Arts Access

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$31,462
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Ballet Works, Inc. AKA James Sewell Ballet
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
November 2015
End Date
May 2016
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Goodhue
Hennepin
Goodhue
Hennepin
Project Overview
Arts Access
Project Details
James Sewell Ballet will bring a dance experience to two underserved communities via a program called MeMoves (TM), using movement vocabulary to improve wellness for populations with addiction and various mental illnesses.
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; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies; Janice Sivertson: Gallery owner and visual artist; Dobson West: Private equity manager; board chair, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Maya Beecham: Education team coordinator, Bush Foundation; visual and spoken word artist; freelance writer; Mary Bromen: Executive Director, Dakota Woodlands Women's and Family Homeless Shelter; John Connelly: Independent consultant to nonprofits, photographer; Scott Dixon: Artist and administrator, Commonweal Theatre; Sandra Gillespie: Visual artist; online writing instructor, University of Alaska Anchorage; former program director, Alaska State Council on the Arts; Fatima Said: Executive director, Project FINE (Focus on Integrating Newcomers through Education) in Winona; Robert Weisenfeld: Director of government grants and sponsored programs, Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peter
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2015 Special Session, chapter 2, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$31,462
Other Funds Leveraged
$7,500
Direct expenses
$38,962
Administration costs
$2,500
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Connect MeMoves ™ with ballet and the project participants to increase participation in the concert experience for groups of people who have felt excluded. Artistic and administrative staff, program administrators and an outside consultant will use an empirical approach as well as surveys to measure qualitative and quantitative results of the experience. 2: Welcome members of the Drop-In Center to the JSB studio space to introduce them to the studio, concert hall, and classical ballet experience. Artistic and administrative staff, program administrators and an outside consultant will use an empirical approach as well as surveys to measure qualitative and quantitative results of the experience.

Measurable Outcome(s)

123 people from two distinct Minnesota communities learned new movement skills and most saw their first professional dance concert. James and facility staff were keen observers and asked questions of the participants either in classroom format, while they performed exercises, or following the concert experience, all to know if technical skills could be increased. As an example, if people were having more trouble with executing a move, it was simplified so all could do it and with more ease through repetition. The goal was to succeed, not to overwhelm. 2: Participants traveled to see the Ballet Works Project and JSB Spring Program at The Cowles Center and spent time with James and the JSB dancers. A set number of questions were established in advance of the concert experience. Since this was a first public performance for many, it was decided not to overreach on expectations or try and use surveys in the Theater or following the show. Instead, in a relaxed and social environment with most of the JSB dancers present, the set questions were posed and James and the dancers responded to questions from the attendees so they could express their enthusiasm about the program they watched.

Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Tom Anderson, Jayne Emory, Joanne Gordon, David Gutzke, Kelly Kita, James McCarthy, Jenny Lind Nilsson, Marty Rigney, Justina Roberts, Rachel Ryan, Srinivas Somayajula, Steve Suckow, Gerald Timm, George Sutton, Michelle Wirtz, Kim Witczak
Project Manager
First Name
Tom
Last Name
McNamee
Organization Name
Ballet Works, Inc. AKA James Sewell Ballet
Street Address
528 Hennepin Ave Ste 215
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Phone
(612) 672-0480
Email
tom@jsballet.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