Art is important to quality of life and has a significant economic impact on communities throughout Minnesota. In addition, communities are becoming increasingly diverse, creating new challenges for community-based organizations to assure that resident voices are heard and new leaders are supported. Artists as leaders in the community are uniquely positioned to be the drivers of arts activity that builds social relationships among diverse residents and stimulates innovative problem solving. The arts also can be an effective community development tool by providing new ways to engage residents in addressing community issues with the goal of improving neighborhoods. CURA supports arts- and culture-related research and planning projects, and provides small grants to community organizations, arts organizations, and individual artists.

CURA programs that support projects in the areas of Arts and Culture include:

• Community Assistantship Program (CAP)
• Fesler-Lampert Chair in Urban and Regional Affairs (FIRP)
• Kris Nelson Community-Based Research Program (Nelson Program)
• Neighborhood Partnership Initiative (NPI)

CURA Contact: Jeff Corn and Neeraj Mehta