Public Functionary (PF) is an artist-led space to dream and live in a world where multi-faceted identities are celebrated and centered. It is a place where creative production is reparative and generous. PF’s mission is to support the expression of art and culture through studios, galleries, and performance space; PF pours into an abundant community of practice, where possibility is seen in relationship to each other.

Public Functionary was founded in 2012 by Tricia Heuring and Mike Bishop as a "responsive art space” in Northeast Minneapolis, to be a more inviting and inclusive visual art space in the Twin Cities. Since then, PF has shifted dominant gallery culture by modeling a space that is flexible, dynamic, and high-quality while serving diverse artist communities. PF is a space for experimentation, creativity, new ideas, celebration, healing, and community growth. It built a reputation for trust and the prioritizing and centering of underrepresented artists. In 2019, PF Studios, an emerging artist studio program, was created in collaboration with artist Leslie Barlow as a subsidized BIPOC cooperative studio program in Northeast Minneapolis Art District’s Northrup King Building. PF Studios has grown to a cohort of 26 early career visual artists in residence, supported with affordable space, mentorship, workshops, and economic opportunity. The PF galleries present curated exhibition and event programming by their artist-led team, as well as collaborations with PF’s broader creative community.

Jerome Foundation supports Public Functionary’s PF Studios Incubator Residency program. Led by PF Studios Director Leslie Barlow, the PF Studios program is a practice-based platform for artists to develop their craft and skills in relationship with other artists. Centering early career artists who identify as Black, Indigenous, people of color, queer, trans, and gender fluid, the Incubator Residency accommodates 8 early career artists simultaneously over the course of 1–2 years. Participants receive a stipend; individual studio space as well as access to shared multipurpose spaces; monthly workshops with guest presenters; mentorship and regular meetings with PF Studios Director; cohort development through The Conversation Lab, a monthly platform open to all PF Studios artists; and supported exhibition opportunities both on-site and off-site.