|
Welcome to the City of Minneapolis office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy newsletter. Here you will find information on program and partner related news and updates, opportunities, events and special announcements.
Sign up for the Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy newsletter at http://www.minneapolismn.gov/coordinator/arts/index.htm
Retraction of George Floyd Mural Image
In our special issue newsletter on June 8, we featured a popular image of the George Floyd mural located at Cup Foods that was created by Goodspace Murals.
We credited a team of white and Latinx artists (Xena Goldman, Cadex Herrera, Greta McLain, Niko Alexander, and Pablo Hernandez) for their work and stated our desire to uplift the work of artists and culture bearers in our community who are speaking out for justice, healing from trauma, and providing space for communities to express grief and anger.
Since publishing the newsletter, we have become aware of the problems with this particular mural and the associated actions of its creators through a public apology made by the owner of Goodspace Murals. On learning of these issues, we immediately removed the mural image from our social media.
This popular image of George Floyd has been shared worldwide online, in the news, on TV, in artworld articles, and was even the featured image in George Floyd’s Minneapolis memorial service. It is important to understand that artwork in the public realm is more visible and thus has the potential for greater influence by shaping the civic narrative than artworks in private spaces.
As a result, public artworks can garner extraordinary media attention that can then be turned into economic benefits for their creators. We need to bear this in mind as we seek justice for the Black community by dismantling systemic racism. We must not share and promote images that not only hinder the healing of, but do damage to Black artists in our community. ACCE apologizes for promoting such a damaging image and commits to centering and elevating the work of Black artists in association with George Floyd’s murder in the future.
If you are a local Black artist and wish to share an image in response to George Floyd’s murder, we would be happy to feature your work in future newsletters. Please send those items directly to Gulgun.Kayim@minneapolismn.gov with your name and the location of the work.
News
Capri Theater Awarded $50,000 NEA Our Town Grant In Partnership with Local Artists and the Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy
 An National Endowment for the Arts' (NEA) Our Town grant award of $50,000 was approved for the Capri Theater (managed by the Plymouth Christian Youth Center) in support of their new initiative the Northside Filmmakers project, a community filmmaking project that will help develop a cadre of 50 cellphone filmmakers in North Minneapolis. It will provide participants with cellphone video production and storytelling training and tools and will be led by three celebrated, local Black filmmakers: E.G. Bailey., D.A. Bullock, and Sha Cage.
“With this project, we’ll be able to create an amazing ecosystem of filmmakers who can continue to support each other beyond the project,” said D.A. Bullock. “It’s like planting seeds—and those seeds will produce a lot of good fruit.”
The Northside Filmmakers project is designed to support 50 Northside residents creatively – with the tools and support they need to amplify their voices, tell their stories effectively and distribute them widely – and professionally, with assistance in making connections, forming new networks, and transferring new skills into opportunities.
Sha Cage adds, “We are suddenly living in a time and world we have never seen before. We have two choices: stand outside the looking glass peering in or jump into the middle to help make history. We are tired of being spectators, having our stories co-opted, waiting for our moment. Now is the time to teach ourselves, our children, and communities to re-write the narrative. This project amplifies that and helps sharpen the knowledge and technical skills around filmmaking as a practice. I am anxious to work with the next generation around social practice, political activism, and filmmaking. The results will inevitably be a bright splash of honesty, truth, survival, and Black Joy!”
Our Town is the NEA’s creative placemaking grants program. Through project-based funding, NEA supports projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes. Our Town grants are require two primary partners, a non-profit entity and a local government entity. The two primary partners for the Northside Filmmakers project are the Capri Theater and the City of Minneapolis Office of Arts Culture and the Creative Economy (ACCE).
The project is also designed to support overall community development and economic vitality. “In the language of economic development, Northside Filmmakers merges workforce development with community self-expression as it will provide much-needed training, skills-building, and mentorship in film production for the Northside community. The Minneapolis Office of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy is thrilled to partner with these artists, the Capri, and the Plymouth Christian Youth Center in helping to make the project a reality,“ said Gülgün Kayim, Director of ACCE.
Rise Up for Justice: Black Lives and our Collective Future
The Othering and Belonging Institute at UC Berkeley recently hosted a live event discussing the history and impact of police violence and inequality on the Black community, the current context of white supremacy and Black resistance, and the possibilities and strategies for a racial justice future.
The event featured Professor john a. powell (Othering and Belonging Institute), Linda Sarsour (Until Freedom), and Rev. Michael McBride (Live Free USA and Faith in Action), with moderator Jidan Terry-Koon (The San Francisco Foundation), along with Cat Brooks (Justice Teams Network), Marvin K. White (Glide Memorial Church), Glenn Harris (Race Forward), Gerry Hudson (SEIU), Nick Tilsen (NDN Collective), and organizers on the front lines in Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Chicago, New York and other cities across the country.
Watch the recording.
The Federal Reserve Wants to Hear from You
In early April, the Federal Reserve System conducted a survey to better understand the range of challenges facing under-resourced and low-income communities as an effect of the COVID-19 pandemic. The findings are available in Perspectives from Main Street: The Impact of COVID-19 on Communities and the Entities Serving Them and helped them understand how this crisis is impacting organizations supporting community needs. They are committed to fielding this survey every eight weeks to report on how the effects of COVID-19 are changing within communities over time.
The survey should take about 10 minutes to complete. If you are an organization whose members work in low-income communities, we encourage you to forward the survey link to others who have unique knowledge of what is happening in their communities.
Take the survey.
Upper Harbor Terminal Draft Park Concepts and Online Survey
 The Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board (MPRB) is seeking input on draft park program and concepts, public art master plan, and more. Find materials in one place on the website, take an online survey, share your thoughts, and pass the word around. They are not asking for people to pick a concept, but are seeking input on the draft designs and what people like, do not like, feel is missing, etc. Although a few graphics are embedded in the survey, they highly advise that you watch the video first. The survey focuses on a few key questions and the graphics do not contain full information.
View the MPRB Draft Park Concepts and Materials here.
MPRB virtual meetings in June and July:
Learn how the park at the Upper Harbor Terminal and other park areas in Minneapolis can restrengthen the kinship between people and land.
At the June 18 meeting (rescheduled from May 28), Dakota community members will share their insights on the evolving park at the Upper Harbor Terminal. The community members are helping the team weave language, history, and culture into the park and providing important perspective on the relationships between people, the land, and water. Given the social distancing requirements, the Dakota community members will share a brief film and some of their experiences and ideas. There will be an opportunity to ask questions and talk during the meeting.
All meetings are currently virtual via online meeting platform Zoom in order to comply with social distancing requirements. Please read the instructions and follow the link posted below to participate. Watch for future updates in the case that meetings are rescheduled. The public is invited to participate in all CAC meetings. The MPRB 17-member Community Advisory Committee (CAC) is working with the MPRB on the next phase of Upper Harbor park planning, including coordinating with the City and developer on infrastructure and private developments that will interact with the future park areas on site. For questions, contact Kate Lamers, klamers@minneapolisparks.org, 612-499-0260.
Emergency Resources
Scaffolded Anti-Racist Resources
 This is a working document for scaffolding anti-racism resources. The goal is to facilitate growth for white folks to become allies, and eventually accomplices for anti-racist work. These resources have been ordered in an attempt to make them more accessible. Resources will continue to be added to this list.
Apply to the Artist Relief Fund Deadline June 17
The Artist Relief Fund supports practicing artists living in all fifty states, territories, and Tribal Nations, working in any discipline. Artists are able to apply for a $5,000 grant. Applicants must be 21 or older, able to receive taxable income in the United States regardless of their citizenship status, and have generally lived and worked in the United States for the last two years.
Applications now open for Cycle III, closes at 11:59 pm ET on June 17th
Events
Northside Business Luncheon: Cultural Districts on June 18
 In light of the COVID-19 pandemic and shelter in place order, Northside Economic Opportunity Network and West Broadway Business & Area Coalition will be hosting this month's Northside Business Luncheon virtually!
This month's topic is on "Cultural Districts." In light of recent events, the structure of this luncheon will be a bit different. Rather than a traditional panel, we want community members and business owners to have an opportunity to ask questions regarding cultural district funding and support to those involved in creating the policy. The following government officials will be in attendance:
- Shauen Pearce (Economic Development & Inclusion Policy Director, Office of Mayor Frey)
- Council Member Jeremiah Ellison (Ward 5)
Folks are encouraged to submit questions ahead of time. Questions can be submitted to Anna (NEON's Community Engagement Coordinator) at anna@neon-mn.org or Felicia (Executive Director of WBC) at felicia@westbroadway.org.
TUNE IN LIVE:
RSVP via Eventbrite to watch live on Thursday, June 18 from 12:00 - 1:00 pm.
Coming up: Virtual Community Office Hours
Community members are welcome to reserve virtual 'Office Hour' time with the Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy team.
Join Gulgun Kayim, Director of Arts, Culture and the Creative Economy on Fridays from 9:00 am -10:30 a.m,Teeko Yang, Creative CityMaking Project Manager on Wednesdays from 10:00 am to Noon, and Brenda Kayzar, owner of Urbane DrK Consulting on Wednesdays from 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm for virtual community office hours.
Reservations are necessary! Upcoming dates and contact information below:
For meetings with Gulgun Kayim: e-mail Gulgun.Kayim@minneapolismn.gov to notify that you will be attending and call: 612-710-2232 on June 19 at your confirmed time between 9:00am-10:30am.
For meetings with Teeko Yang: e-mail Teeko.Yang@minneapolismn.gov to notify that you will be attending and call: 612-271-4960 on Wednesday, June 17 at your confirmed time between 10:00am-Noon.
For meetings with Brenda Kayzar: e-mail urbanedrk@gmail.com to notify that you will be attending and call: 612-730-7913 on Wednesday, June 17 at your confirmed time between 1:00 and 2:30pm.
| 
