The Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC) announces 10 Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (ACHF) awards totaling $1,350,000 million to Children’s Museums across Minnesota to support arts and cultural heritage exhibits and related educational programs. The ACHF is one of four funds established by Minnesota voters when they approved the Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment on November 4, 2008. The following Children’s Museums were selected to receive an award:

• Otter Cove Children’s Museum, Fergus Falls ($148,490.50)

• Children’s Discovery Center, Campbell ($170,000)

• Mini Sota Agricultural Children’s Museum, Benson ($53,750)

• Children’s Discovery Museum, Grand Rapids ($200,000)

• WonderTrek Children’s Museum, Brainerd ($200,000)

• Great River Children’s Museum, Saint Cloud ($103,200)

• Duluth Children’s Museum, Duluth ($190,000)

• The Works Museum, Minneapolis ($99,957)

• SPARK, Rochester ($102,000)

• Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota, Mankato ($83,000)

The Minnesota Legislature appropriated $1,500,000 to MHC (less 5.5% administrative fees) from the Legacy Fund to administer grants through a competitive application process for Children’s Museums. These grants, consistent with legislative intent, will support arts and cultural exhibits and related educational outreach programming that celebrates cultural diversity statewide.

MHC CEO Kevin Lindsey stated that “Children’s Museums are so important for growing curiosity and exposing children to wonder that resides within Minnesota. At MHC, we’re so glad to continue our support to the Children’s Museums of Minnesota – and appreciate that the legislature understands the value of supporting all of our children.”

MHC received 12 total applications and $1,482,033 in requests for proposed projects. Ninety-two percent of applicants were outside of the 7-county metro area, with an average grant request of $130,836.

“The breadth of organizations across diverse locations in Minnesota reflect the cultural, educational, and economic importance of Children’s Museums across the state and MHC is thrilled to be able to administer these grants to create a more curious and connected society,” said Tristy Auger, MHC’s Grant Manager.

About the Minnesota Humanities Center (MHC)

MHC, an affiliate to the National Endowment for the Humanities, was founded as an independent non-profit organization in 1971. MHC strengthens our society by promoting humanities and increasing shared understanding of our collective pasts. MHC creates a wide variety of humanities programming in collaboration with individuals, creators, scholars, and organizations to build a more curious, inclusive, and connected society. MHC has a long history as a grantmaking organization and operates a full-service event center in a historic building in St. Paul. More information is available at www.mnhum.org.

About Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment

The Minnesota Legislature passed the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment (Legacy Amendment) in 2008 to ensure clean water, preserve opportunities for Minnesotans to enjoy nature, parks, and trails, and to appreciate arts and culture that exists within the State. The Legacy Amendment increases the state sales tax by three-eighths of one percent to create the Legacy Fund – 19.75% of the Legacy Fund is dedicated to the arts and cultural heritage fund.