Arts Learning

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$52,500
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Illusion Theater and School, Inc. AKA Illusion Theater
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
September 2019
End Date
June 2022
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Hennepin
Ramsey
Hennepin
Ramsey
Project Overview

Arts Learning

Project Details

Illusion Theater will work with Washington Technology Magnet School and Olson Middle School to provide diverse eighth graders with a curriculum integrated, arts based learning program that helps prepare them for high school success.

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

John Ginocchio: Director of bands and professor of music at Southwest Minnesota State University; Roberta Gray: Director of Saint Francis Music Center, Little Falls; David Hamlow: Installation artist and teacher; Gregory Neidhart: Director of Winona State University arts administration program, chair of art and design department, music faculty; Jennifer Nicklay: Grad student at U of M in the ecology of urban architecture; former education and outreach coordinator, Weavers Guild of Minnesota; Kathleen Ray: Published playwright and founder of Playing On Purpose Productions; Suchitra Sairam: Dancer, choreographer, and founder of Kala Vandanam Dance Company

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2019 First Special Session, chapter 2, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Education

2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$52,500
Other Funds Leveraged
$10,000
Direct expenses
$62,500
Administration costs
$9,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Through theater activities, 8th grade students will be better prepared -- socially and emotionally -- for greater success and engagement in high school. We will conduct written and oral surveys, plus pre/post questionnaires with youth on awareness of issues and comfort level dealing with them; track participation; interview teachers and school liaisons. 2: 8th grade students will gain knowledge of theater and develop new theater skills, 6-8 of whom will learn additional skills as Peer Ambassadors. Illusion will survey participants on theater knowledge/skills and Peer Ed learning, document demonstrations of arts/Peer Ed learning throughout, and interview teachers and artists.

Measurable Outcome(s)

8th graders became better prepared both socially and emotionally to succeed in high school by participating in theater arts education. Evaluation methods included: Pre/post questionnaires on awareness about key issues; Written and oral surveys with students on comfort in dealing with issues; Tracking participation; Interviews with teachers and school liaisons. 2: 8th graders gained knowledge and skills in analyzing, writing and performing theater. six students also gained skills as Peer Ambassadors for the program. Evaluation methods included: Demonstrations by students of theater knowledge/skills learned, Participant surveys providing self-assessments of knowledge/skills learned, Interviews with participating teachers and artists.

Source of Additional Funds

Other,local or private

Recipient Board Members
Stan Alleyne, John Beal, Anthony Bohaty, Willie Bridges, Barbara Brin, Lisa Cotter, Dani P. Deering, Pat Dunleavy, Keith Halperin, Catherine Ahlin-Halverson, Tim Johnson, Maureen Long, Lori Liss, Christopher Madel, Vivian Martin, Tiffany Moore, Bonnie Morris, Emily Palmer, Jeffrey Rabkin, Michael Robins, Santiago Strasser, Rebecca Schiller, Susan Shapiro, Tracy M. Smith, Robin Stein, Susan Thurston Hamerski, Christopher Wurtz
Project Manager
First Name
Michael
Last Name
Robins
Organization Name
Illusion Theater and School, Inc. AKA Illusion Theater
Street Address
528 Hennepin Ave Ste 704
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Zip Code
55403-1814
Phone
(612) 339-4944x 208
Email
mrobins@illusiontheater.org
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