In 2008, Minnesotan voters approved the Arts and Cultural Heritage Amendment to pay for improvements in clean water, environment and natural resources, outdoor heritage, parks and trails, and arts and cultural heritage. Public broadcasters, including Minnesota Public Television Association, Minnesota Public Radio and AMPERS, have received new funding.
The stories, shows and documentaries produced by AMPERS stations with this funding are featured on this website. There are hundreds of hours of great listening here — from the string sounds of Peter Ostroushko to an Ojibwe language show to the history of R&B in Minnesota.
AMPERS receives funding from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund (also known as the Legacy Fund). Below you will find a description of the projects that AMPERS is producing in Fiscal Year 2026 with the Arts and Cultural Heritage Funding.
MN90: Minnesota History in 90 Seconds will deliver Minnesota history statewide in a fun, entertaining and informative manner. It will make more Minnesotans aware of the way history impacted their lives helping them to make more informed decisions in the future. AMPERS will produce and distribute sixty 90-second segments each year.
Minnesota’s Legacy showcases the organizations and the people who have benefited from Minnesota’s Clean Water, Land, and Legacy Amendment in sound-rich 90-second segments.
Minnesota Native News is a five-minute weekly segment will look at social, economic, cultural, health issues, and more facing Minnesota’s Native American communities. It will be produced in such a way that it will be relevant to Native American as well as non-Native Americans living in Minnesota
Native Lights Podcasts in these 20-to-60-minute podcasts, the Minnesota Native News producing team brings out some of the Native narratives, missing from the typical media landscape. By focusing on real people and their real stories as they tell them, Native Lights Podcast shines the light on Indigenous voices expressing their own experiences, touching on a wide range of issues and perspectives. You will hear from more than a dozen Native American people living in Minnesota, sharing first-hand stories and experiences covering a wide range of cultural and historical topics. The Native Lights Podcast is hosted by Leah Lemm and Cole Premo, siblings, who are both members of the Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe, in addition to being part of the Minnesota Native News producing team.
Veterans’ Voices: Honoring Those Who Served in the 20th Century is inspired in response to Minnesotans who have said they want to hear more stories from the Veterans who have been featured in our Veterans’ Voices projects. In these podcast episodes, we remember and honor the stories and memories of Minnesota Veterans of War during the 20th century. The goal is to give a deeper understanding of the character, values, and spirit of the Minnesota men and women who served their country during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. Throughout this special series, listeners will hear dozens of stories that explore the knowledge, experience, and leadership of Minnesota Vets, from their own perspectiv.es and in their own voices.
Veterans’ Voices: Korea: these thirty 2-minute segments featuring Minnesota’s Korean Veterans will also be used as podcasts for use in Minnesota’s classrooms and for Minnesotans to listen to on-demand.
AMPERS digital archive, website & social media: to comply with Minnesota Statute 129d.19 AMPERS must archive all Arts & Cultural Heritage programming produced by AMPERS and its member stations, continue to maintain an infrastructure to make the programs available to all non-commercial radio stations eligible for state grants, and make these programs available online for all Minnesotans now and in the future.
To learn more about AMPERS Arts & Cultural Heritage programs, contact Joel Glaser, AMPERS President and CEO at info@ampers.org
Documents and Media
Annual Legislative Reports
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2025 (PDF)
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2024 (PDF)
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2023 (PDF)
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2022 (PDF)
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2021 (PDF)
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2020 (PDF)
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2019 (PDF)
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2018 (PDF)
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2017 (PDF)
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2016 (PDF)
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2015 (PDF)
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2014 (PDF)
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2013 (PDF)
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2012 (PDF)
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2011 (PDF)
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2010 (PDF)
- AMPERS Legislative Report FY 2009 (PDF)
