Organizational Stability Grant
Organizational Stability Grant
Transitioning to virtual theater.
Tara Makinen: Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Amber Burns: choreographer, dancer, actor, middle school art teacher; Tammy Mattonen: visual artists, co-founder of Crescendo Youth Orchestra; Kayla Aubid: Native American craft artist, writer, employee at MacRostie Art Center; Kathy Neff: musician, Director, Fine Arts Academy at the University of Minnesota-Duluth; Ron Piercy: jeweler, gallery owner; Emily Swanson: arts administrator at Oldenburg Arts and Cultural Community.
Roxann Berglund: musician; Leah Yellowbird: multi-medium visual artist; Ron Piercy: jeweler, gallery owner; Classie Dudley: ARAC Arts Leadership Fellow; Joan Farnam: ceramicist, founder of North Shore Arts Scene.
ACHF Arts Access
The goals of the project is to transition to virtual theater in terms of fundraising, educational offerings and live streaming events to create an income source during the immediate months combating the pandemic. The goals are to create a fundraising strategy that virtually engages with donors and audiences while social distancing rules are in place. To create an on-line learning system to engage with theater artist to better their craft in all areas of theater that can be learned virtually. To present livestream theatrical events to engage with Playhouse audiences. The goals will be met if our engagement with our donors, audiences and participants create a revenue stream allowing the Playhouse to continue to provide Theater Arts to and with the local community.
The Grand Marais was able to engage with community members in theater arts through youth summer camps leading to virtual performances for the whole community, a live streamed production filmed in the Cook County Courthouse, and a virtual performance filmed through zoom and individually n person, then edited together to present a 20 cast member production of A Christmas Carol. The Playhouse participants ranged in age of 8 to 83, participated virtually from all over Cook County, included newcomers as well as returning actors. The participants enjoyed the creative process and the social aspect of creating together. Parents were delighted with the activity for youth during the harsh isolation of Covid.