Art Project

Our over-reaching project goal is to encourage and increase attendee numbers thereby, meeting the Minnesota arts funding target of "instilling the arts into the community and public life in our region." We take a count of people seated in the immediate deck area and then add the estimated number of seated across the street at a restaurant's dining patio where many congregate to listen and enjoy performances as well as boaters who park their boats below the deck to listen to performances. Further, we estimate the number of attendees listening from a nearby picnic shelter and nearby picnic tables. We also include children playing at the playground who can hear the music. We will continue counting our audience to determine whether we meet this goal. One of our evaluation questions asks audience members to describe how far they have come in order to participate. We find we are reaching into many nearby towns, such as Paynesville, Olivia, Litchfield, and Redwood Falls. A second goal is to support "artists and arts organizations in creating, producing and presenting high quality arts activities." We can measure the level to which we achieve this in the minds of attendees through evaluations. One evaluation question asks about the skill level of the performing group. Another asks about the program the group selected to play. The Spicer Beautification Committee will conduct informal interviews about the quality and skill level of the musicians with concert goers at each concert, a major goal of the committee. We will jot down comments we hear and use that information to judge whether a group should be invited back. We will also use the evaluation instrument in the form of surveys to determine to what extent we reached that goal with each group of performers. One of the evaluation questions asks about the skill level of the performing group. Another surveys the effectiveness of the program chosen for the performance. Last season we had outstanding skill and program feedback about musicians. Our audience loved the variety of genres presented, loved the programs the musicians chose, and felt they were skilled. Another goal is to constantly increase the number of people who attend the Music in the Park series. The committee will count the number of attendees as indicated under project goals. We will interview attendees informally about why they come each week and why they want to attend the concerts. We will also use evaluation surveys that question how far they have driven to attend the concert and whether they would attend another. These surveys and informal interviews gave us very effective feedback last year.