Operating Support

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2024 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$41,412
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Northern Lights Music Festival, Inc.
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
July 2023
End Date
June 2024
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Itasca
Koochiching
Lake
St. Louis
Itasca
Koochiching
Lake
St. Louis
Project Overview

Operating Support

Project Details

The Northern Lights Music Festival's mission is to present high quality musical events, student and professional, to the entire Iron Range from Grand Rapids to Ely, utilizing its beautiful and historic auditoriums and other historic spaces.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

Uri Camarena: business consultant; Michael Charron: arts educator, arts and civic leader; Richard Cohen: attorney in private practice, former state legislator; Emily Galusha: arts and civic leader, former arts administrator; Anthony Gardner: vice president, marketing and communications at CentraCare; Ken Martin, political strategist, campaign manager; Philip McKenzie: adjunct college faculty; Nichole Melton-Mitchell: healthcare administrator; Michele Sterner: higher education administrator; Dobson West: retired attorney; Christina Woods: executive director, Duluth Art Institute

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Uri Camarena: business consultant; Michael Charron: arts educator, arts and civic leader; Richard Cohen: attorney in private practice, former state legislator; Emily Galusha: arts and civic leader, former arts administrator; Anthony Gardner: vice president, marketing and communications at CentraCare; Ken Martin, political strategist, campaign manager; Philip McKenzie: adjunct college faculty; Nichole Melton-Mitchell: healthcare administrator; Michele Sterner: higher education administrator; Dobson West: retired attorney; Christina Woods: executive director, Duluth Art Institute

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota, 2023 regular session, chapter 40, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2024 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$41,412
Other Funds Leveraged
$330,412
Direct expenses
$330,412
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.5
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Due to new housing possibilities in three cities, NLMF will increase the size of its Young Artist and Opera Apprentice programs. With new housing available in Chisholm; plus Virginia and Aurora, we can accept more students, increasing NLMF support to Main Streets. Student spending will be tracked by key merchants: restaurants, grocery stores and convenience stores. 2: NLMF will continue to expand its services to children; and to tie its local history lecture series to musical programming. Children's performances will be presented in six venues; success will be measured by participant surveys. A local children's chorus will be prepared for La boheme production. Artistic quality will be measured by artistic staff and audience surveys.

Measurable Outcome(s)

NLMF was successful in increasing the size of its Young Artists and Opera Apprentice Programs; and the size of its audiences. NLMF rented more space in 2023 and 24 to house Young Artists in MinnesotaNorth dorms in Chisholm, Virginia; and Dahlin House in Aurora, indicating an uptick of 12 people. Restaurants frequented by NLMF reported 50% higher earnings in July 2024. 2: Iron Range children increased their participation in NLMF activities through children's programming, and their participation in children's chorus. More than 6 children's programs which included Iron Range teens (3) were presented to other children in 3 libraries and on 3 chamber music concerts. Additionally, 10 Range students made up the children's chorus in our production of La Boheme.

Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Barbara Baldrica, Mary Mulari, Matthew Uhan, Gregg Allen, Erik Erie, Victoria Gornick, Stephen Levchak, Rita Taylor, Lynne King, Patty Phillips, Mary Henschel, Veda Zuponcic, Jonathan Cleghorn, Ryan Bajan, Martin Zuponcic
Project Manager
First Name
Veda
Last Name
Zuponcic
Organization Name
Northern Lights Music Festival, Inc.
Street Address
PO Box 147
City
Gilbert
State
MN
Zip Code
55741
Phone
(609) 922-2965
Email
zuponcic@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