Arts Access

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$59,728
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
VocalEssence
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2015
End Date
December 2015
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Dakota
Hennepin
Ramsey
Dakota
Hennepin
Ramsey
Project Overview
Arts Access
Project Details
Vintage Voices is a new program developed by VocalEssence that will provide 150 seniors at six local senior centers and assisted living facilities access to quality choral music with professional musicians.
Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications
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. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Rebecca Davis-Lee: Touring pianist, piano and music theory teacher; Wendy Dayton: Arts and community leader and philanthropist.; Sean Dowse, Executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Music Coalition, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; David Glenn: Executive director of the Minnesota Project, ceramic artist; Ellen McInnis: Director of Twin Cities government relations, Wells Fargo. Member of Bottineau Boulevard Partnership. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies; Janice Sivertson: Gallery owner and visual artist
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Yvonne Cory: Storyteller and textile artist, marketing representative, Faribault County Fair, career and technical instructor, Blue Earth high school; Melissa Cuff: Director of grants and foundation relations for YMCA of the Greater Twin Cities.; Venessa Fuentes: Philanthropy writer at Project for Pride in Living, poet; Sandra Gillespie: Visual artist, online writing instructor, University of Alaska Anchorage, former program director, Alaska State Arts Council; Gabriel Green: Founder and executive director, Wolffe Cultural Center, Duluth, founder and senior pastor, Church of Restoration Twin Ports; Paul Robinson: Senior community leadership consultant for the James P. Shannon Leadership Institute of the Amherst H. Wilder Foundation
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2013, Chapter 137, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$59,728
Other Funds Leveraged
$7,163
Direct expenses
$66,891
Administration costs
$6,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

150 people from six underserved elder communities will participate in Vintage Voices, and—through this choral experience—will report improved mental health benefits. UpFront Consulting, an independent consultant and VocalEssence staff will utilize both quantitative and qualitative data collection tools including observation, surveys and focus groups. 2: Vintage Voices will provide a quality choral experience to the target community because barriers to participation, including cost, mobility, and access to highly-trained artists, are mitigated. UpFront Consulting, an independent consultant, and VocalEssence staff will utilize both quantitative and qualitative data collection tools including observation, surveys and focus groups.

Measurable Outcome(s)

127 people from six under-served elder communities participated in Vintage Voices, and reported improved mental and physical health benefits. VocalEssence hired The Improve Group to evaluate and assess achievement of program outcomes. To assess the major achievements of the program’s first year, The Improve Group conducted interviews with activity directors from each site. Choir members also provided feedback about Vintage Voices during wrap-up sessions after the final performance. 2: Vintage Voices removed the barriers of cost, mobility and access to participation, allowing an under-served community to participate in the arts. VocalEssence hired The Improve Group to evaluate and assess achievement of program outcomes. To assess the major achievements of the program’s first year, The Improve Group conducted interviews with activity directors from each site. Choir members also provided feedback about Vintage Voices during wrap-up sessions after the final performance.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Kathryn Roberts, Fred Moore, Jacob Wolkowitz, Roma Calatayud Stocks, Mary Ann Aufderheide, Ann Barkelew, Traci V. Bransford, Philip Brunelle, Debbie Estes, Ann Farrell, Rick Ford, Wayne Gisslen, Art Kaemmer, David Mona, James M. Odland, Cay Shea Hellervik, Don Shelby, Timothy Takach, Jenny Wade, Dorene Wernke, Judith Drobeck, Robert Smith
Project Manager
First Name
Elissa
Last Name
Weller
Organization Name
VocalEssence
Street Address
1900 Nicollet Ave
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Zip Code
55403
Phone
(612) 547-1452
Email
elissa@vocalessence.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