42 St. Paul Art Projects Win $1.4 Million

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- A national nonprofit foundation has awarded nearly $1.4 million to 42 projects to boost public art in St. Paul.

The Knight Foundation announced the winners of its St. Paul Knight Arts Challenge on Monday. They include a Latino radio show, a food-inspired opera and a colorful lightshow projected onto steam from downtown power plant. The grants range from $4,000 for theater in a tent to $125,000 to expand the Twin Cities Jazz Festival. Recipients must also raise matching funds.

The organization says it received 868 submissions for the contest, which asked participants to pitch an art idea for St. Paul in no more than 150 words.

The foundation has pledged to invest $8 million in St. Paul's arts and culture over three years.

(© Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)