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Minnesota Public Radio seeks $4.7 million in legacy funds for statewide arts and education programming
Summary
Sen. Johnson Stewart presented a request for $4.7 million over two years for Minnesota Public Radio to expand Class Notes, community programming and digital arts coverage; MPR leaders highlighted prior use of legacy funds and audience reach.
Senator Johnson Stewart presented Senate File 1537, seeking $4.7 million in legacy appropriations over the FY26‑27 biennium to support Minnesota Public Radio’s statewide arts, music education and community‑focused programming.
Dushawn (Dushyant/Dushawn) Drew, president of Minnesota Public Radio (MPR), told the committee MPR reaches roughly one million Minnesotans weekly via 45 towers and repeaters and a suite of digital services. He highlighted Class Notes, a program that brings professional teaching artists into schools; MPR reported Class Notes served more than 53,000 students in 168 schools last year and 20% of performances were in Greater Minnesota.
Music teacher David Davis described Class Notes as highly interactive and said the program supplies lesson plans and classroom resources that lift student creativity. Drew said legacy funds support concerts, school programs, digital production and community events such as Rock the Cradle and that prior legacy appropriations totaled $4.1 million across a prior biennium (about $1.9 million in FY2024). He said legacy dollars make up about 3% of MPR’s overall budget but are important to reach schools and communities statewide.
Committee members asked for budget breakdowns and for clarification on how much of MPR’s state funding is legacy money; MPR representatives said they would provide more detailed expenditure and staffing breakdowns. The committee laid over Senate File 1537 for possible inclusion in the omnibus legacy bill.
