Putting the Arts into the Constitution: Minnesota's Historic Victory
Monday, October 18, 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm
Organized by Vickie Benson, arts program director, The McKnight Foundation; Sheila Smith, executive director, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts.
Presented by Paul Austin, executive director, Conservation Minnesota.
Minnesota recently passed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment, which increased the state's sales tax by three-eighths of one percent to create four new dedicated funds for land, water, parks, and art. Minnesota is now the only state with dedicated funding for the arts in its state constitution. A broad coalition of over 300 nonprofit arts and conservation groups, as well as some civic groups, spent over a decade passing the bill through the state legislature and then ran a $5 million statewide political campaign to pass the amendment with the voters. Hear about the unique coalition that formed to pass the proposal, the highs and lows of the effort, and how The McKnight Foundation played a role, and discuss whether the proposal has lessons for other states and for arts advocates across the country.
Related Links:
Minnesota Citizens for the Arts