Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund

In the fall of 2008, Minnesota voters were presented with the following question: “Shall the Minnesota Constitution be amended to dedicate funding to protect our drinking water sources; to protect, enhance, and restore our wetlands, prairies, forests, and fish, game, and wildlife habitat; to preserve our arts and cultural heritage; to support our parks and trails; and to protect, enhance, and restore our lakes, rivers, streams, and groundwater by increasing the sales and use tax rate beginning July 1, 2009, by three-eighths of one percent on taxable sales until the year 2034?”

A “yes” vote passed with a 56% margin. This funding was further apportioned into different areas, and ArtOrg is funded partly by the so-called Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund portion. ArtOrg believes strongly that these funds should be used for high impact, important projects. We strive to make our own projects examples of Legacy Funding used at its best.

When a project is funded by a particular group such as the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council, The Minnesota State Arts Board, or the Viking Regional Library System, we always pay respect by saying “This activity is funded by (that group) through the Minnesota arts and cultural heritage fund as appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature with money from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.”