Community Arts

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$5,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Friends of Swede Hollow
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2016
End Date
June 2016
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Ramsey
Ramsey
Project Overview
Community Arts
Project Details
Funding for the 7th annual Art in the Hollow ~ Artists in Action, a one-day multidisciplinary outdoor arts festival. The festival will take place in June 2016.
Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications
Julie Andersen: Eagan Art House Executive Director; Jill Anfang: Roseville Parks and Recreation Program Director; Bethany Brunsell: Music teacher and performer; Shelly Chamberlain: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Operations Director; Marisol Chiclana-Ayla: Artist, Board Chair El Arco Iris; Anthony Galloway: Actor, storyteller, West Metro Education Program; Jamil Jude: Theatre artist; Tricia Khutoretsky: Public Functionary Curator and Co-Director; Peter Leggett: Walker West Music Academy Executive Director; Dayna Martinez: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts; Coleen McLaughlin: Arts Midwest Director of External Relations; Tom Moffatt: Silverwood Park Supervisor; Kathy Mouacheupao: Twin Cities Local Initiatives Support Corporation Cultural Corridor Coordinator; Adam Napoli-Rangel: Artist; Heather Rutledge: ArtReach Saint Croix Executive Director; Andrea Sjogren: Hopkins Public Schools Youth Programs Coordinator; Dameun Strange: Composer and performer; Melissa Wright: Twin Cities Public Television.
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Oskar Ly: Artistic, community service, volunteerism; Tiernan Warner: Artistic, youth programming, education; Stanton Wood: Fundraising, general management, artistic; Erin Lauderman: Artistic, youth programming, audience development; Zhen Zou: Education, general management, artistic; Jennifer Wood: Fundraising, disabilities specialist, general management; Monica Murray: Artistic, education, general management; Jonna Kosalko: Fundraising, audience development, general; Jean McElvain: Artistic, Community Education, organizational development.
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
$5,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$10,861
Direct expenses
$15,861
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Art in the Hollow will feature around 60 visual and demonstrating artists, who may also sell their works, 11 performing groups, some paid, a mini-play/musical based on the history of Swede Hollow produced by the East Side Thrive kids, and a Sculpture/Installation contest. Teen Gallery, Kids Art Activities and Swede Hollow History booth will also be featured. We hope to exceed last year's record of 15000 visitors, weather cooperating! We will give all artists, volunteers and staff written evaluations. Visitors may evaluate through surveys handed out upon leaving the festival, or on line.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Art in the Hollow encourages artists to demonstrate their process as they display their work. Some examples of how this goal was met this year include the Karen Weavers, whose booth included a loom to show the weaving process. The Midwestern Avian Adoption and Rescue Services booth featured photographs of rescued birds painting the art that was on display. Another example was the “Pop-Up Ting,” which explained and demonstrated the artistic elements of a classical China garden. This year we excelled at attracting exhibitors who were new to Art in the Hollow, and in some cases, who were displaying their work for the first time. Cameren Torgerud from the newly opened “Studio Payne” gallery commented, “Everything went well for me!” First time outdoor exhibitor Saskia Nichols of Sheherazade’s Daughters commented, “I have ideas for next year already!” Potter Joanie Miller commented, “I sold my pottery for the first time there and did well.” The goal of recruiting talent via our immediate ethnic community was also met this year. One great example is the American Indian Magnet School dancers and drummers, who explained the meaning behind each dance they performed and invited the community to join them in a pow-wow as a finale. A volunteer commented, “What I love best about our community is our diversity. Art in the Hollow provided opportunity to speak with women whose culture is new to me, 20 somethings finding a path in life, artists describing their work, and friends.” Local students were integrally involved. We were delighted to have the East Side Thrive after school program return to present a musical production about Swede Hollow history. Johnson High School students sold ceramics at the Teen Activities tent and youth from the Dayton’s Bluff Recreation Center staffed the Kids Activities tent. Other successes this year included: Improved sound for the performance stage, which was powered by a solar generator for the first time. Hope Community Academy has been a great partner, providing a rain site and parking free of charge. In spite of some issues with recruiting artists, the sculpture contest was much better than last year and we had excellent entries. Many artists reported successful sales, including potter Carin Ekstrand, who said “I did better at Art in the Hollow than Grand Old Days the next day.” There also seemed to be great camaraderie among the exhibitors, and one first-timer said “I did learn a lot about what it takes to be in an art fair. Other vendors near me were very nice and helpful.” Challenges included: We had slightly fewer exhibitors (45 total) and attendees this year (1500 total), probably due to the forecast which predicted rain all day, and we did get a brief shower. Some volunteers and a few exhibitors expressed exhaustion due to the physical demands of the location and not enough support. Some exhibitors said the sites were a bit cramped and requested that the grass be cut back more. Outreach included social media (Facebook, artinthehollow.org), flyers at local businesses, and a press release that was distributed to local media (including St. Paul Pioneer Press, Minneapolis Star Tribune, East Side Review, and Dayton’s Bluff District Forum). This year for the first time MPR broadcast an interview with organizer Romi Slowiak. The CABARET! “East Side’s Got Talent” fundraising event was a great success and had the benefit of attracting new talented performers and serving as a preview to the Art in the Hollow Festival for the community. We make Art in the Hollow accessible to our low-income community by offering a day of performances, artistic demonstrations, and public sculpture free of charge. We also offer affordable entry fees for exhibitors and vendors. To help meet the physical challenges of this venue, volunteers provided assistance with set-up and tear-down. We also provided dollies to help artists carry their materials to the sites. The police returned this year to offer assistance with their “mule” mini car. The Wise Elders history booth was relocated to a more central location to make it easier to access, especially for the elderly. Some exhibitors were also located above the park entrance so they would not have to transport their materials up and down the steep tunnel. We will continue to offer this option at future festivals. In spite of its challenges, Swede Hollow Park remains a beloved location. An exhibitor commented “This is a beautiful way to introduce people to the park…I saw a bluebird, a hummingbird, and cardinals!” Another vendor described the park as “magical.” While difficult to quantify, Art in the Hollow is a gathering where our community uses art to connect with our history, our diverse cultures, and with nature. East Side resident Cathy Saunders commented “I made an effort to let all of the vendors I visited know that I appreciated them sharing their talents with the neighborhood. It certainly has made an impressive impact on my life…”

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Karin DuPaul, Mike Grealish, Jim Davidson, Murph Dawkins, Bette Johnson, Romi Slowiak, Andy Twedt, Angela DuPaul, Brad Griffith
Project Manager
First Name
Romi
Last Name
Slowiak
Organization Name
Friends of Swede Hollow
Street Address
668 Greenbrier St
City
St Paul
State
MN
Zip Code
55106
Phone
(651) 776-0550
Email
swedehollow@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
Location

PO Box 14106
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55114 

Phone
Project Manager: Kathy Mouacheupao
651-645-0402
Email the Agency