concept/use of the Participating Property and its activation and its implementation.
Whether the applicant and application meet all eligibility criteria and satisfy all NOFA requirements.
Whether NOFA Project funds are available.
How well the application meets City goals, priorities and plans including the reduction of climate impact and ensure equity. See City’s official Climate equity plan here: Climate Equity Plan - City of Minneapolis (minneapolismn.gov)
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 activities and ability of applicant to complete proposed activities.
Level of creativity, innovation, and community building expressed it the application.
Ability to support a broad range of unique artists and diverse arts activities that support creative art making and cultural exchange.
Program Deliverables
Audience Engagement: An audience/community engagement strategy that demonstrates the incorporation of interactive elements to engage passersby and encourage participation to support gatherings and activations.
Programming: Applicant must program the space with ongoing, at least quarterly events that are accessible, free or low cost, and open to the public.
Local Context: Demonstrate how applicant will integrate elements of the local community, culture, or history to create a sense of connection and relevance.
Documentation: Record and photograph production of artwork, projects and or events held at the participating storefront. On site activations and public/community engagement must be captured and shared with the city and the constituents. Deliver a communications/marketing plan that includes how applicant will make their events accessible, collect demographic data. Conduct surveys before and after the integration to gauge community members' sense of connection and relevance
Quarterly Reporting: Award recipients will provide two primary types of reporting to ACA staff on a quarterly basis: financial and programmatic reporting. These reports provide information about the overall financial status and performance of the awardees ACA Vibrant Storefront Program. Financial reports will include proof of rent paid per month and revenue generated. Programmatic reporting will include tracking the number of artists supported, variety of audiences and communities served via the ACA approved programming. Recipients must also respond to any audit requests that pertain to the award.
Annual Reporting: An annual report must be submitted twelve months from the date the property lease is signed. This annual report must include audience engagement numbers, number of events, description of event outcomes. revenue, number of jobs created/artists supported, description of the ways in which applicant was able to leverage their work and achieve more opportunities as well as demographics of onsite events and attendees and financial reporting.
NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability) Questions & Answers
Can we paint the exterior / interior?
This is a question for the property owners as each property is different. ACA is currently working with property owners that are amenable to facade changes. Please note that Harmon Place is a Historical District and any changes to the facade need to comply with these historical guidelines please click here.Is the lease renewal at market rate? and is that covered by another round of funding potentially?
The lease terms and costs are determined by the property owner and awardees may apply after their two-year term is completed for another round of funding depending on budget availability.What are the eligible expenses?
The award is to subsidize rent. The award does not cover operations, tenant improvements or any other costs.Can funds be used for space development?
No. Improving the space, buying equipment or tenant improvements within the space are the responsibility of the tenant. The award funds may not be used for development.May the award be used for a security deposit?
Yes, we will need a lease contract and/or invoice/receipt justifying the expended amountCan applicants apply for multiple properties, or do we only apply for one site?
You can choose up to three properties. Make your selection from highest to lowest priority. Property #1 will be your highest priority, then #2 and last will be property #3.Are the rent amounts predetermined?
The rental rates are featured in each unit brochure that may be downloaded on our website. The rates are determined by the property owners, but they also may be negotiable. This is on a property-to-property basis. The selected applicant will enter into the rental rate negations with each property owner.Is this only available for participating properties?
If you know a property or a property owner that is located within the Downtown corridor, we suggest that you put them in touch with us. We can talk to them about what this program is about and if they would like to participate in the Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts program.May the award be used for utilities such as trash, water, electricity & heat?
Some properties may include utilities in the monthly rental costs. In this case the award may be used as utilities are a pre-fixed amount included in rent. If the utility charges are the responsibility of the tenant, the award may not be used to cover utilities.Is there a set target that the applicants need to meet for generated revenue?
No. However, we want to make sure that we are supporting you and creating a business model that you can sustain over the two years or longer. The hope is that this award will create space for a sustainable business model for you economically.Are group applications favored over single applicants?
There is no preference. Strong proposals are strong proposals, they can come from a single applicant or from a group application.Is there a possibility to create a list of artists that want to create a cluster so we can get in contact with one another?
We are creating a spreadsheet of artist wanting to cluster, email: mplsaca@minneapolismn.gov to join.What kind of leases are the property owners using, gross or net leases?
This varies from property to property; the information is listed in the brochures.Is there a sample of a commercial lease, to create a budget for the funding?
Yes, an interested applicant may email mplsaca@minneapolismn.govAre their spaces available for less than the maximum $50,000 a year or will there be?
We are in the works of receiving this information from the property owners. If you are interested in a particular space, please inquire directly via email.Can some strategic partners include organizations or corporations out of state i.e.: Google or Meta?
If the lead applicant partners up to receive funding from Meta or Google, we'd be open to any kind of collaboration that you can imagine. We will take that on a project-by-project basis, but our priority will be investing in Minneapolis and Minnesota.Is CAM included in the funding?
The CAM (Common Area Maintenance) is listed whether or not utilities are included is listed, please reflect back to the brochures, the CAM is not part of the funding if it is not included in monthly / annual rents.What is the insurance requirement for the properties?
Each property owner has their individual insurance requirements which you will have to meet with the specific property owner.Is there a possibility this program will move farther down Hennepin into the Uptown area?
Our hope is that this pilot program is successful enough that it can move into other parts of the city, including Uptown.Who will make up the review team?
A committee of City staff will review applications and recommend applicants for funding. The team comprise of ACA staff as well as other city department staff that are experts in their field.How does the team make their decision?
In reviewing Program applications, the review team will base their decision on the eligibility criteria found in the NOFA (Notice of Funding Availability)When applicants cluster, is it for the 50K or is it 50K per applicant?
The award is up to $50,000 per application. Whether you do a single application or a group or cluster application, the funding will be award per application. Single application will receive up to $50,000, group or cluster application will receive up to $50,000.Is there an ideal start date of the lease? I understand it's 24 months of funding after, but is there a specific time frame of when the space lease will need to be started?
We hope to have that happen as soon as possible. Funding for this year needs to be contracted by December.When is the application closing date?
Applications will be accepted and evaluated on a rolling basis in one or more rounds (depending on funding and space availability). The first round of applications will be accepted through August 30, 2024. As of August 26, the deadline has been extended to September 13, 2024.Will a waitlist be created for approved applicants for additional properties when they become available?
The application portal will remain open, and a waitlist will be created for accepted applicants.Are these rental rates for a monthly lease, or are they intended to approximate the annual base amount for a commercial lease?
The rental rates are an approximate amount on an annual base.How would an artist tenant be expected to host accessible events in a property that does not meet ADA standards?
This is a concern and it’s something that the tenant would have to negotiate directly with the property owner. This is a pilot program and the first of its kind for our department, we are limited on covering rental costs only for this first round and not facade improvements.What is the city's plan for funding accessible updates to properties that require them?
We would be happy to assist and put the selected applicant in touch with the city departments that oversee accessibility. We are working on a list of opportunities that could assist the applicant or business owner for facade improvements.Does the award become taxable income?
Applicants will receive a 1099 form from the City of Minneapolis.Will applications continue to be accepted past the August 30 deadline?
Yes, the August 30 deadline is for the first round of available funding. The application portal will remain open for future funding and upcoming featured property sites. As of August 26, the deadline has been extended to September 13, 2024.