Folk and Traditional Arts

2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$10,000

Fund Source

Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

Recipient

Hmong Cultural Center

Recipient Type

Non-Profit Business/Entity

Status

Completed

Start Date

March 2012

End Date

March 2013

Activity Type

Grants/Contracts

Counties Affected

Ramsey

Hennepin

Project Overview

Folk and Traditional Arts

Project Details

Hmong Cultural CenterÆs musical instrument program, The Qeej Instrument, shows how the instrument is intrinsically associated with the Hmong cultural identity and heritage and plays an important role in the Hmong funeral ceremony.

Competitive Grant Making Body

Board Members and Qualifications

Judson Bemis Jr., Actor, arts administrator, founder and principal of Clere Consulting. Secretary, Minnesota State Arts Board., 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., Michael Charron, Dean of the School of the Arts, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board., Sean Dowse, Executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Music Coalition, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies., John Gunyou, City manager, Minnetonka., Benjamin Klipfel, Executive Director, Alexandria Area Arts Association, Inc. Director and arts educator.,Ellen McInnis, Director of Twin Cities government relations, Wells Fargo. Member of Bottineau Boulevard Partnership. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board., Pamela Perri, Executive vice president, Builders Association of Minnesota., Margaret Rapp, Former educator, Saint Paul Academy and Summit School. Officer at-large, Minnesota State Arts Board., Anton Treuer, Professor of Ojibwe, Bemidji State University.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Jewell Arcoren: Program director, First Nations Composer Initiative.; Kristina Clark: Director of programs and exhibits, American Swedish Institute. Member of committee for the 2012 American Association of Museums conference in Minneapolis. Singer in Flickorna Fem.; Ruth Friedlander: Artist and educator.; Eva Maria Kish: Managing director and choreographer, Ethnic Dance Theatre. Concert Artistic Director, Carpathian Folk Festival (Minnesota Hungarians). Board of Directors, Minnesota Hungarians.; Phyllis May-Machunda: Cofounder and director of Training Our Campuses Against Racism. Facilitator, Seeking Educational Equity and Diversity. Folklorist, scholar, and educator.; Gwen Westerman Wasicuna: Professor of English and humanities, Minnesota State University Mankato. Poet and fiber artist.

Conflict of Interest Disclosed

Project Details: 2012 Fiscal Year

Legal Citation / Subdivision

Laws of Minnesota 2011, First Special Session, chapter 6, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3

Appropriation Language

ACHF Cultural Heritage

2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$10,000

Other Funds Leveraged

$6,000

Direct expenses

$16,000

Administration costs

Number of full time equivalents funded

0.28

Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The number of Minnesotans who participate in folk and traditional arts activities increases.

Measurable Outcome(s)

45 children and youth learned about the Qeej instrument in Qeej classes at Hmong Cultural Center in 2012 which was just slightly lower than the project target of 50. The Qeej program collected daily attendance information from program attendees to track student participation. Students in the Qeej class were tested on a regular basis by instructors to ascertain their ability playing the instrument and the associated dance steps that accompany Qeej performances. A program survey was also administered to students. Outcomes of interest in the evaluation process for the Qeej instrument after-school program in 2012 included the following: Demonstrated development of personal skills performing the Qeej and understanding of the larger cultural meaning of Qeej songs, ability to perform the Qeej in front of large groups at community events including parades, multicultural festivals and school assemblies, increased student self-esteem, confidence and pride in their Hmong cultural heritage.

Description of Funds

Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members

Sean Lee, Kamai Xiong, Dr. Gale-Mason Chagil, Kin Vang, Dr. Gerald Fry, Khue Yang, T. Scott Uzzle

Project Manager

Txongpao

Lee

Hmong Cultural Center

995 University Ave W Ste 214

St Paul

55104