Rep. Will Morgan Presents Local Arts Grants

The local arts community in Burnsville is getting a boost thanks to several grants funded through Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment. State lawmakers approved the two-year Legacy appropriation bill during last year’s Legislative Session.

State Representative Will Morgan (DFL – Burnsville) presented checks for the grants to several local recipients on April 17 at the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council’s ‘Big Check’ event.

“The arts are an important part of our community and our entire state,” said Morgan. “A strong, vibrant arts community boosts opportunities for economic growth and academic enrichment. I’m pleased we’re recognizing those kinds of contributions by awarding these grants.”

The grants were awarded through a competitive and open panel-review process. The organizations and projects chosen demonstrated both strong artistic quality and a connection to a community.

In Fiscal year 2013, MRAC received 802 applications and awarded 434 grants. The funded activities range from concerts in the parks, art festivals, and visual art exhibitions to theater, dance, and music performances to artist residencies, arts learning initiatives, and opportunities to use art for growth and healing.

This year’s local grant recipients included:

• $5,000 grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council for the International Festival of Burnsville (features an indoor art exhibit, international cultural display booths, and an outdoor festival with a parade of flags, traditional attire, ethnic foods and family art activities). The Festival’s mission is to eliminate prejudice and discrimination by conducting community events designed to promote and celebrate diversity through the sharing of art, food, and music of various cultures–represented in and around Burnsville.

• $5,000 grant from the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council for Drama Interaction’s Education Performance Project, an eight-week drama class for ten pre-selected children between the ages of 8 and 12 with physical or development challenges.

Rep. Morgan encourages his constituents to contact him with any questions or comments. He can be reached by phone at (651) 296-5387, by email at rep.will.morgan@house.mn or by postal mail at 401 State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., St. Paul, MN 55155.