Local festivals benefit from new Minnesota Humanities Center grants

The Minnesota Humanities Center has awarded more than $2.8 million in legacy grants for 43 festivals around the state.

This is the second year the Minnesota Legislature has provided funds from the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. The Humanities Center received 141 applications and $14,149,967 in requests for proposed projects. The average grant request was $101,475 and 35 percent of applicants were outside of the seven-county metro area.

“I am thankful for the hard work of our review panels in reviewing the applications submitted,” said CEO Kevin Lindsey in a news release. “Funding will support the many unique, diverse and wonderful festivals in Minnesota that build our community and make our state an amazing place to live.”

St. Paul organizations that received funding include: 825 Arts ($122,700), Arts Us Center for the African Diaspora ($49,380), Full Circle Theatre Company ($51,250), India Association of Minnesota ($20,000), Indigenous Roots Cultural Arts Center ($40,000), International Festival of Minnesota ($194,250), Mizna ($55,000), Monarch Joint Venture ($37,840), Music Mission ($14,545), New Native Theatre ($114,500), Rondo Avenue Inc. ($80,000), Selby Avenue Jazz Festival ($100,000), the United Hmong ($220,000), Twin Cities Jazz Festival ($150,000), Walker West Music Academy ($100,000) and Westside Boosters Youth Athletic Club ($220,000).

Minneapolis organizations include: BIPOC Foodways Alliance ($62,160), Friends of Global Market, Inc. ($25,000), Minnesota People of Color LGBT Pride ($20,000), MSP Film Society ($100,000), Northeast Mpls Art Association ($38,067), Oromo Diaspora Media ($37,972), PCYC ($50,035), Rebound, Inc. ($24,825), SEAD Project ($82,800), Somali Museum ($56,366) and West Broadway Business and Area Coalition ($24,000).

Other groups in the metro that received funding include: Bloomington Pride ($10,000) and Tehor Tibetan Organization of MN ($24,000) in Bloomington; South St. Paul’s Dance Projects by ME ($50,000); Hiddo Soor International Organization ($55,000) and Pan Asian Arts Alliance ($49,800) in Plymouth; Minnesota Vietnamese Language School in Roseville ($16,500); and Brooklyn Park’s Umunne Cultural Association ($60,000).