About

The City of Minneapolis is awarding dozens of arts, culture and dance organizations $1.05 million in funding to promote community-driven projects throughout the community. The Cultural District Arts Fund initiative and the Bridge Fund for Dance is part of the City’s commitment to sparking creativity and cultural connectivity for a thriving community.

“Arts and culture are a huge part of what makes Minneapolis feel like Minneapolis,” said Mayor Jacob Frey. “The artists, dancers, and cultural organizations behind this work bring energy and creativity into every corner of our city. Whether it’s a neighborhood performance, a cultural celebration, or a major festival, these investments help keep Minneapolis a place where people feel connected and inspired.”

Bridge Fund for Dance

In its second year of the program, the Bridge Fund supports the local dance community by giving $450,000 to choreographers, dance companies, producers and performing arts organizations in Minneapolis and across the state. The goal is to strengthen the dance scene and bring more artists to the area. The Bridge Fund is divided into three categories: presentation support for new or expanded showcases, development and research support for exploration of new ideas or approaches, and production and tech support to enhance the final elements of a performance. The 2026 recipients of the Bridge Fund for Dance are:

• Afrocontigbo – for six African diasporic choreographers’ work
• Ananya Dance Theatre – for a new premiere work
• Brazil Arts Twin Cities – for a dance and film showcase
• Devised Arts – for a six-works concert at Cowles Center
• Herbert Johnson III – for a hip-hop production with 10 artists
• Hollywood Studio of Dance – for a young dancer showcase
• Ibimina Thompson – for an interdisciplinary work of voguing, film, DJing and projection
• Vie Boheme – for a Southern Theatre piece
• Minnesota Dance Theatre – for a student production of “The Nutcracker”
• Ragamala Dance – for the Minnesota premiere of “Ananta, The Eternal”
• Red Eye Theater – for an improvised duet
• Ruby Josephine Dance Theater – for a re-imagining of “Ophelia”
• The Arts Nest – for a downtown Cowles Center dance showcase
• Threads Dance Project – for a 15th anniversary premiere event
• zAmya Theater Project – for eight site-specific movement pieces across downtown
• Zenon Dance Company and School – for a showcase of four works at the Cowles
• Asociacion Cultural Kuyayki Peru – for a three-week Afro-Peruvian residency
• Barak ade Soleil – for an event with choreography and poetic language
• Destiny Anderson – for a three-week research residency on Black queer nightlife
• Doma Dance Theater – for a dance-theater residency
• Gabrielle Abram – for a dance-theater residency
• Joan A. Smith – for a dance piece with five dancers
• Valerie Oliveiro – for a multi-year dance series

"These funds represent our commitment to and investment in our shared creative future and the essential role artists play in the civic life of our city,” said Director Ben Johnson, Arts & Cultural Affairs for the City of Minneapolis. “The artists and organizations supported through these programs represent the extraordinary creativity, cultural richness and distinct identity that define Minneapolis. While the demand for support continues to far exceed available resources, the impact of these investments is unmistakable. This funding is strengthening artists, uplifting neighborhoods, amplifying diverse cultural voices and fostering a more connected, vibrant and resilient Minneapolis community.”

Cultural Districts Arts Fund (CDAF)

This year, the CDAF awarded $595,000 to local artists, arts advocates and cultural service organizations to bring arts activities to Minneapolis’ seven cultural districts. The awardees will use these funds through May 2027 in two categories: Pop-Up Art & Culture Activations and Festival & Cultural Spaces Activation. Priority is given to city-based artists whose work centers on care, healing and community well-being. The 2026 recipients are:

• Central Avenue – Ward 1
  • Chris Pennington
  • Pilllar Forum
  • IamAnishinaabe
  • Sam Aros-Mitchell
  • Public Functionary
  • Ernesto Chongo
  • Lush Lounge and Theater
  • Daron Walker/Miki Mosman
  • Sean Phillips
  • Eastside Co-op
• Lowry Avenue North – Wards 4 and 5
  • Nuestra Lucha MN
  • Jovonta Patton
  • Shanene Herbert
  • Common Endeavors
  • Asian Media Access
  • The Salvation Army
  • MN Black Authors Expo
  • Geno Okok
  • Peb Lub Neej Women’s Food and Medicinal Sovereignty Cooperative
  • Xu Qian Music Center
• West Broadway – Ward 5
  • Hearts Healing Hearts CPR
  • Crystal Sokuu
  • Freedom Flow – Juneteenth
  • Black Women’s Wealth Alliance
  • TruArtSpeaks
  • Lundstrom Performing Arts Center
  • Vie Boheme
  • Plymouth Christian Youth Center
  • Peace Madimutsa
  • West Broadway Business and Area Coalition
• Cedar Avenue South – Ward 6
  • Low and High Presents
  • The Cedar Cultural Center
  • FinnFest USA Inc
  • Afghan Cultural Society of MN
  • The Qalanjo Project
  • Theatre in the Round Players
  • Minnesota Fringe Festival
  • Ananya Dance Theater
  • Mixed Blood Theater
  • Summer Cypher
• Franklin Avenue East – Ward 6
  • Centro Tyrone Guzman
  • Red Eye Collaboration
  • Jearica Fountain
  • Open Eye Theatre
  • Native American Community Development Institute
  • Norway House
  • American Swedish Institute
  • Native Music Collective
  • Crankie Fest
• 38thStreet – Wards 8 and 9
  • Christopheraaron Deanes
  • Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center
  • Oromo Irreechaa Festival
  • Healthy Roots Initiative
  • Southside Back in the Day Community
  • Andrew Looze
  • Ten Thousand Things
  • Center for Performing Arts Minneapolis
  • Pillsbury House + Theatre
• East Lake Street – Wards 8 and 9
  • Barebones Productions
  • Mayday Minneapolis
  • Highpoint Center for Printmaking
  • Art Shanty Projects
  • Caracol Latino Performing Arts
  • Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
  • Luis Fitch
  • Mounisha Gorle
  • Pamela Mercado Michelli
  • Six Dot

Mayor Jacob Frey announced the City of Minneapolis is awarding $1 million in grants to 34 community-based organizations across every ward to help revitalize neighborhood business districts and support small businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge.

“In Minneapolis – we show up for our small businesses – it’s just what we do,” said Mayor Frey. “This investment is about bringing energy and opportunity back to the heart of our neighborhoods. We’re heading into a summer filled with block parties, community events, and neighbors coming together to support the local spots that make this city home. These awards are one more way we’re backing the places that keep Minneapolis, Minneapolis.”

Funded through the Great Streets Business District Support Program – with an additional $350,000 from the Small Business Resiliency Fund – this program supports businesses with marketing campaigns, public events, and direct outreach to businesses.

Throughout 2026, grant recipients will activate storefronts, promote neighborhood businesses, and host community events. The goal is to bring more people into commercial areas, boost visibility, and help the local economy build more social capital.

"Good neighbors make good economies,” said Erik Hansen, director of Minneapolis’ Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED). “These grants represent one way that we celebrate and honor the businesses and organizations that make Minneapolis hum. They weave the fabric of our community, and we look forward to seeing the great ways they use these funds to help tell their stories – in every corner of our city – for years to come.”

Operation Metro Surge had a devastating impact on local businesses, causing an estimated $400 million in losses. To support these businesses, the City of Minneapolis has approved a total of $7 million in funding to support business owners, assist their employees, and help keep doors open – this funding is a part of that broader effort.

But everyone has a role to play. Mayor Frey encourages residents and visitors to continue showing love to small businesses and to attend the many events planned this summer and throughout the year.

The Awardees

• Audubon Neighborhood Association — Ward 1 — $20,500
• Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA) — Wards 1 and 3 — $25,000
• Rethos — Wards 1, 4, 5, 6, 8, and 9 — $39,000
• East Bank Neighborhood Partnership — Wards 2 and 3 — $29,000
• Redesign, Inc — Wards 2 and 6 — $38,000
• Seward Civic & Commerce Association — Wards 2 and 6 — $33,500
• Minneapolis Downtown Council — Wards 3 and 7 — $26,000
• Lind-Bohanan Neighborhood Association — Ward 4 — $20,000
• Webber Camden Neighborhood Organization — Ward 4 — $25,000
• Black Business Enterprises Fund — Ward 5 — $13,500
• West Broadway Business and Area Coalition — Ward 5 — $46,000
• IFRI-TRYV — Wards 5, 6, and 9 — $25,000
• West Bank Business Association — Ward 6 — $31,500
• Stevens Square Community Organization — Wards 6 and 7 — $43,570
• New American Development Center — Wards 6 and 10 — $18,000
• Lake Street Council — Wards 6, 8, 9, 10, and 12 — $50,000
• Bryn Mawr Neighborhood Association — Ward 7 — $10,010
• Hennepin Arts — Ward 7 — $20,000
• Hospitality Minnesota — Ward 7 — $20,000
• East Isles Neighborhood Association — Wards 7 and 10 — $35,000
• Lowry Hill Neighborhood Association — Wards 7 and 10 — $40,000
• Minneapolis Foundation — Wards 7 and 10 — $35,000
• Uptown Association — Wards 7 and 10 — $40,000
• Lyndale Neighborhood Association — Ward 8 — $31,900
• Bancroft Neighborhood Association — Wards 8 and 9 — $25,000
• Central Area Neighborhood Development Organization (CANDO) — Wards 8 and 9 — $50,000
• Pillsbury Creative Commons — Wards 8 and 9 — $22,000
• Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES) — Ward 9 — $20,000
• Corcoran Neighborhood Organization — Ward 9 — $25,000
• Friends of Global Market — Ward 9 — $38,720
• Longfellow Business Association — Wards 9 and 12 — $26,800
• Whittier Alliance — Ward 10 — $17,000
• Southwest Business Association — Wards 11 and 13 — $30,000
• 50th & France Business Association — Ward 13 — $30,000

Since its launch in 2008, the Great Streets program has helped strengthen Minneapolis’ neighborhood business districts by investing in local organizations and business associations. This year’s funding focuses on areas most affected by Operation Metro Surge, as well as communities that have historically faced racial, ethnic, and economic disparities.

The Minneapolis City Council voted to move forward with a plan to help small businesses impacted by Operation Metro Surge. The $7 million Small Business Resiliency Fund was approved by Mayor Jacob Frey and the City Council last month and outlined by the Community Planning and Economic Development (CPED) department on Tuesday. It will provide license fee relief, support for events and activations in commercial areas, cultural market grants and more, all in an effort to recover from the $81 million in restaurant and small business losses as a result of the federal immigration enforcement earlier this year.

"Operation Metro Surge hit our small businesses hard, and we recognize the very real impact it has had on workers, their families and their futures,” said Mayor Frey. “This $7 million is getting out the door so our businesses can restabilize, rebuild and come back stronger.”

CPED staff designed the fund to get money out to businesses quickly and without too many hurdles. By City estimates, the Surge cost Minneapolis businesses $81 million in lost revenue as many temporarily closed to avoid further impact.

“ICE’s invasion of our city where they murdered, kidnapped, and traumatized our residents will have devastating impacts on our communities for years to come,” said City Council President Elliott Payne, Ward 1. “We know businesses have been struggling, and I’m proud the City Council took this step to try and provide some relief. We recognize this isn’t nearly enough to meet the current need, but the cost of inaction outweighs the financial restraint in this moment.”

Fund is in two categories

The resiliency fund is divided into two categories: direct financial relief, and activation and marketing support, both aimed at stabilizing small businesses and driving customers back to commercial corridors.

Direct financial relief - $4.5 million

1. License fee relief - $4 million

The money will cover the full or partial costs of business license fees for the food and hospitality industries that were among the businesses hit hardest by the Surge.  As part of this, businesses who have already paid their renewal fees will be reimbursed, and fees will be covered for those yet to pay. The $4 million will benefit more than 2,000 businesses across Minneapolis.

2. Cultural market grants - $500,000

Money will be awarded to cultural markets up to $50,000 each to support overall market operations, security, marketing or other needed improvements.

Activation and marketing - $2.5 million

1. Great Streets Business District Support - $350,000

This is an enhancement of the already successful Great Streets program that provides funding to non-profit business support organizations for marketing and other activations in commercial districts.

2. Business Technical Assistance Program - $500,000

The program offers no-cost consulting services to small businesses and entrepreneurs through community-based support organizations. Related to the surge’s impact, this funding will be applied to lease and contract negotiations, marketing and overall business strategy. This brings the total allocation to $1 million for the program.

3. Cultural business weeks - $200,000

Funding enhances the celebrated annual Latino Business Week and Black Business Week with a focus on impacts from the surge.

4. Fee-free events - $600,000

This money is intended to encourage events in commercial areas. Funds can help pay for event permits such as food, amplified sound, or block events.

5. Venue and music activation - $500,000

Funding boosts independent music venues and musicians for hosting events in commercial corridors focused on family, neighborhoods and bold projects.

6. Creative marketing activation - $350,000

Funds will go toward incentivizing content creators around the City to spread the word about artists, businesses and untold stories around the City.

More to come this spring

Additional information and application processes for the venue and music activation, as well as the creative marketing activation, will be available this spring as the City’s Arts and Cultural Affairs department solidifies details with partners.

“Immense harm was done to our community, and this is our opportunity to support its recovery,” said CPED Director Erik Hansen. “Not one person, not one business was immune from the impact of the operation. It is our duty to help and protect our Minneapolis community, and we believe this plan will help support the people and places that keep our city vibrant.”

Read about other impacts to the City due to Operation Metro Surge in the