Community Arts Support Grant

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,919
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Buffalo Community Orchestra
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
September 2011
End Date
August 2012
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Wright
Sherburne
Hennepin
Meeker
Ramsey
Wright
Sherburne
Hennepin
Meeker
Ramsey
Project Overview
Arts producing
Project Details
Buffalo Community Orchestra is a concert-producing community organization whose 65 musicians from four Central Minnesota counties perform five concerts per year. Professional musicians, adult amateurs and students are joined by local Suzuki, choir, and handbell groups in collaborative concerts.
Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications
Mike Carlson: Foley High School Art Teacher, potter; Janice Courtney: Arts Advisor/Assistant Director of St. Cloud State University Program Board; P.J. Fanberg: Executive Director of Land Of Lakes Choirboys of Minnesota; Leslie Hanlon: Director of Fundraising and Marketing for the College of St Benedicts/St John's University Fine Arts Series; Chris Rasmussen: retired Foley Senior High School art teacher, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts Board Member and College of St Benedicts/St John's University Fine Arts Programming Advisory Council Member; John Stander: Executive director for Elk River Arts Alliance, school administrator; Peter Veljkovich: served on the Littleton Fine Arts Committee and as county representative for the South Suburban Arts Committee, Fine Arts Photographer, Writer, Disc Jockey; Helene Woods: Board Member of the Monticello Arts Council; Sharon Tracy: Coon Rapids High School Humanities and English Teacher; Charlene Sul: Art Director for Hands Across the World, facilitator, Art Lecturer.
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Mike Carlson: Foley High School Art Teacher, potter; Janice Courtney: Arts Advisor/Assistant Director of Saint Cloud State University Program Board; P.J. Fanberg: Executive Director of Land Of Lakes Choirboys of Minnesota; Leslie Hanlon: Director of Fundraising and Marketing for the College of Saint Benedict/Saint John's University Fine Arts Series; Chris Rasmussen: retired Foley Senior High School art teacher, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts Board Member and College of Saint Benedicts/Saint John's University Fine Arts Programming Advisory Council Member; John Stander: Executive Director for Elk River Arts Alliance, school administrator; Peter Veljkovich: served on the Littleton Fine Arts Committee and as county representative for the South Suburban Arts Committee, Fine Arts Photographer, Writer, Disc Jockey; Helene Woods: Board Member of the Monticello Arts Council; Sharon Tracy: Coon Rapids High School Humanities and English Teacher; Charlene Sul: Art Director for Hands Across the World, facilitator, Art Lecturer.
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2011, First Special Session, chapter 6, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2012 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,919
Other Funds Leveraged
$27,875
Direct expenses
$32,794
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Increased concert attendance Buffalo Community Orchestra should be reflected in higher ticket sales, as happened for fall and holiday 2011 concerts: October's sales figure of $1977 is lower than the 6-year average of $2000 but higher than the past 5-year average of $1736. (Note: The 6-year average is boosted by Maria Jette's solo performance in October 2005.) December's sales figure of $4422 is considerably higher than any previous year and well over the preceding 6-year sales figure of $3254. Conductor Chat average attendance should boost to 50, including more Buffalo Community Orchestra members. Stronger violin voices in BCO should mean recruitment of 5 new musicians and retention of all but the graduating high school musicians. All contracted leaders should be retained for the 2012-13 season. Donations from the community should move from current $6574 level back up toward the '06 and '07 average figure of $7508.Access of audience measured by ticket sales and responses to May questionnaire about concert quality and programming; Access by musicians measured by retention, repeat hiring of talented leaders, members' attendance at Conductor Chat, new collaborative groups; Student musician access by recruitment numbers, numbers of participating Suzuki Program performers in October and advanced students in March concert; Arts Education by numbers of e-mail subscribers to Buffalo Community OrchestraÆs Notes On-line." Audience attendance at Conductor Chat; Members and audience questionnaires: numbers of favorable responses regarding non-European compositions emphasized in programming; Increased 'hits' for information from BCO's new website."

Measurable Outcome(s)

Access of audience was measured by ticket sales, which have reached record levels for at least two of the concerts. At June 2012 meeting and in two summer meetings, the Buffalo Community Orchestra board assessed audience opinions about concert quality and

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Jeffrey Burns, Gail Anderson, Erin Walsh, Julie Rathmanner, Mary Ellen Lundsten, Gretchen Katzenberger, Rosemary Tabbut, Mike Walsh, Sharron Pechek, Polly O'Brien, Erik Rohde, Kari Hartman, Veronica Lily, Renee Vetsch, Sarah Braith
Project Manager
First Name
Mary Ellen
Last Name
Lundsten
Organization Name
Buffalo Community Orchestra
Street Address
301 NE 2nd Ave PO Box 707
City
Buffalo
State
MN
Zip Code
55313-1653
Phone
(952) 657-6250
Email
melundsten1@mac.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

P.O. Box 458
220 4th Ave North 
Foley, MN 56329

Phone
Project Manager: Leslie LeCuyer
320-968-4290x 3