[Mpls] Rabbit-large,in the garden-other secret

[Louise Olsen]

Rabbit-large,in the Garden-other best Kept Secret:


Psssst---The best kept secret in town has been the Gateways Neighborhood projects, the children of the other best kept secret in town----or the parents so to speak of the projects---is the Minneapolis Arts Commission. The Commission has been working at arts bridging community projects since it's inception by the City Council's ordinance provision of 1974. Some of the other best kept secret projects of the Commission have been the creation of Artisit-Designed Manhole Covers and Artist-Designed Benches in downtown Minneapolis,the Camden Gateway on the Northside, the HiawathaAvenue Mural project on the Southside and many other neighborhood gateway projects that involved the neighborhoods and artists working together on making, installing, and appreciating art in public places. The Commission also oversees the Art in the Mayor's Office Program.

Some of the other outreach projects of the Commission have been Community Roundtables and Forums, the Art Resource Fairs, Arts Economic Impact Study support and outreach, and the former Neighborhood Art Funding Rounds that contributed to many artists and their programs based within the Minneapolis neighborhoods. As with the rest of the economy, the funding for the arts has been especially hard hit. I have personally worked with the Neighborhood Funding Rounds part of the Commission and am sorry to report that at this time, there are no funds in place for the much needed grants funding. I feel that this was an important outreach into the grassroots art in the heart -where art happens geniunely- and is the most difficult area for funding to be found.

The Commission is, however, alive and well and now advocating for the citywide Arts Cultural Plan and working with Mayor Rybak on the upcoming Community Cultural Arts Celebration Event. The Commission's overall purpose is to foster development, stimulate participation and appreciation, act as an advocate, advise the City and strive for high standards of quality ------for the arts. The mission is to strengthen the arts and enrich cultural life in Minneapolis. The Commission meets on the third Wednesday of each month, is televised now, and all meetings are open to the public.

. Your support, commitment, and advocacy for these projects and grants is greatly needed and an advocate community voice/nudge to your Council Person is also needed. Please let them know that you support the Arts, the Commission and it's mission of arts bridging our community. The Commission is functioning within the realm of the Planning Department. Mary Altman and Matthew James have been working dilligently with the Commission: for further information you could contact either Mary or Matthew --612-673-5449 at the Cultural Affairs Division.


Louise Olsen
Minneapolis Arts Commissioner
Ward One-Northeast Mpls





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