The City of Minneapolis is throwing its weight behind artists and creatives with its latest program, Arts & Culture Vibrant Storefronts, a pilot initiative to bolster both the arts community and economic activity in the city. Announced yesterday, the initiative is set to provide a financial leg up in the form of rent subsidies for artists and arts organizations to nestle into the city's Harmon Place Historic District's empty storefronts.

Encouraging artists to apply to this marry-up with property owners, which aims at infusing Harmon Place with creativity and foot traffic, the Minneapolis Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs wants to spark a cultural revival, seeing the downtown area don more colors than a Minnesota autumn and inching itself further towards its broader 2040 vision. Mayor Jacob Frey, in a statement obtained by the publication, gushed about the city's historic role as a "muse, haven, and patron for artists" and believes that the Arts and Culture Vibrant Storefronts pilot program is "exactly the type of initiative we want to support."

Applications are being accepted from July 26 through August 30, 2024, with the possibility of additional rounds if funding and space allow. Individual artists or groups with at least three years under their belts, as well as arts organizations with a convincing three-year track record, are welcome to submit proposals. The program, offering up to $50,000 per applicant for two-year rent coverage, reveals the City Council's commitment, having approved $250,000 to get the ball rolling in the 2024 City budget.

"Harmon Place is the perfect spot to launch this initiative," Council Member Katie Cashman told the publication, pointing to the area's vibrant history and the potential it has to better weave together the city's cultural tapestry which includes the likes of the Walker Art Center and the Hennepin Avenue Theatre District. Ben Johnson, the city's Director of Arts & Cultural Affairs, recognized the critical need for affordable space in the city, asserting that this initiative is a salve to the arts community’s financial woes and a bid to restore the arts-based vitality that Minneapolis is known for.

Selection will be handled by a panel of City staff, who plan to sift through the applications come early September, with the hopefuls hearing back just a few weeks later. A touch base session is scheduled for August 2—completely virtual, of course—to give applicants the lowdown. Details and the application can be found on the ACA's dedicated webpage for the initiative, ensuring interested parties know where to aim their creative shots at enhancing the city skyline.