Rochester Downtown Alliance Downtown Cultural Initiatives Program Get an Update

Release Date: March 4, 2016

Media Contact: Ender Göçmen
Rochester Downtown Alliance
Office: (507) 216-9886
Email: egocmen@rdowntownalliance.com

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Rochester Downtown Alliance Downtown Cultural Initiatives Program

Rochester Downtown Alliance (RDA) excited to share three updates regarding their Downtown Cultural Initiative (DCI) Grant program.

ROCHESTER, Minn. --- March 4, 2016 --- The RDA’s Downtown Cultural Initiatives (DCI) Grant encourages the creation and execution of unique first-time events within the 44-block RDA boundary. Since the grant’s inception in 2013, there have been a wide variety of programs and events that have occurred with the help of DCI grant funding.

The success with the grant presents an opportunity for growth and evolution. The DCI Committee has made three important changes to the grant program.

First, there will now be grant periods in which interested applicants can apply instead of a rolling grant process. In addition, the DCI committee has made the intentional decision to limit the grant to grassroots artists – institutions will no longer have the opportunity to submit an application for grant funds. Finally, the name of the grant has been changed to better reflect the goals of this program. The DCI grant will now be referred to as “stART-up” funding.

Committee members Megan Johnston, Executive Director of the Rochester Art Center, and Gregory Stavrou , Executive Director of the Rochester Civic Theatre, state, “Both the Rochester Civic Theatre (RCT) and the Rochester Art Center (RAC) support the new Downtown Cultural Initiatives grant structure. We believe it is a first step in supporting an arts ecosystem that grows and develops local, grassroots artists and creative endeavors. Both RCT and RAC continue to prioritize the development of local and regional artists as essential to a healthy, creative, supportive and amazing place to live.”

RDA Executive Director Jenna Bowman states, “It is exciting to see the DCI committee make adjustments to this program to encourage a wider range of participation, especially with the focus on grassroots artists.”

The DCI committee will hold an informational workshop on Wednesday, March 16th from Noon-1:00 p.m. at the People’s Food Co-op. For more information, please visit DowntownRochesterMN.com.

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