The Cultural STAR Program provides grants for arts and cultural programming and organizations within the City of Saint Paul.
Donor Name: City of Saint Paul
State: Minnesota
City: Saint Paul
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 05/02/2025
Size of the Grant: $1000 to $10,000
Grant Duration: 2 Years
Details:
The purpose of the Cultural STAR fund is to promote cultural vitality and economic growth, particularly in the downtown Cultural District, by strengthening the arts and culture community.
- Cultural STAR dollars, are intended to:
- Build and diversify audiences
- Promote a broad range of cultural offerings
- Produce a long-term impact
- Leverage additional financial support
- The Cultural STAR Program will achieve these purposes by making grants for projects and programs that:
- Attract audiences
- Develop and improve cultural facilities
- Build capacity of artists and cultural organizations.
Funding Information
The minimum grant request is $5,000.
Grant Period
- Special projects
- August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026
- Organizational development
- August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2026
- Capital projects
- August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2027.
Geographic Focus
- At least 80% of Cultural STAR funds will be awarded to nonprofit organizations that are located within the targeted area known as the Cultural District of downtown Saint Paul
- The remaining 20% of funds may be allocated to:
- Businesses located in the Cultural District for projects that enhance visitor enjoyment of the Cultural District
- Nonprofit organizations located in Saint Paul but outside of the Cultural District
- The Cultural District is defined as the geographic area bordered by Interstate 94 to the north, the Lafayette Bridge to the east, Harriet and Raspberry Islands to the south, and Chestnut Road to the west
- Located in the Cultural District includes:
- An organization that is registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State with an address that falls within the Cultural District
- An organization which owns property in the Cultural District for purposes directly related to its Cultural STAR project
- An organization has secured a lease or rental agreement within the Cultural District for the purposes directly related to its Cultural STAR project
- An organization has secured a permit or contract for the use of public
- Venues in the Cultural District for the purpose directly related to its Cultural STAR project
- Located in Saint Paul includes:
- An organization that is registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State with an address that falls within Saint Paul
- An organization owns property in Saint Paul for purposes directly related to its Cultural STAR project
- An organization that has secured a lease or rental agreement within Saint Paul for the purposes directly related to its Cultural STAR project
- An organization has secured a permit or contract for the use of public venues in Saint Paul for the purpose directly related to its Cultural STAR Project.
Eligibility Criteria
- Eligible applicants may apply for only one of the following Cultural STAR funding types during each funding round: Special Projects Grant; Organizational Development Grant; or Capital Project Grant or Loan. Grants can be received only once per calendar year.
- Saint Paul-based nonprofit arts and cultural organizations located outside of the Cultural District may apply twice per round and may receive funding up to two times per calendar year – once for projects taking place outside of the Cultural District and once for projects taking place in the Cultural District.
- Applicant groups must be one of the following:
- Non-profit arts and cultural organizations that are located within the City of Saint Paul
- Informal and/or unincorporated arts-focused groups, individuals, and onetime arts projects that have associated with nonprofit arts and cultural organizations that are located within the City of Saint Paul and will serve as a fiscal and contract sponsor, provided that:
- 100% of the project takes place in the Cultural District
- such nonprofit arts and cultural organization enter into a contract with the City of Saint Paul
- Non-profit arts and cultural organizations outside of Saint Paul with projects in the Cultural District of Saint Paul
- Businesses in the Cultural District may apply for projects that enhance visitor enjoyment of the district
- City departments or divisions are eligible when in partnership with, or supported by, an eligible organization.
For more information, visit City of Saint Paul.
