Purpose

• Provide funding to restore the historic Denfeld pipe organ at Denfeld High School in Duluth, Minnesota. The goal is to preserve Minnesota’s arts and cultural heritage and support arts education for students and the community.

Main provisions

• Funding: In fiscal year 2027, $250,000 is appropriated from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
• Administration: The appropriation goes to the commissioner of administration as a grant to the Duluth Public School District, for a grant to restore the Denfeld pipe organ.
• Uses of funds: The money must be used for restoration of the historic pipe organ, including necessary assessment and rehabilitation of the instrument, and related arts education programming.

Scope of the project

• Access and participation: The project must preserve and enhance access to the organ for students, community performances, and public use.
• Outcomes: The effort is intended to preserve the arts and Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage, through both the restoration work and associated educational programming.

Funding and administration details

• Source: Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
• Recipient pathway: Grant flows from the commissioner of administration to the Duluth Public School District (via a sub-grant) to carry out the restoration and related programming at Denfeld High School.
• Fiscal specifics: 250,000 dollars appropriated in fiscal year 2027.

Significant changes to existing law

• This bill establishes a new appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund specifically for the Denfeld pipe organ restoration and related arts education programming. It does not appear to create new statutes or modify existing law beyond directing this funding and the grant process to the Duluth Public School District for this project.

Context and implications

• Cultural heritage focus: The bill emphasizes preserving an object of cultural and historical value (the Denfeld pipe organ) and linking restoration to educational programming.
• Community and education impact: By enabling student and community access to the organ, it aims to broaden engagement with the arts and local history.

Relevant Terms arts and cultural heritage fund, appropriation, Denfeld pipe organ, Denfeld High School, Duluth Public School District, restoration, assessment, rehabilitation, arts education programming, students, community performances, public use, Minnesota history, cultural heritage, fiscal year 2027, grant.