A recent proposal to use funds from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund, commonly known as Legacy Funds, to pay for the state’s portion of the new Vikings Stadium has been floating around the State Capitol.

One report mentioned that $50 million annually could be generated for the state and potentially Ramsey County’s matching portion of the $1.1 billion proposal. Was this the intent of the funds generated by the Legacy Amendment? Where does a Vikings stadium fit into the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund’s definition of “may be spent only for arts, arts education, and arts access and to preserve Minnesota’s history and cultural heritage?”

The answer is simple. It was never intended to go for projects like this and nowhere in the definition does a Vikings stadium fit the criteria.

Money from the ACHF is being used by history organizations all across Minnesota to make history accessible and ensure that they way we preserve history in Minnesota is the standard bearer across the country.

All 87 counties in Minnesota received funds from the Minnesota Historical Society in the last biennium. MHS has created a website that details where every penny they were appropriated was spent in Minnesota (http://legacy.mnhs.org) and the return on investment for Minnesota taxpayers.

The Mower County Historical Society has been the recipient of two grants from this fund. Without the grants, these projects would not have been started, let alone completed. I encourage every citizen in Mower County to write to our legislators and governor and ask them not to use Legacy Funds for the stadium. If they do use these funds for this, what project will be next on the list to get Legacy Funds that should have never received it? Come to the Mower County Historical Society during regular hours and I will demonstrate to you how we are using the funds to improve the preservation of history in Mower County.

The Legacy Amendment was passed and placed into Minnesota’s Constitution with a purpose. Let’s make sure the funds continue to be used for the intended purpose. Contact your legislators today to oppose using Legacy Funds for a new Vikings stadium.

Dustin Heckman
Executive director
Historical Society