129D.04 DUTIES.
Subdivision 1.
Authority. The board shall through the following activities stimulate and
encourage the creation, performance and appreciation of the arts in the state:
(1) receive and consider any requests for grants, loans or other forms of assistance;
(2) advise and serve as a technical resource at the request of sponsoring organizations and
political subdivisions in the state on programs relating to the arts;
(3) advise and recommend on existing or proposed activities of the departments of the
state relating to the arts;
(4) accept gifts and grants to the board and distribute the same in accordance with the
instructions of the donor insofar as the instructions are consistent with law;
(5) promulgate by rule procedures to be followed by the board in receiving and reviewing
requests for grants, loans or other forms of assistance;
(6) promulgate by rule standards consistent with this chapter to be followed by the board in
the distribution of grants, loans, and other forms of assistance;
(7) distribute according to the above procedures and standards grants, loans, and other
forms of assistance for artistic activities to departments and agencies of the state, political
subdivisions, sponsoring organizations and, in appropriate cases, to individuals engaged in the
creation or performance of the arts; provided that a member of the board shall not participate in
deliberations or voting on assistance to groups or persons in which that member has an interest as
officer, director, employee, or recipient;
(8) appoint advisory committees which the board determines are essential to the performance
of its powers and duties under this section; provided that no member of an advisory committee
shall serve on a committee to which the member has an application pending for a grant, loan,
or other form of assistance from the board or its predecessor;
(9) serve as a fiscal agent to disburse appropriations for regional arts councils throughout
the state.
Subd. 2.
Limitation on performance of duties. In performing the duties under subdivision
1, the board shall insofar as reasonably possible:
(1) avoid any actions which infringe on the freedom of artistic expression or which interfere
with programs in the state which relate to the arts but which do not involve board assistance;
(2) distribute board assistance equitably according to population throughout the geographical
regions of the state;
(3) give special consideration to requests for assistance for the creation or performance of
types or variations of the arts which have yet to receive the level of general support and assistance
given to the more established types or variations of the arts;
(4) distribute appropriations to regional arts councils upon receipt of the biennial plan or, in
even-numbered years, the annual plan update. These plans are not subject to modification by the
board. The annual report from the previous year must be on file at the board before distribution
of appropriations to a regional arts council.
Subd. 3.
Professional touring program. The board shall be responsible for the
administration of the professional touring program.
Subd. 4.
Statewide information and publicity. The board shall develop and implement a
comprehensive statewide information and publicity system. In its report required under section
129D.02, subdivision 5, the board shall summarize its activities pursuant to this subdivision.
Subd. 5.
Contracting. The board may contract as necessary in the performance of its duties.
Subd. 6.
Appropriation. The board's receipts from the sale of publications, mailing lists,
recordings or media projects, and fees from seminars or workshops are annually appropriated
to the board for the purposes of this section.
History: 1975 c 297 s 4; 1977 c 332 s 12; 1977 c 444 s 9; 1979 c 337 s 17; 1986 c 444;
1988 c 560 s 1; 1991 c 233 s 53,54