Project Grant - Round 1

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Buffalo Community Theater
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
October 2012
End Date
November 2012
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Wright
Sherburne
Wright
Sherburne
Project Overview
Little Shop of Horrors
Project Details
Buffalo Community Theater will produce and hold performances of the musical Little Shop of Horrors at the Discovery Auditorium in Buffalo, Minnesota, October 26-28 and Nov 1-3, 2012, with actors, technicians, artists, musicians, and volunteers from Buffalo and surrounding communities in central Minnesota.
Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications
Mike Carlson: Foley High School Art Teacher, potter; Janice Courtney: arts advisor/Assistant Director of Saint Cloud State University Program Board; Leslie Hanlon: Director of Fundraising and Marketing for the College of Saint Benedict's/Saint John's University Fine Arts Series; Chris Rasmussen: art teacher for 35 years at Foley Senior High (retired), Minnesota Citizens for the Arts Board Member and College of Saint Benedict's/Saint John's University Fine Arts Programming Advisory Council Member; Peter Veljkovich: Littleton Fine Arts Committee, county representative for South Suburban Arts Committee, photographer, writer, Disc Jockey; Charlene Sul: Art Director of Hands Across the World, facilitator, art lecturer; John Stander: Executive Director of Elk River Arts Alliance, career school administrator; Helene Woods: nonprofit and public administrator, Board Member of the Monticello Arts Council.
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; Leslie Hanlon: Director of Fundraising and Marketing for the College of Saint Benedict's/Saint John's University Fine Arts Series; Chris Rasmussen: art teacher for 35 years at Foley Senior High (retired), Minnesota Citizens for the Arts Board Member and College of Saint Benedict's/Saint John's University Fine Arts Programming Advisory Council Member; Peter Veljkovich: Littleton Fine Arts Committee, county representative for South Suburban Arts Committee, photographer, writer, Disc Jockey; Charlene Sul: Art Director of Hands Across the World, facilitator, art lecturer; John Stander: Executive Director of Elk River Arts Alliance, career school administrator; Helene Woods: nonprofit and public administrator, Board Member of the Monticello Arts Council.
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 ACHF Arts Education

2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$11,675
Direct expenses
$15,675
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

We will have provided approximately 15 staff and 30 local volunteers with an opportunity to work in a supportive artistic environment. There will be an increase in their self-esteem, a feeling of pride in a job well done, and a sense of accomplishment in co-creating an artistic vision. We will have provided an opportunity for approximately 12 performers to grow as artists and will have increased their skill sets in the performing arts discipline. We will have entertained audiences totaling approximately 800 people of all ages, from all economic and cultural backgrounds. We will have attracted at least 20 new people that have not been to or involved in a previous Buffalo Community Theater production. We will have increased awareness of and access to Buffalo Community Theater in the community, and exposed them to the art of live theater.We will measure our goals by tracking the people who: audition, volunteer, perform in, or attend our performances. We will solicit comments and reactions from audience members, actors, musicians, and volunteers. An audience survey in programs will help to provide feedback from the perspective of someone who attended the production. Questions regarding how the audience member heard about the show should help us track how well our marketing and publicity campaigns worked. A participant survey given to the actors as well as the volunteers will help us gather data about how we can improve our procedures from auditions to striking the production.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Buffalo Community Theater successfully produced and mounted 6 performances of the musical Little Shop of Horrors in October/November 2012. A staff of 14 and approximately 40 local volunteers (including 15 youth) worked together over a period of about 2 months. 12 actors, including 4 youth, were cast in the production. Attendance figures were carefully documented through the box office. First weekend ticket sales were slightly lower than projected but sold out houses on the second weekend were observed and documented, with many referrals and repeat attendees. Overall attendance was lower than projected. Audience surveys were handed out at performances and gave us valuable feedback, including: 30% of those who attended were first time attendees to a Buffalo Community Theater production. (We had hoped to increase attendance of new patrons by 10%, so we exceed that by 20%.) Audiences included people ranging in age from 6 to 87. Attendees came from all over the area from St Cloud to Minneapolis. Total audience numbers were: 908 paying customers, plus 110 complementary tickets.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Zanna Joyce, Michael Walsh, Chris Cammarn, Jon Salmon, Erin Walsh, Lisa Ellwoods, Don Schmidt, Dave Cammarn, Janice Luoma
Project Manager
First Name
Suzanna
Last Name
Joyce
Organization Name
Buffalo Community Theater
Street Address
PO Box 23
City
Buffalo
State
MN
Zip Code
55313-0023
Phone
(763) 898-8227
Email
zannaj@q.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