Purpose

This bill would provide an appropriation from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund in fiscal year 2026 to support a winter festival on Lake Phalen in the city of St. Paul. The festival is intended to include one or more ice castles that are suitably tailored to the area and to give community members the opportunity to carve and display their own ice sculptures.

Main Provisions

• Directs an appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund to the commissioner of administration.
• The money is designated as a grant to the city of St. Paul.
• The grant is for holding a winter festival on Lake Phalen.
• The festival would feature ice castles tailored to the local area.
• The festival would provide opportunities for community members to carve and display their own ice sculptures.

Significant Changes to Existing Law

• Establishes a new specific appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund for a winter festival in St. Paul.
• Creates a funding mechanism where the commissioner of administration administers a grant to the city of St. Paul for this purpose.
• Does not appear to alter other laws or programs beyond authorizing this particular expenditure for FY 2026.

Administrative Details and Funding Source

• Funding Source: Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
• Fiscal Year: 2026.
• Recipient: City of St. Paul.
• Administrator: Commissioner of Administration.
• Amount: The exact dollar amount is not specified in the provided text.

Context and Implementation Considerations

• The festival activities center on Lake Phalen and involve ice-related attractions (ice castles) and community participation in ice sculpture carving and display.
• The grant’s purpose is to enable the festival, with the city of St. Paul responsible for implementing the event.

Potential Community Impact

• Provides a publicly funded cultural event that highlights local arts and heritage.
• Encourages community engagement through hands-on ice carving and shared displays.

Related Terms (for quick reference in searches)

arts and cultural heritage fund, appropriation, commissioner of administration, grant, city of St. Paul, winter festival, Lake Phalen, ice castles, ice sculptures, fiscal year 2026.

Relevant Terms arts and cultural heritage fund appropriation commissioner of administration grant city of St. Paul winter festival Lake Phalen ice castles ice sculptures fiscal year 2026