Art Project
Art Project
Rhythm of the River 2017
John White: writer, photographer, retired journalist; Georgette Jones: literature teacher, theatre actor/director/teacher; Marilee Strom: musician, former art teacher, business owner; Kathy Fransen: musician, theatre, Rhythm of the River coordinator; Janet Olney: visual artist, Willmar Area Arts Council coordinator; Joyce Meyer: photographer, retired art teacher, Canby Arts Council; Pam Blake: retired art teacher, visual arts, Tyler Arts Council, Southwest Minnesota Weaver's Guild; Michele Knife Sterner: theatre actor, Southwest Minnesota State University Associate director for Access Opportunity Success program; Tom Wirt: artist, owner of Clay Coyote Gallery, Hutchinson Center for the Arts, past member of Hutchinson Public Arts Commission; Joyce Aakre: visual arts, writing, Discover Dassel committee, Board member for Litchfield Community Education, Exhibit committee for Dassel Area Historical Society; Kelly Muldoon: graphic artist, Prairie Music Association, Prairie Oasis Players; Dan Wahl: writer, visual artist, director, adjunct English instructor at Southwest Minnesota State University; Anne O'Keefe-Jackson: human resources director, bead and quill work; Cindy Reverts: visual artist, Rock County Fine Arts Association treasurer, Council for Arts in Humanities in Rock County; Brett Lehman: Worthington International Festival, Worthington City Band, Worthington Concert Association; Reggie Gorter: vocalist, theatre, voice and dance teacher; Dana Johnson: producer/filmmaker; Claire Swanson: visual arts, arts teacher, Meander Art Crawl Committee.
Ruth Ascher: Arts administration; Cheryl Avenel-Navara: Arts appreciator; Pam Blake: Visual, Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Board; Bill Gossman: Visual, music; Dusan Milanovic: Visual, theatre; Andrew Nordin: Visual; Janet Olney: Visual, Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Board, Eric Parish: Music, theatre.
Southwest Minnesota Arts Council, Nicole DeBoer (507) 537-1471
ACHF Arts Access
Goals include providing a community event that offers a variety of music and art genres. Rhythm of the River strives to expose festival goers to new music, singer/songwriters, and styles of music, theatre and dance, while giving artists an opportunity to share, display and showcase their material. In 2017, Rhythm of the River will additionally focus on an increase of local business sponsorships. These sponsorships are vital to the strength of the festival, as it allows for continued access to all who are interested, regardless of their financial stability. 1. Increase the number of business and corporate sponsors from the number that was supportive to the festival in 2016. 2. Continue to improve the layout of the festival grounds to create a more comfortable atmosphere and flow between Art and Food Vendors, performance stages, and merchandise/staff booth. 3. Improve the appearance of the festival grounds with new backdrop for 'The Radio Stage', and for 'The Tadpole Stage'. 4. Reduce waste in the park by selling stainless steel commemorative glasses that can be used for all beverages. 5. Increase the number of volunteers on-site for the festival, to reduce stress on existing volunteers. 6. Increase the number of food vendors as requested by 2016 survey results. Written evaluation tools will be distributed to sponsors to assess their input on the festival, and utilize their comments for growth and improvement of the festival. Written evaluation tools will be handed out by volunteers during the festival. After the event, evaluations will be sent to sponsors to request their input. A self-addressed, stamped envelope will be included for their convenience. 1. The Treasurer will track sponsors who supported the festival in 2016, and compare to the number who supported the festival in 2017. Treasurer will report the findings at the September board meeting. 2. Vendors and festival goers will be able to respond to the new layout for the festival grounds. 3. Survey will include inquiry regarding the quality and appearance of the new stage backdrops. 4. The number of stainless steel cups sold will be recorded. Beverage vendors will be asked how many plastic cups they used, as compared to previous years. Garbage cans and bins will be observed for overflow and content of cups. 5. Verbal feedback from Volunteers will be requested by email. Volunteer satisfaction will be recorded and reported to the board. 6. Festival goers will be surveyed as to their level of satisfaction with the food vendors on-site at the 2017 festival.
Surveys were handed out at the festival. Increased from 25 to 32 corporate and business sponsors. Received positive survey responses about the improved layout of the festival. Reduced waste in park by selling stainless steel commemorative glasses. Increased volunteer numbers. Increased food and beverage vendors.
Other, local or private