Request for Proposals for Outcomes Evaluation: Impact of the Arts on Creating Thriving Communities

The Minnesota State Arts Board is requesting proposals for the purpose of building an evaluation toolkit for conducting outcome evaluations of the impact of Arts Board funded activities on building thriving communities. The Arts Board is seeking a vendor (or vendors) with experience and expertise in studying and measuring the characteristics of thriving communities.

The evaluator will develop an evaluation toolkit based on work with a sample of Arts Board grantees to collect data on the outcomes of their projects. Both the toolkit and the findings from the work with grantees will be presented to the Arts Board in a written report.

This topic, and the indicators of success, are very broad. The following are some examples of ways that arts programming might help build thriving communities: promote cultural awareness and inclusivity, create or strengthen social bonds, reduce isolation, stimulate civic and community participation, create a sense of pride and belonging, help attract and/or retain residents, revitalize distressed buildings or neighborhoods, improve safety, create economic opportunities, etc.

This is not an arts program evaluation project, it is a social science project. We are seeking vendor(s) who can help develop ways to better understand and demonstrate the link between the arts and the social or economic indicators of a thriving community through rigorous evaluation.

Work is anticipated to start after May 1, 2026.

Request a copy of the RFP via e-mail to Jeffrey Niblack,