Message from the President of the MPTA
Dear Legacy Committee and Department of Administration Members:
Thank you for your continued support of the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, and for the trust placed in the Minnesota Public Television Association, MPTA, to be thoughtful and careful stewards of these resources. We truly value the opportunity to honor the purpose of the fund and remain dedicated to using these investments in ways that serve and connect Minnesotans to their arts, culture, and history. The outcomes shared in this report reflect our ongoing commitment to this important work. Because of your support, Legacy-funded programming consistently delivers public value. After watching local arts, culture, and history programs on public television, 94% of viewers learned something new, 94% described the content as trustworthy, and nearly nine in ten said it was relevant to their lives. Viewers also reported feeling more connected to their communities, learning about perspectives different from their own, and acting locally as a result. This funding fuels economic development and creative opportunities across Minnesota. During the 2024–2025 cycle, these projects supported 30 full-time jobs and 108 freelance and temporary positions. Community members featured in Legacy-funded programs reported increased visibility, new professional opportunities, and growing audiences. In total, 876.5 hours of Legacy-funded content aired statewide, reaching millions of Minnesotans through broadcast, streaming, and digital platforms. Across the state, Legacy support allows stations to reflect the unique voices and histories of their regions, from immigrant success stories in southern Minnesota to honoring hometown veterans. The MPTA documented overlooked history, engaged children and families through educational outreach, captured everyday life across the Northland, and amplifyed Minnesota’s music and creative community through statewide partnerships. The quality and impact of this work is reflected in significant regional and national recognition, including multiple Upper Midwest Regional Emmy® nominations and wins, a James Beard Media Award, and Telly Awards. Legacy funding ensures Minnesota’s stories are told by Minnesotans, for Minnesotans, building trust, strengthening communities, and preserving our shared heritage. We are grateful for your stewardship and continued commitment to this vital public investment. On behalf of all of us of the MPTA, Lakeland PBS (Bemidji), Pioneer PBS (Granite Falls), Twin Cities PBS (St. Paul/Minneapolis), Prairie Public (Moorhead-Fargo), KSMQ-TV (Austin) and WDSE·WRPT (Duluth), thank you for an amazing year of documenting our great state of Minnesota.
With sincere appreciation,
William G. Strusinski Legislative Consultant bill@libbylawoffice.com
Patricia Mester President of the MPTA President & General Manager of PBS North pmester@wdse.org
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