News Release: 4/29/2025

Jennifer Andries, Executive Director of the Lyon County Historical Society Museum in Marshall has been appointed to a two-year term on the Historic Resources Advisory Committee (HRAC).  The Historic Resources Advisory Committee consists of thirteen members serving two-year terms and two ex-officio members.  Committee members make funding recommendations for requests of more than $10,000 and provide policy and grant-making guidance for the Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants program, funded by the Legacy Amendment’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

The Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (ACHF) is one of four funds created by the Legacy Amendment, passed by voters in November 2008. For the current biennium (2024-2025), the Minnesota Legislature appropriated $36,981,000 from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund to the Minnesota Historical Society, including $13.486 million for Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage grants to be awarded during the biennium. Expectations are high for what these grants can accomplish across Minnesota – they are supporting projects of enduring value for the cause of history and historic preservation.

The Minnesota Historical Society’s Grants Office administers the competitive Minnesota Historical and Cultural Heritage Grants program and appoints members to the Historic Resources Advisory Committee. Legislation specifies that the committee have balanced statewide membership and includes representatives of local, county, and statewide historical and cultural organizations and programs. It further requires that the committee include, but is not limited to, members representing the interests of historic preservation, local history, archaeology, archival programs, and other cultural programs related to the history of Minnesota.