Input sought on funding for arts

LITTLE FALLS - The Minnesota State Arts Board and Five Wings Arts Council are seeking public input on new funding for the arts through a forum in Little Falls.

On July 1, a new dedicated sales tax will take effect; proceeds of the tax must be spent to support activities related to clean water, land and habitat, parks and trails, and arts and cultural heritage.

The Minnesota State Arts Board and the Five Wings Arts Council will host a public forum in Little Falls to seek opinions on how to invest arts funding that will be available as a result of the new tax.

The forum will be 6 p.m. Tuesday at the Great River Arts Center, 122 First St. S.E., Little Falls. This meeting is one of 12 forums that will take place throughout the state. A complete list of the dates and locations of the forums is available on the Minnesota State Arts Board Web site http://www.arts.state.mn.us/calendar/public-forums.htm.

The forums are free and open to anyone who would like to attend, but registration is strongly encouraged. Contact the Arts Board to register by e-mail to msab@arts.state.mn.us calling (800) 866-2787 or Minnesota relay 7-1-1 for people with hearing loss or speech disability.

The Minnesota State Arts Board is a state agency dedicated to enriching the cultural lives of all Minnesotans. Funds for Minnesota State Arts Board programs are provided through an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature, with additional funding from the National Endowment for the Arts. s

The Five Wings Arts Council encourages and promotes arts creation, appreciation, and education through grant programs and technical assistance to enhance the quality of life for Minnesota residents in Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison, Todd, and Wadena counties.