Artist Initiative

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$9,920
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Rachel L. Smoka-Richardson AKA Rachel Smoka-Richardson
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2016
End Date
December 2016
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Hennepin
Hennepin
Project Overview
Artist Initiative
Project Details
Smoka-Richardson will revise her middle-grade novel Ruthie Superstar and work with a mentor and copyeditor to prepare the manuscript for submission. She will present a reading and workshop at the University of Minnesota’s Kerlan Collection in Anderson Li
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; 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
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Eric Braun: Freelance writer and editor; Nicholas Healy: Managing editor, Capstone; creative writing adjunct faculty member, Minnesota State University, Mankato; author; Nicole Helget: Memoir and fiction writer, Mankato; Sanaphay Rattanavong: An independent fiction and nonfiction writer; Kurtis Scaletta: Children's book author; teacher, Arts Board grantee; Lisa Steinmann: Freelance writer, editor, and artist; board member of Saint Paul Almanac
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
$9,920
Other Funds Leveraged
$0
Direct expenses
$9,920
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

I will revise my middle grade novel, using dedicated writing time and with the support of a mentor and copyeditor. Outcome will be evaluated by the progress made in revision, and through feedback from the mentor. 2: I will deliver a public reading and lecture on the revision process. Outcome will be evaluated by the number of attendees at the reading/lecture, an evaluation distributed at the reading/lecture, and through informal verbal feedback.

Measurable Outcome(s)

I wrote and revised my middle grade novel, using dedicated writing time and with the support of a mentor. Evaluation methods included progress made in revision, and feedback from my mentor. The first draft of my novel is complete, and early revisions have started. Although the writing and revision process has taken longer than expected, I have all the tools I need to complete my revisions. At the end of my mentorship, my mentor gave me feedback on the entire draft, along with a letter to help me through subsequent revisions. 2: I delivered a successful public reading and lecture on the revision process, engaging twenty-one Minnesotan participants. My evaluation methods included attendee numbers, a paper evaluation, and informal feedback, which included: I learned a lot from your presentation about Kate DiCamillo's revision process to publish her book. Thank you for sharing what you learned in your research. I really enjoyed your workshop last Saturday. Being able to see the rough drafts of a talented writer like Kate DiCamillo was a real treasure, and it gave me some perspective on my own writing process.

Description of Funds
Project Manager
First Name
Rachel
Last Name
Smoka-Richardson
Organization Name
Rachel L. Smoka-Richardson AKA Rachel Smoka-Richardson
State
MN
Phone
(763) 360-0782
Email
rsmokarichardson@gmail.com
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