Legacy Dashboard

Minnesota Legacy Amendment Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund

MELSA and its member libraries present an array of arts, cultural, literary, and Minnesota history programs in collaboration with arts and cultural organizations, independent artists, historical societies, and community organizations. Programs are funded in part with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

If you would like information on a specific program, please send a request to abigail@melsa.org.

Background

In November 2008, Minnesota voters approved a constitutional amendment to dedicate funds for Minnesota’s Outdoor Heritage, Clean Water, Parks and Trails, and Arts and Cultural Heritage. Under the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (ACHF) Minnesota’s 300+ public libraries receive funding distributed to the 12 Minnesota Regional Library Systems (including MELSA) to provide programs and services in four areas: arts (visual, performing and media), culture, literary and Minnesota history.

MELSA received:

• $1,141,083.24 for FY5, July 2013–June 2014
• $1,141,083.24 for FY6, July 2014–June 2015
• $844,623.55 for FY7, July 2015-June 2016
• $821,724.72 for FY8, July 2016-June 2017
• $965,841.35 for FY9, July 2017-June 2018
• $970,181.44 for FY10, July 2018-June 2019
• $992,354.47 for FY11, July 2019-June 2020
• $995,195.73 for FY12, July 2020-June 2021
• $974,703.35 for FY13, July 2021-June 2022

The current MELSA allocation is divided into four areas:

• 71% for local programs provided by the eight MELSA library systems
• 27% for regional programming
• 3% for administration

MELSA’s Legacy Committee created a white paper outlining goals for the metropolitan region’s libraries. The group recommends the following goals for the ACHF program:

• Highlight the unique role/position of public libraries in the cultural life and heritage of our communities, region, and state.
• Develop sustainable partnerships between public libraries and other arts, cultural and educational organizations throughout the state.
• Utilize and highlight the local talent throughout the state.
• Develop innovative and exciting programs that our patrons want and use.
• Create cultural opportunities to serve the diverse demographics of our residents
• Be good stewards of a limited financial resource.