Cultural Expression
This pilot program supports activities that share, explore, pass on, express, or celebrate the culture of a community through the arts. Cultural communities may be defined by a common ethnicity, tribal affiliation, geographic or regional identity, language, or other significant characteristics, and will have shared beliefs, customs, traditions, and ways of life as a community. Projects may be designed to explore or pass on culture within a community, or to share or celebrate culture with Minnesotans outside the community. The program supports projects that express culture through traditional art forms that have been passed down within a community, and contemporary art forms rooted in cultural traditions.
Funds could be used to support community members learning or practicing a traditional cultural art form; presenting cultural festivals or performances; exhibitions that share or explore the culture of a community; apprenticeships with master artists or culture bearers, or documentation to preserve and pass on cultural traditions; etc. Projects that are intended to engage a particular demographic group or community in the arts, but that do not explore or express that community's culture, are not a good fit for this program.
Program overview and application instructions
FY 2027 Cultural Expression Program Overview and Application Instructions—All applicants should read this document thoroughly before beginning online application.
Application deadline
June 5, 2026, before 4:30 p.m.
When will funds be awarded?
Grant awards will be approved at the January 2027 board meeting. The grant period for these awards will be March 2027 - February 2028; all funded activities must take place within the grant period.
Who can apply?
Both individuals and organizations are eligible to apply. The applicant must be:
An individual
- An artist working in dance, media arts, music, photography, poetry, prose, theater, two-dimensional or three-dimensional visual art, folk, or traditional arts; or
- A culture bearer who has been trained by traditional elders or master artists and whose artistic practice is reflective of the cultural life of a community; or
An organization
- A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt arts organization; or
- A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonarts organization that regularly offers arts programming as an integral part of its mission; or
- A unit of state, local, or tribal government; or
- An arts affiliate of a nonprofit organization or public entity; or
- An arts group without 501(c)(3) status applying with a Minnesota tax-exempt or public fiscal sponsor
An individual may submit an application in only one of the following programs in FY 2027: Creative Individuals, Arts Experiences, Arts Education, or Cultural Expression.
An organization may submit an application in only one of the following programs in FY 2027: Arts Experiences, Arts Education, Cultural Expression.
Additional eligibility requirements are included in the FY 2027 Cultural Expression Program Overview and Application Instructions. Please review all eligibility requirements carefully before beginning an application.
Grant range
Applicants may request between $5,000 - $35,000. No cash match is required.
Resources for applicants
FY 2027 Cultural Expression Information Session and Q&A with Program Officer
Learn more about the FY 2027 Cultural Expression grant program. This virtual information session provides details about the program purpose, eligibility, and application process.
FY 2027 Grant Programs Overview
The Arts Board hosted two virtual sessions giving a high-level overview of the grant programs offered for organizations and individuals in fiscal year 2027. Potential applicants may wish to review the recording of either of these sessions to help determine which is the best fit for their work. Note that the program specific information session linked above will provide a more in-depth understanding of the Cultural Expression grant program for potential applicants.
FY 2027 Grant Programs Overview for Organizations– Recording | Download PowerPoint
FY 2027 Grant Programs Overview for Individuals– Recording | Download PowerPoint
Sample applications
The following applications were submitted by fiscal year 2025 grantees.
The files may take several minutes to download.
If you have questions or need assistance
If you have questions about the content of the application form or narrative, please contact:
Jamie Marshall, program officer
CulturalExpression@arts.state.mn.us
(651) 539-2666
If you have questions about the technical aspects of the online application form, or about how to submit the online forms, please send an e-mail message to:
Chris Berry, grants management systems administrator
Apply.Arts@state.mn.us
(651) 539-2668
For accessibility inquiries or accommodation requests, please contact:
Sue Gens, executive director
Sue.Gens@arts.state.mn.us
(651) 539-2658
The Arts Board offers accommodations, such as alternate format materials, transcription, and other technical assistance, upon request. Grant application deadlines are not able to be extended for any reason. To ensure we are able to provide you access, please make your accommodation request as soon as possible, and no less than two weeks prior to a grant application deadline.
All staff can be reached toll-free at (800) 866-2787 or via Minnesota Relay 711.
How to apply
Application method—All applicants are required to use the WebGrants system to apply and will submit all materials electronically. Registration is required of all applicants before beginning an application to any Arts Board program. It is only necessary to register once.
Two online tutorials are available to acquaint users with the WebGrants system:
Grantee reports and amendments
The following links provide information and instructions regarding final reports and related material required from Arts Board grantees.
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