Arts Learning

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$39,331
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Saint James Home of Duluth, Inc. AKA Woodland Hills
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
March 2013
End Date
February 2014
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Aitkin
Anoka
Becker
Beltrami
Benton
Carlton
Crow Wing
Freeborn
Goodhue
Hennepin
Hubbard
Itasca
Kanabec
Olmsted
Otter Tail
Ramsey
Rice
Scott
St. Louis
Stearns
Washington
Winona
Aitkin
Anoka
Becker
Beltrami
Benton
Carlton
Crow Wing
Freeborn
Goodhue
Hennepin
Hubbard
Itasca
Kanabec
Olmsted
Otter Tail
Ramsey
Rice
Scott
St. Louis
Stearns
Washington
Winona
Project Overview
Arts Learning
Project Details
At-risk youth will learn and apply script writing and acting skills to develop a theatrical production for schools and the community. The project will explore the complexities of bullying and encourages self-reflection and self-empowerment through the arts.
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: Board member, Minnesota State Arts Board. 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
Lawrence Benson: Multi-media/genre expressionist, author, publisher; Julie Deters: Visual arts teacher, Cloquet School District, Award-winning educator; Phyllis Doyle: Retired arts administrator; award-winning poet and fiction writer; Alison Good: Former commercial artist, educator and administrator; active community volunteer; Lori Janey: Board member of Minnesota Chinese Dance Theater; design engineer, Seagate Technology; Kimberly Meisten: Director of Community Engagement, VocalEssence; Education; Meghan Nodzon: Nonprofit arts organization development professional; Mary Reed: Craft artist, author and educator
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 Education

2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$39,331
Other Funds Leveraged
$731
Direct expenses
$40,062
Administration costs
$1,900
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Educate youth about the artistic process, impact their views on bullying, and impact individual treatment goals. First, theater skills will be assessed through artists' statements, scripts, and performance. Secondly, journals and surveys will determine youths' views on bullying and the effectiveness of theater as a means to develop therapeutic skills. 2: Woodland Hills will become sustainable as an arts learning venue for underserved youth. A sustainability plan will be developed that examines and plans for supporting arts programming costs through ticket sales, outreach performances, and additional funding sources and partnerships with the school district and a local university.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Woodland Hills could only offer theatre with this support, thus the type of arts learning opportunities at Woodland Hills increased. Also, this outcome was measured by a pre-program survey, which indicated only 10% of arts learners had taken part in an in-depth theatre arts learning experience, thus increasing the quantity of arts learning opportunities for Minnesota youth. The majority of theatre experiences indicated by arts learners took place in schools, so offering theatre at a residential treatment center increased the venues for arts learning opportunities. Secondary: Following the completion of the project, 77% of participants said they would definitely or were interested in participating in theatre in the future. In final reflections, 65% of arts learners indicated the arts learning experience helped them gain understanding about their own personal experiences with how people use power and 89% indicated the project helped them work toward treatment goals. 2: Woodland Hills is challenged to develop a sustainability plan that supports arts programming through ticket sales, outreach performances, other funding sources, or through partnerships with the school district or local universities. Staff retention issues at Woodland Hills and budget shortfalls at Woodland Hills and the schools in 2013 meant fewer resources dedicated to building an arts programs, or any program beyond mental health services. Ticket sales generated $685 which was used to help offset space expenses. In spite of program sustainability discussions and fund development efforts, no additional funds have been secured to date. Future arts programming is dependent on donations, sponsorships and grant funding.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Karen Anderson, Xavier Bell, Laura Budd, Dean Casperson, George Goldfarb, Ann Glumac, William Himango, Sanford Hoff, Peg Johnson, Leanne Joynes, David Kohlhaas, Doug Lewis, Gerald Martin, Peter Pichetti, Mark Schober, Phil Strom, Melissa Swor, Natalie Zel
Project Manager
First Name
Cindy
Last Name
Finch
Organization Name
Saint James Home of Duluth, Inc. AKA Woodland Hills
Street Address
4321 Allendale Ave
City
Duluth
State
MN
Zip Code
55803
Phone
(218) 728-7500x 115
Email
cfinch@woodlandhills.org
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