Equipment and Facilities Improvement

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$5,454
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
RiverSong Music Festival
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
April 2019
End Date
November 2019
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
McLeod
Meeker
Sibley
Wright
Nicollet
Kandiyohi
Redwood
Stearns
Anoka
Ramsey
Hennepin
Washington
Scott
Dakota
Le Sueur
Renville
Cass
Cass
Todd
Douglas
Pope
Swift
Chippewa
Carver
Scott
Dakota
St. Louis
Wadena
Pine
Chisago
McLeod
Meeker
Sibley
Wright
Nicollet
Kandiyohi
Redwood
Stearns
Anoka
Ramsey
Hennepin
Washington
Scott
Dakota
Le Sueur
Renville
Cass
Cass
Todd
Douglas
Pope
Swift
Chippewa
Carver
Scott
Dakota
St. Louis
Wadena
Pine
Chisago
Project Overview

Equipment and Facilities Improvement

Project Details

RiverSong Music Festival.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

John White: writer, photographer, retired journalist; Georgette Jones: literature teacher, theatre actor, director, teacher; Anna Johanssen: fiber artist, art teacher, Remick Gallery board, president of Windom Women’s Investment group, treasurer of Cottonwood County Animal Rescue, officer of Cotton Quilters; Kristen Kuipers: musician, private lesson and K-12 classroom music instructor, theater, writing, volunteer with Jackson Center for the Arts; Janet Olney: visual artist, Willmar Area Arts Council coordinator; Joyce Meyer: photographer, retired art teacher, Canby Arts Council; Michele Knife Sterner: theater actor, Southwest Minnesota State University Associate director for Access Opportunity Success program; Lisa Hill: musician, Crow River Singers, attorney; Joyce Aakre: visual arts, writing, Discover Dassel committee, Board member for Litchfield Community Education, Exhibit committee for Dassel Area Historical Society; Emily Petersen: visual artist, art teacher; David KelseyBassett: visual artist, musician; Anne O’Keefe-Jackson: human resources director, bead and quill work; Scott Wessels: theater actor, director, writing, media, communications, board member for Green Earth Players; Brett Lehman: musician, social worker, Worthington City Band, Worthington Concert Association; Erica Volkir: performing arts, Director of Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB; Claire Swanson: visual arts, arts teacher, Meander Art Crawl Committee.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Luanne Fondell: arts administration; JoAnne Fraunfelder: arts administration; Maureen Keimig: theater; Brett Lehman: music, Southwest Minnesota Arts Council board; Paula Nemes: theater, music; Michele Knife Sterner: theater, Southwest Minnesota Arts Council board; Louella Voigt: arts administration; Tom Wirt: visual art, arts administration.

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
Yes
Conflict of Interest Contact

Southwest Minnesota Arts Council, Nicole DeBoer (507) 537-1471

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
$5,454
Other Funds Leveraged
$856
Direct expenses
$6,310
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

1) Accurate attendance numbers provided through online tickets and accounting for all cash and credit card sales. 2) Refresh and build our brand with a new professional backdrop. We will capture comments through our on-site survey administered by an intern. 3) Increased liquor sales by enlarging and making our beer tent more efficient. Adding one more food vendor plus their electric needs’, nets an additional $320. 1) Have iPads and stands at each station to improve security, cash management, and accurate ticket counts. We will be able to accurately know our attendance and will be able to balance cash and credit card sales to tickets sold. We will also capture all contact information by online ticket buyers (i.e., zip codes) for marketing purposes. 2) Hang new backdrop on the Front Porch Stage to update our look and replace old wooden Front Porch stage set. The new backdrop will increase the usable footprint on stage and provide a fresh look for our main Front Porch Stage. We will add the question about the look of the stage to our on-site survey. 3) Add two 50-amp service to the electrical board in the park to add another food vendor or provide a larger beer station. We add income both through higher liquor sales for RiverSong and another food vendor to our lineup.

Measurable Outcome(s)

We now have accurate numbers to build ongoing forward, with computer systems to track numbers, item sales, hourly sales, zip codes and more. Having all of our sales (even presales with our website) run through Square we have access to many new reports. There was improved ease of access for our volunteers at the ticket gate, merchandise pavilion, and beer tent. We are now able to reconcile cash to charges through Square for financial accountability. Created a new and exciting look and branding message for RiverSong with the new backdrop that is visually very appealing. Volunteers thought it was so much easier to put up and take down, gave more room/easier access to the stage, and was easier to store. We updated our electrical systems for our food vendors. We were able to add a vendor (adding to income) and make the area more efficient, with shorter lines.

Proposed Outcomes Achieved
Achieved proposed outcomes
Source of Additional Funds

Other,local or private

Recipient Board Members
Richie Kuttner, Carol Stark, Katy Hiltner, Betsy Price, Amber Erickson, Josh Campbell, Ronny Wilson, Angie Kuttner, Sue Ann Gabrelcik, Valerie Mackenthun, Pat Mayy
Project Manager
First Name
Betsy
Last Name
Price
Organization Name
RiverSong Music Festival
Street Address
PO Box 667
City
Hutchinson
State
MN
Zip Code
55350
Phone
(320) 587-7278
Email
betsyprice446@yahoo.com
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
Location

509 W Main St, PO Box 55
Marshall, Minnesota 56258 

Phone
Phone Manager: Nicole DeBoer
(507) 537-1471
Email the Agency