Art Project
Art Project
Cultural Awareness Organization - Worthington International Festival.
John White: writer, photographer, retired journalist; Georgette Jones: literature teacher, theatre actor, director, teacher; Anna Johanssen: fiber artist, art teacher, Remick Gallery board, president of Windom Women’s Investment group, treasurer of Cottonwood County Animal Rescue, officer of Cotton Quilters; Kristen Kuipers: musician, private lesson and K-12 classroom music instructor, theater, writing, volunteer with Jackson Center for the Arts; Janet Olney: visual artist, Willmar Area Arts Council coordinator; Joyce Meyer: photographer, retired art teacher, Canby Arts Council; Michele Knife Sterner: theater actor, Southwest Minnesota State University Associate director for Access Opportunity Success program; Lisa Hill: musician, Crow River Singers, attorney; Joyce Aakre: visual arts, writing, Discover Dassel committee, Board member for Litchfield Community Education, Exhibit committee for Dassel Area Historical Society; Emily Petersen: visual artist, art teacher; David KelseyBassett: visual artist, musician; Anne O’Keefe-Jackson: human resources director, bead and quill work; Scott Wessels: theater actor, director, writing, media, communications, board member for Green Earth Players; Brett Lehman: musician, social worker, Worthington City Band, Worthington Concert Association; Erica Volkir: performing arts, Director of Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB; Claire Swanson: visual arts, arts teacher, Meander Art Crawl Committee.
Anne Dybsetter: visual art, writing; John Ginocchio: music, education; Brett Lehman: musician, social worker, Worthington City Band, Worthington Concert Association, Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Board; Jane Nygaard: arts advocate; Michele Knife Sterner: theater actor, Southwest Minnesota State University associate director for Access Opportunity Success program, Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Board; Tom Wirt: visual art.
ACHF Cultural Heritage
75% of festival attendees will have a positive interaction with someone from a cultural tradition different from their own, at least four of the performing artists will be folk and traditional artists of Minnesota and 90% of the artists will feel a sense of pride after performing at the festival. These goals are verified through our audience and artist survey results. To evaluate how well we have met our stated project outcomes a paper/pencil survey translated into English and Spanish will be handed out by volunteers during the Festival. Questions will include: number of participants who interacted with someone from a culture other than their own, the number of people who learned something new about another culture other than their own, and the number of people who felt they are more comfortable interacting with someone of a different culture from their experience at the Festival. Questions asked to artists will include whether they had a positive experience after performing at the Festival and also if performing at the Festival had a positive impact on their artistry. All of this feedback comes from artists, performers, volunteers, participants, sponsors, and the Festival committee. The results of the Festival surveys will determine for the organizing committee that people who have a positive cross-cultural interaction at the Festival will have a meaningful experience overall at the Festival. After the Festival, a committee member tabulates the survey results. In August, the Festival committee meets to review the results; the committee will determine how we have met our project outcomes. The committee will review its evaluation methods to determine the effectiveness of the data received and make needed changes. This review process will enhance the committees understanding of how to meet the needs of the intended audience. Results will also be shared through interactions with community stakeholders. A goal for the 2019 Festival is to conduct qualitative research regarding the response of Festival participants through personal interviews.
The survey results showed 88% learned something new about another culture other than their own; 85% had a positive interaction with someone from a culture different from their own; 94% felt more open to interacting with someone from a culture different from their own; 98% said people gained an appreciation for other cultures by attending the Festival; and 96% said that communities are strengthened by arts festivals such as the Worthington International Festival. 88% of the folk and traditional artists report that they had a positive experience at the International Festival and would like to return in the future. 95% food and artisan vendors had a positive experience and enjoyed sharing their culture.
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