Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund History Appropriations Language

Session Law Reference: Laws of Minnesota, 2021 First Special Session, Chapter 1, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 4.

Subd. 4. Minnesota Historical Society, FY2022: $15,588,000. FY2023: $17,497,000

The amounts in this subdivision are appropriated to the governing board of the Minnesota Historical Society to preserve and enhance access to Minnesota’s history and its cultural and historical resources. Grant agreements entered into by the Minnesota Historical Society and other recipients of appropriations in this subdivision must ensure that these funds are used to supplement and not substitute for traditional sources of funding. Funds directly appropriated to the Minnesota Historical Society must be used to supplement and not substitute for traditional sources of funding. Notwithstanding Minnesota Statutes, section 16A.28, for historic preservation projects that improve historic structures, the amounts are available until June 30, 2025. The Minnesota Historical Society or grant recipients of the Minnesota Historical Society using arts and cultural heritage funds under this subdivision must give consideration to Conservation Corps Minnesota and Northern Bedrock Historic Preservation Corps, or an organization carrying out similar work, for projects with the potential to need historic preservation services.

Statewide Historic and Cultural Grants 

$5,982,000 the first year and $7,000,000 the second year are for statewide historic and cultural grants to local, county, regional, or other historical or cultural organizations or for activities to preserve significant historic and cultural resources. Money must be distributed through a competitive grant process. The Minnesota Historical Society must administer the money using established grant mechanisms, with assistance from the advisory committee created under Laws 2009, chapter 172, article 4, section 2, subdivision 4, paragraph (b), item (ii).

Statewide History Programs 

$6,213,000 the first year and $6,990,000 the second year are for historic and cultural programs and purposes related to the heritage of the state. Of this amount, $213,000 the first year must be used by the Board of Directors of the Minnesota Historical Society to either produce or purchase and distribute a book to engage and educate elementary school students on Minnesota’s natural resources, legacy, culture, and history. The book should be made available costfree to educators and libraries and through state historical society sites to provide to a targeted grade of elementary school students.

History Partnerships 

$2,450,000 the first year and $2,550,000 the second year are for history partnerships involving multiple organizations, which may include the Minnesota Historical Society, to preserve and enhance access to Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage in all regions of the state.

Statewide Survey of Historical and Archaeological Sites 

$475,000 the first year and $525,000 the second year are for one or more contracts to be competitively awarded to conduct statewide surveys or investigations of Minnesota’s sites of historical, archaeological, and cultural significance. Results of the surveys or investigations must be published in a searchable form and available to the public cost-free. The Minnesota Historical Society, the Office of the State Archaeologist, the Indian Affairs Council, and the State Historic Preservation Office must each appoint a representative to an oversight board to select contractors and direct the conduct of the surveys or investigations. The oversight board must consult with the Department of Transportation and Department of Natural Resources. 

Digital Library 

$368,000 the first year and $382,000 the second year are for a digital library project to preserve, digitize, and share Minnesota images, documents, and historical materials. The Minnesota Historical Society must cooperate with the Minitex interlibrary loan system and must jointly share this appropriation for these purposes.

Grants

$100,000 the first year is for a grant to the Litchfield Opera House to restore and renovate the historic Litchfield Opera House. (ii) $50,000 the second year is for a grant to the city of South St. Paul to relocate the gatehouses in the BridgePoint Business Park that remain from the Armour & Company meatpacking campus.

Balance Remaining 

Any unencumbered balance remaining under this subdivision the first year does not cancel but is available the second year.