Artist Initiative

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$10,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Venus de Mars
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2019
End Date
December 2019
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Hennepin
Hubbard
St. Louis
Hennepin
Hubbard
St. Louis
Project Overview

Artist Initiative

Project Details

De Mars, trans front person of glam punk/trans band ATPH, shares memoir reflections of an era wholly accepting of trans phobic violence and discrimination while navigating marriage, a band, and her public gender transition.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

Ardell Brede: Mayor of Rochester, elected 2002.; Peggy Burnet: Businesswoman, art collector, and community volunteer. Chair of the Nominating Committee, Smithsonian National Board. Trustee, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Uri Camarena: Business consultant, Metropolitan Economic Development Association. Board chair, Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Officer at-large, Minnesota State Arts Board; Michael Charron: Dean of the School of the Arts, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. Secretary/Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Sean Dowse: Mayor of Red Wing, elected 2016. Former executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Philip McKenzie, Oboe and English horn player; adjunct oboe faculty, NDSU; Mary McReynolds-Pellinen: Executive director, Lyric Center for the Arts; coordinator, First Stage Gallery; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies.; Dobson West: Senior advisor, Spell Capital Partners Fund.; Christina Widdess: Arts organization consultant; former managing director, Penumbra Theatre. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Judith Budreau: Writer and teacher, Arts Board grantee; Karlyn Coleman: Writer; teaching artist at the Loft; Arts Board grantee; William Durbin: Poet, essayist, writer of novels for young readers; Anika Fajardo: Writer and teacher, book reviewer; Angela Foster: Poet, memoirist; Harmony Neal: Writer; Arts Board grantee; Debra Stone: Writer and educator; board member of Graywolf Press; Sarah Warren: Children's book author and educator

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2017 Regular Session, chapter 91, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$10,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$0
Direct expenses
$10,000
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Development of writing and writing skill while working towards the completion of a full memoir manuscript suitable for publication consideration. Early drafts of chapters and manuscript version as well as the final completed manuscript will be submitted to the Minnesota State Arts board for review and progress comparison. 2: Four open-dialogue trans-issues and reading events presented and facilitated by me in four cities across Minnesota will occur during this grant period. As a trans-person who came out in 1988, my reflections, as I share my memoir's progress, have already established significant dialogue. I propose four open-dialogue events of trans-experiences. We need to remember how far and from where we've come.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Development of writing and writing skill while working towards the completion of a full memoir manuscript suitable for publication consideration. Early drafts and finished chapters of the memoir manuscript and manuscript outline and reference/research materials are available for review. 2: 4 open-dialogue trans-issues and reading events were presented and facilitated by me in four cities across Minnesota during this grant period. All four of the events were well-attended, and the response was supportive of the project with encouragement and interest given for the completion this memoir.

Proposed Outcomes Achieved
achieved most of the proposed outcomes
Project Manager
First Name
Venus
Last Name
de Mars
Organization Name
Venus R. de Mars AKA Venus DeMars
State
MN
Phone
(612) 242-2843
Email
demars@prettyhorses.net
Administered By
Administered by
Location

Griggs Midway Building, Suite 304,
540 Fairview Avenue North,
St. Paul, MN 55104

Phone
(651) 539-2650 or toll-free (800) 866-2787
Email the Agency