Cultural Expression
Forecasted
Cultural Expression supports artists, culture bearers, and organizations in sharing traditional arts and contemporary work rooted in cultural traditions to explore, preserve, and celebrate community culture.
Funder: Minnesota State Arts Board
Due Dates (Anticipated): June 2027 (Application deadline)
Funding Amounts: $5,000–$35,000; no cash match required
Summary: Supports activities that share, explore, pass on, express, or celebrate community culture through traditional arts and contemporary art rooted in cultural traditions.
Key Information: Projects must explore or express community culture, not simply engage a particular demographic in arts activities.
Description
Cultural Expression is a pilot program of the Minnesota State Arts Board supporting activities that explore, transmit, and celebrate a community’s culture through the arts. It supports traditional art forms passed down within a community and contemporary art forms rooted in cultural traditions. Communities may be defined by ethnicity, tribal affiliation, geographic or regional identity, language, or other significant characteristics, with shared beliefs, customs, traditions, and ways of life.
Projects may explore or pass on culture within a community, or share and celebrate it with other Minnesotans. Supported activities include learning or practicing traditional cultural art forms, cultural festivals and performances, exhibitions, apprenticeships with master artists or culture bearers, and documentation that preserves and passes on cultural traditions.
