July News: Mile of Music + New Native Newsletter + New ACA Staff + Artists Announced + Events and Opportunities
City of Minneapolis sent this bulletin at 07/15/2026 02:20 PM CDT
Artwork image: Hand to Heart by Marilyn Lindstrom New member of the Arts and Cultural Affairs team Image features Leah Bedford Leah is excited to combine her professional experience and passion for the arts in her new role with ACA.Help us welcome Leah Bedford. Leah joined the Arts & Cultural Affairs (ACA) Department on June 29 as our new Admin Analyst. This is not her first position with the city of Minneapolis. She began her City career in 2017 with the Finance & Property Services Department as a Program Assistant Supervisor. In 2023, she transitioned to the Minneapolis Convention Center, where she served as an Administrative Analyst. Outside of work, Leah is a Twin Cities artist known for her colorful, intuitive paintings that feature rich textures and flowing movement. She has been creating art since childhood, and creativity has remained an important part of her life. In addition to painting, Leah enjoys woodworking and is always exploring new ways to express her creativity. We're thrilled to have her on the team! New mural by Mike Hoyt at the Public Service Building Image courtesy of City staff. Featuring Mike Hoyt and members of the CPED steering community. Mike Hoyt's mural was unveiled on July 14 by the Community Planning & Economic Development (CPED) and Arts & Cultural Affairs departments. The artwork features Minneapolis architecture, nature, community, and the work of CPED employees.This month employees of the Community Development & Economic Development Department (CPED) unveiled a new mural by artist Mike Hoyt. The vinyl mural on glass is located on the third floor of the Public Service Building. It is two sided and represents what Minneapolis “used to be” with an imagined version of what Minneapolis is “going to be” 50 years into the future. Erin Que, CPED staff and art steering committee member shared these remarks at the event: “I love that the mural shows the city in progress…I hope that everyone can find an aspect in the piece that resonates with them.”
Artwork image:: Alebrijes Bike Parade Open Court – An informal showing by Dance Rec Pickup This new site informed work by Dance Rec Pick Up League explores park spaces, aspects of recreation and play, community and congregation, and the environments of park offerings.This will be an inclusive experience for the audience where they can choose to play with us, alongside us, or enjoy as a spectator. There are a few chairs and benches at the site, but most people will be standing. There may also be some audience participation. Feel free to bring your own lawn chair, snacks or ball. There are games set up in the Commons, so stay after the show to play!
This activity is made possible by the Bridge Fund for Dance program through the City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department. Tim Kaiser will be at True North Studio x Curioso Coffee True North Studio X Curioso Coffee Bar hosts a monthly Noise Night on the 3rd Thursday of the month featuring different musicians.The July 16 Noise Night features Tim Kaiser, a Minnesota musician known for exploring new musical ideas and building his own instruments. He plays these creations with simple movements of his hands, almost bringing the sounds to life. Tim has written music for films, been featured on PBS and in magazines, and has toured many places. His handmade instruments are just as interesting as the sounds they make.
This Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts is funded, in part, by the City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department Cruise presents Strike, performance and closing reception Don’t miss this collaboration by two leading artists as they bring Gardner’s exhibition Bitter Sweet Earths to a resonant close.On Saturday Cruise presents Strike, a performance dialogue with the galleries current featured artist Tia-Simone Gardner and composer Dameun Strange. Strike is a meditation on Fairfield, Alabama, extraction, labor, geologic time, the anvil, and Black spirituality, originally composed by Strange to accompany Gardner’s research and artwork grounded in her hometown.
This Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefront is funded by the City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department with support from Minneapolis Foundation. Latin Dance MN presents Aurora do Samba Aurora do Samba — When the Afro-Brazilian ancestral beat awakens the resilience and meets the magical Northern Lights. This performance is a two-hour dance and music production that celebrates the origins and evolution of samba — Brazil’s most iconic cultural expression.From the African drums to the dazzling colors of the Aurora Borealis, Aurora do Samba takes the audience on a vibrant journey through the history of samba — from sacred Afro-Brazilian ancestry and the rhythm of capoeira to the joyful spirit of the Samba Passista and Samba de Malandro to the elegance of Samba de Gafieira. Blending live music, storytelling, and dynamic choreography, the show reveals how samba was born from resilience, transformed into art, and continues to inspire and connect people around the world. The production transports audiences on a vivid passage between the warmth of Brazil and the wonder of the northern sky.
Minneapolis residents can contact latindancemn@gmail.com to request free tickets to the show (subject to availability) This activity is made possible by the Bridge Fund for Dance program through the City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department. Zoma House Family Day A wide variety of programming with creative mediums is offered at Zoma House. From socials and screenings to artist-led classes and workshops. Plan a visit to activate your inner artist and connect with your community.ZOMA House is hosting a family friendly evening of painting, crafting, and art making for artists of all ages this July. Bring your own art supplies or the supplies that Zoma House provides.
This Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts is funded by the City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department. Rhythmically Speaking’s Groovers and Makers 2026
 The production explores many different feelings and ideas. It shows a wide range of jazz and American social dance styles, creating meaning and community through shared rhythm, interaction, and improvisation.This 18th Rhythmically Speaking's summer production continues our annual tradition ofcommissioning new work by local choreographers while providing opportunities for dance artists based outside of Minnesota to show their work here. The show features new dances by Karla Grotting (local artist), Erinn Liebhard (RS Artistic and Executive Director), Maiya Redding (New York, NY) and Alexis Robbins (New Haven, CT), and will be performed by RS company members Malia Craft, Jayde Grass, Doug Hooker, Amy Jones, Sara Karimi, Erinn Liebhard, Kelli Miles, Shannon Mulcahy, Kathleen Pender and Betsy Schaefer-Roob.
This activity is made possible by the Bridge Fund for Dance program through the City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department. D.E.I. - Disco Energy Infusion returns to NE Minneapolis Disco Energy Infusion features Freek Phunk, DJ duos Tricky Miki and Dub Minus.Mark your calendars for August 1 and bust out your boogie shoes as we dance the night away and envelop NE Minneapolis in some Disco Energy Infusion, or D.E.I. for short! DJs Tricky Miki and Dub Minus are ready to show you what they’ve got so make sure to stop by and enjoy yourself at this free, family-friendly event at Bar Oscar.
This Cultural Districts Arts Fund activation is funded by the City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department. Strange Loop Projects presents: Legible Bodies Strange Loop Projects presents: Legible Bodies — Embodied Performance Skills for Immersive Environments.This workshop is designed for dancers, actors, and movement artists who want to strengthen one essential skill: making clear physical choices that audiences believe. Using the real architecture of the Strange Loop Laboratory as a creative constraint, performers build and test movement decisions that feel natural and readable in close‑up, immersive, non‑proscenium settings. Drawing from the generative methods behind Strange Loop’s Fresh Baked series, participants work from randomly assigned action prompts and use the physical space to anchor each choice in something tangible and specific. This workshop is open to all levels; prior performance experience is helpful but not required.
This Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts program is funded, in part, by the City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department Join us at our August Minneapolis Arts Commission meeting Please note the July 15 meeting has been postponed and meeting will resume in August.This meeting marks an exciting milestone, as it is the first to include the newly appointed Minneapolis Arts Commissioners. For the first time, all 13 wards will be seated, ensuring full citywide representation and bringing a broad range of perspectives to the arts in our City. The Minneapolis Arts Commission advises the City Council and Mayor on arts-related issues and was chartered in 1974 with the mission to strengthen the arts and enrich cultural life in Minneapolis. The commission works closely with ACA staff and shares their goal of developing a strong and vital arts community throughout Minneapolis. Commission meetings are the third Wednesday of every month at 5:30 p.m. and are open to the public. Meeting schedules and agendas are available online. The public is welcome to join us at our August meeting.
Artwork image: Elements by Christopher E. Harrison 2026 International Sculpture Conference Gibson, Installation view of “POWER FULL BECAUSE WE’RE DIFFERENT,” MASS MoCA, North Adams, MA, 2024. Photo: Tony Luong. The 2026 International Sculpture Conference is coming back to MCAD this fall, and you can now apply for registration sponsorships.The 2026 Civic Arts Conference Scholarship is funded by the City of Minneapolis. Its goal is to help local artists and arts workers who might have trouble paying to attend the conference. It is meant for people living in Minneapolis who would face financial hardship paying for registration. The scholarship covers the full $450 conference registration fee.
Partnership Engagement Fund applications are open Join Neighborhood & Community Relations (NCR) for a workshop on how to get funding for your community project through the Partnership Engagement Fund.Community-based organizations, groups and individuals can apply for funding for small-scale, meaningful projects to make Minneapolis communities more socially connected, healthy and safe. Begin the process by filling out the required interest form and then starting your application. This fund is all about bringing different voices into decision-making, creating meaningful connections, and supporting strong partnerships between local groups. NCR will walk you through the basics, share tips for applying, and help you take the next step to bring your ideas to life.
Apply now for the MN PROMISE Act Grant To date, the program has supported over 1,000 businesses, distributing approximately $16 million in funding. Round 2 funding remains open, with $60 million still available for eligible businesses.The MN PROMISE Act website has been updated to make the application process easier to understand, including the steps and stages needed for a grant application to move forward directly on the website's main page. If you have not applied yet, now is a good time to apply, schedule a 1:1 support meeting, or register for an upcoming online information session. View the upcoming meetings below to find the support option that works best for you. In-Person Information Session
Schedule a 1:1 in-person support meeting to get help with your application questions.
City of Minneapolis resources
If you or someone you know is affected by the current federal activity, the City of Minneapolis is offering information to help all members of the community find the emergency resources they need, which include: Know your rights and resources Find connections to resources for shelter, food assistance, crisis and mental health support for all ages, prescription drug resources and delivery, legal help and more at Virtual Resource Center The City of Minneapolis Business Technical Assistance Program (BTAP) refers eligible businesses to free legal advice from attorneys. Contact the Small Business team for a referral at smallbusiness@minneapolismn.gov or call 612.673.2499 For immediate support email 311 at minneapolis311@minneapolismn.gov or call 311 or 612-673-3000 Find out about other opportunities in the links below
Star Girl Clan Performance photo by Bruce Silcox 
Visit us at mplsartsandculture.org and follow us on Facebook For additional information, reasonable accommodations or alternative formats please contact: Arts & Cultural Affairs Department
TTY users call 612-263-6850. Para ayuda, llame al 311. Rau kev pab, hu 311. Hadii aad caawimaad u baahantahay, wac 311. |
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