Cohort Eligibility 

Eligible cohort communities are: 

• Located in a rural community with a population of 20,000 or less in Minnesota or Native nations that share this geography

• Invested in developing and implementing an arts-based civic engagement initiative

• Led by a committed Core Team, which includes at least one arts and cultural worker, one civic leader (formal or informal), and one community activator. See FAQ for descriptions

• The primary contact listed in the letter of agreement must be an entity with an EIN number and a bank account. These are the types of eligible entities because they are inherently community-driven:

• Municipal, tribal, or county governments

• Quasi-government entities like regional development commissions or regional arts councils

• Local nonprofit organizations or fiscally sponsored groups, including, but not limited to Main Street or downtown organizations, art centers, preservation groups, historical societies, or community development organizations

• Chambers of commerce

• Cooperatives, including, but not limited to art collectives, restaurant or cafe, grocery

• Public libraries

If you have a question about eligibility, please see the FAQ section and/or reach out to vivian@publictransformation.org prior to preparing an application. 

Cohort Selection Criteria

Selected cohort communities will meet the following criteria: 

• Community Connection: There is an identified community challenge or opportunity that will be addressed through the arts-based civic engagement initiative; the Core Team has an understanding of and/or connection to their local community and the challenges and opportunities being addressed.

• Capacity: There is an active Core Team meeting, planning, and working together. Core Team members commit to participating fully in Engage Rural Civic Arts Cohort activities between September 2026 and August 2027. Two to three team members are able to attend both Engage Rural Civic Arts Cohort in-person gatherings. At least one team member is able to serve as the primary contact to communicate and work regularly with DoPT staff.

• Readiness: The team is ready to launch an arts-based civic engagement initiative within the Engage Rural Civic Arts Cohort 2026-2027 timeline. The application demonstrates enthusiasm for the process and openness to new ideas and approaches. Readiness is determined by: clear commitment from Core Team members, strong community relationships that can be identified by Core Team members, and concrete civic engagement challenges/opportunities that the Core Team and their community are hoping to explore through the Civic Arts Cohort experience.

• Cohort and Project Diversity: The selection process will consider diversity of geographic locations, populations, civic engagement challenges/opportunities, and demographics. 

• Applications are due by June 17, 2026 at 11:59 pm CT

Informational Session: 2026 – 2027 Engage Rural Civic Arts Cohort

This virtual informational session provides an overview of the 2026 – 2027 Engage Rural Civic Arts Cohort and the application process.