SF2656

Purpose

To provide funding from Minnesota’s arts and cultural heritage resources for a public art project honoring Tou Ger Xiong.

What the bill would do

• Create an appropriation of $300,000 in fiscal year 2026 from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
• Direct the funds as a grant to the City of St. Paul, administered by the Commissioner of Administration.
• The grant supports designing and constructing a mural and statue honoring Tou Ger Xiong.
• Location specified: on Tou Ger Xiong Island in Lake Phalen, St. Paul.

How the funds would be used

• The money is to be used for the design and construction work required to create the mural and statue.
• The grant is issued to the City of St. Paul for project delivery, including planning, artwork development, and completion at the specified site.

Implementation details

• Departments involved: Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund administration, Commissioner of Administration, City of St. Paul.
• Timeline: funding allocated for fiscal year 2026; project activities would occur after the appropriation is approved.

Significant changes to law or government operations

• Establishes a new explicit appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund for a public art project.
• No broad changes to existing statutes described; this is a targeted funding allocation for a single mural and statue project.

Note on context

• The bill centers on commemorating Tou Ger Xiong through a public art installation, funded by a state cultural heritage fund and carried out by city-level administration in St. Paul.

Relevant Terms Tou Ger Xiong; mural; statue; Lake Phalen; Tou Ger Xiong Island; City of St. Paul; Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund; appropriation; grant; commissioner of administration; design and construction; fiscal year 2026.