All Projects

To provide the region free access to numerous arts, cultural, historical, and educational events and activities that were not available in the area. The Wabasha County Agricultural Fair held a children’s event called “Games that Require no Batteries,” and several workshops engaging all ages of fairgoers in local history, bluegrass music, and music of the Elvis era.

To construct an amphitheater on the Wadena County fairgrounds. The amphitheater will be available to the community for cultural and education events sponsored by the Wadena County Agricultural Society, local community groups, schools, etc.

To offer new arts and cultural heritage programming at the Waseca County Free Fair. Programming will include a performance by a Minnesota band, a German heritage band, and Homeward Bound Theater.

To increase access to a variety of performance art at the Washington County Fair. Funds will be used to showcase a miming presentations by Theatre of Fools, a Native American dance demonstration by the Little Thunderbirds, and a comedy show by author Michael Perry, who discusses today’s small town fardmand family culture.

Improved the safety and the environment for historical artifacts by separating an exhibit fabrication area.

An old coal room was retrofitted with a compatible reuse where the intake has been reversed to exhale. This special facility will enable the Winona County Historical Society to be more intentional and responsive with its exhibits, which before the addition were fairly static. Their stated intention in the final report is to have exhibits that change more often and therefore prompt the Society’s building to be used a more frequent gathering space.

An online timeline of legislation that has significantly affected women from Suffrage (1920) to the present was published. The entries are listed in chronological order. Each point on the timeline has a summary of the legislation and is linked to documentation related to the law's passage. Specific legislation can be indentified in conjunction with how many female legislators were holding office at that time.

The personal recollections of six women who have sought or held office in Minnesota were videotaped.  These oral histories speak of the barriers, biases, challenges and opportunities they faced in politics. The recorded interviews are permanent additions to the Minnesota Historical Society archives. They were also used in a 30 minute broadcast television program on TPT (Twin Cities Public Television).

As part of a larger project to create a documentary on women's political history in Minnesota, historic footage, photographs, news clips and portions of taped oral history interviews were assembled and edited. The project produced a thirty-minute video documentary prepared for broadcast on Minnesota public television stations. AAUW owns the copyright and has offered programs and DVD copies to communities statewide, including a copy sent to the Minnesota historical Society.

To offer a new exhibit in the fair’s conservation building on 4-H and paint a mural related to the new exhibit. The Yellow Medicine County Fair has purchased display cases for their new 4-H exhibit. The exhibit consists of 4-H items from the past and present and the mural provides a history of county fairs.

To add to the known history of the Chinese experience in Minnesota in the years 1911-2011, the CAAPAM conducted oral history interviews of Chinese Americans to gather information about their memories of immigration and settlement in Minnesota in relation to historical events happening in the homeland after 1970.

The interviewees were chosen to represent diverse periods, backgrounds, lengths of residency and professions.

To collect and collate historical photographs, memorabilia, and personal stories in order to preserve the history of the McLeod County Fair. The fair will seek out stories and request historical items, for loan or donation, to the McLeod County Agricultural Association. During the 140th anniversary of the fair, visitors can view a history display. Funds will be used to preserve a piece of Minnesota's heritage in a single collection, while educating the public with displays.

The Science Museum of Minnesota’s work with schools is a continuation of efforts undertaken in the FY12-13 biennium, generously funded by an appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. With previous Legacy funds, we undertook a museum-wide evaluation of our offerings to schools and how we could better serve our student and educator audiences.

The Science Museum of Minnesota’s work with schools is a continuation of efforts undertaken in the FY12-13 biennium, generously funded by an appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. With previous Legacy funds, we undertook a museum-wide evaluation of our offerings to schools and how we could better serve our student and educator audiences.

Minnesota Public Radio is the state's largest cultural organization, providing 96 percent of the population with free access to some of the best broadcast cultural programming in the world.

Grant was used to purchase 24 microfilm rolls of the local newspapers in Clearwater County and fill in from neighboring counties newspapers.

An Americans With Disabilities Act compliant access ramp was added to the front of the two-room Gosen School/Museum to provide access for all who want to enter. The building, built in 1888, was in operation until 1951. Sometime in the early 1990's it was moved to its present location in the city park. It serves as the museum and education center for the artifacts of the early settlers of Winger and the surrounding area. During the project the original entry door was salvaged, repaired and reinstalled instead of the proposed replica replacement.

The MAAMCC created a pilot project that teaches students about the lives and times of noteworthy African American Minnesotans and their contributions to Minnesota and the Nation. The traveling exhibit, called Trunk-It (a museum without walls), presents an actor/docent with a trunk of history props, activities to perform and a story to tell of a Minnesota African American pioneer to elementary age students. Eight pioneers have been identified through research and have been chosen to be portrayed in a Trunk-It exhibit. Currently, two trunks have been completed: Emily O.

To provide access to arts and heritage education to fairgoers. The Aitkin County Agricultural Society enhanced their portable stage by adding additional equipment and a sound system. The fair was able to welcome three artistic performers, including a bluegrass band, a clown, and a caricature artist and purchase interactive items that are used in the new agricultural education center.

To bring a variety of cultural heritage and arts programming to the fair, and purchase a stage.

A series of eight oral histories were collected from landscape architects. These interviews document the story of landscape design in 20th Century Minnesota. The participants were asked to reflect on what personal experiences influenced their professions and how Minnesota spaces have been enhanced by landscape architecture over the past century.

As preparation for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places, MHM gathered data (drawings, photographs and measurements) of the dry nautical portion (approximately 25%) of the sternwheel steamer, The Andy Gibson. A trench was dug alongside of the steamer to expose the condition of the portion of the steamer covered by 3-4 feet of soil.  Triangulation and measured drawings were used to document the ships construction attributes. A NR nomination was prepared incorporating this new information with older information that was gathered from previ

As preparation to additional historic preservation work on the Odeon Theatre, listed in the national Register of Historic Places, a qualified historical architect was hired to inspect and evaluate the building. Issues of safety/building codes, accessibility concerns, weather-tightness and future functional improvements were addressed. The final report included a mechanical/electrical evaluation of the building and its proposed future addition. Improvements will include accessible restrooms, a second accessible exit, expanded storage space and the repair of the stage floor.

Artist Assistance

Artist Assistance

Artist Assistance

To provide an additional stage for area artists and educators to showcase their talents and knowledge. Arts in the Northland will encompass a diverse group of artists and educators to offer educational and hands on experiences for fairgoers. Historical, traditional, and modern forms of art are all to be a part of the Arts in the Northland.

Per Minnesota Law, the Minnesota Humanities Center administers the Arts and Cultural Heritage Children's Museum Grants. The Humanities Center uses a portion of the funds to provide grants administration, including overseeing the proposal process, agreement drafting, financial and program monitoring, and reporting.

To provide a variety of arts and cultural heritage programming opportunities at the Mille Lacs County Fair. A local resident family with success participating in State and National fiddle contests, will assist with the planning and implementation of a fiddle contest and a workshop. A Native American Showcase will allow the Mille Lacs County Fair to broaden its cultural offerings by including an under-represented segment of the county's population in its activities. The showcase will feature Native American dance, song, and drumming.

To highlight arts and cultural heritage at the Sherburne County Fair. Funds will be used to create a history book chronicling 125 years of the Sherburne County Fair, improve the lighting in the fine arts display area, and create a butterfly house to educate visitors about the dwindling population of Minnesota's State Butterfly, the Monarch.