Operating Support
ACHF Arts Access
To present world-class, local, national, and international artists to diverse Minnesota audiences in collaboration with community partners. Northrop will create meaningful partnerships with traditional and non-traditional community partners to ensure that major performance events featuring artists of the highest caliber are available to the broad community in ways that are meaningful to them. In this way, Northrop aspires to support the Arts Board’s goal that arts are interwoven into every facet of community life. Embracing a culture of ongoing learning, Northrop maintains rigorous quantitative and qualitative assessment and evaluation practices to ensure high-quality programming. Northrop evaluates ticket sales, performance attendance, outreach participation, and demographic information, as well as soliciting feedback from artists, staff, partners, and audience members to determine success of programming and future goals. When possible, Northrop conducts a pre-evaluation of participants or attendees to set the baseline and better determine impact of activities. While evaluating the number of community partners, it is evident that Northrop's collaborations are growing in number and quality. Partnering organizations included Chinese American Association of Minnesota, Consulate General of Canada, GIRL Initiative, Global Programs and Strategy Alliance, Kate Nordstrom Project, Meet Minneapolis, Project SUCCESS, University of Minnesota Women's Center, United Cambodian Association of Minnesota, Walker Art Center, and others. 2: To provide access for new audiences by proactively responding to, curating for, and eliminating the participation barriers of underserved communities. Each season, Northrop curates six to ten major artistic events that engage community partners. We identify specific underserved communities to work with while sustaining relationships with past partners and audiences. Northrop provides tickets, transportation, and engagement activities to support the Minnesota State Arts Board's goal that people of all ages, ethnicities, and abilities participate in the arts. Through ongoing discussion and evaluation with community partners, Northrop learns from partner feedback and integrates evolving ideas into programming to best serve audiences and underserved communities. Northrop solicits feedback from audiences and partners in a variety of ways including audience intercept surveys, observation at all events, regular partner meetings, and feedback on our blog.
The goal to present world-class, local, national, and international artists to diverse Minnesota audiences in collaboration with community partners was achieved by Northrop's presentation of nine dance companies (including Soledad Barrio, New York City Ballet, Hofesh Shechter Company, Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre, Bebe Miller Company, Joffrey Ballet, Groupo Corpo, Khmer Arts Ensemble, and Emily Johnson), staging of fifteen local bands, and co-presentation of four Accordo chamber music performances in its 2012-13 season, each accompanied by a breadth of free outreach activities and events. Collaborations with community groups, businesses, University departments, and governmental organizations supported extensive community involvement during these events. Through collaborations with more than forty organizations, performance preview discussions, post-performance question and answer sessions, panel discussions, and residency activities reached a wide range of Minnesotans. 2: Northrop hosted thirty community outreach activities including performance previews and in-school residency activities. We identified new communities to work with this year while sustaining relationships with past partners and audiences. In 2012-2013, Northrop's access initiatives included: 1) 15% of tickets available to underserved families and community groups free of cost; 2) meaningful engagement through ongoing partnerships with Project Success, GIRL Initiative, Girl Scouts, cultural groups, and community organizations; 3) transportation and childcare provided for performances; 4) artists and projects that positively reflect cultural and ethnic diversity of the community, including Khmer Arts and Women of Substance; and 5) events and residency activities that contextualize performances and build bridges of understanding for new audiences.
Other
local or private