Arts Tour Minnesota
The Minnesota Northwoods Writers Conference will bring award-winning writers of national stature to present craft talks and readings and teach weeklong workshops in poetry, fiction, and creative nonfiction in Bemidji.
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; 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: Senior advisor, Spell Capital Partners Fund
Andrea Cheney: Interim managing director, Bedlam Theatre; Ann Fee: Executive director, Arts Center of Saint Peter; teaching artist, writer, editor, and instructor; Jamil Jude: Freelance theater director and producer; Jennie Knoebel: Executive director, Austin Area Commission for the Arts; Stacy Richardson: Writer, editor, and music promoter; Christopher Taykalo: Marketing and development manager, Twin Cities Gay Men's Chorus
ACHF Arts Access
The regional community will have access to high quality literary arts and the opportunity to study with other writers in an intimate setting. We measure attendance at events, distribute and collect questionnaires, track book sales, and record comments through interviews. Staff get to know attendees well and encourage feedback. And we expect great leaps in craft, confidence and motivation. 2: We will continue to expand and strengthen our relationships with cultural and artistic partners in the region and the state. We will mail or email surveys to arts, literary, and cultural organizations, as well as educational partners and the tribes, to gauge the impact of the conference. Staff will follow-up by phone to solicit suggestions.
MNWC increased appreciation for literary arts and increased access to award-winning writers from the national literary scene in outstate Minnesota. A sign-in form collects demographic information. Anonymous evaluation forms assess the experience of participants, interns, and faculty at the end of the conference. The 3-page form was developed in collaboration with BSU's social work and psychology departments and consists of simple open-ended questions to solicit informative responses. We also measure attendance, track book sales, and record comments through interviews. The staff gets to know attendees and encourages feedback. 2: We remain in close contact with many nonprofits and educational and tribal institutions in order to support aspiring writers. We send mailings and emails to a network of partners who share our interest in supporting emerging writers. Follow up is by phone conversation. We judge our success by how many writers we have been able to help attend the conference to further their craft and their career. When we can partner with an institution to bring someone to the conference who otherwise could not attend - and that person benefits and other participants benefit from their presence - we consider that a success.
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