Art Project Legacy
Art Project Legacy
Big Ideas from a Little Town.
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 Arts Access ACHF Cultural Heritage
The legacy level goals with this production are to 1) use art to help change the rural narrative that you cannot impact national change from a small town, 2) use art to instill a sense of pride in the rich history and talent that exists in our region, 3) use art to create a sense of place by setting the production in multiple locations in and around Granite Falls, and 4) use art to attract regional and statewide audiences to Granite Falls to celebrate our unique history. We will measure our success in meeting each of these goals through our evaluation tools. This project directly connects to three of the five Main Goals of Minnesota funding in the following ways: 1) Supporting artists and arts organizations in creating, producing and presenting high-quality arts activities - We will achieve this by engaging professional artists working with PlaceBase Productions, and by engaging and paying local artists as performers and musicians. 2) Overcoming barriers to accessing high-quality arts activities - We will achieve this by bringing a high-quality, original musical written and directed by professional artists to our region. And, we will include two free public performances to reduce barriers created by ticket costs. 3) Instilling the arts into the community and public life in our region - We will achieve this by integrating theater into the existing landscape and community events, and by including more partners in this initiative. PlaceBase Productions will engage an evaluator who will conduct qualitative, quantitative and participatory evaluation strategies throughout the project, involving the perspectives of all stakeholders – including the cast, story swap participants, and audience members. The final act of the play will be at Bluenose Gopher Public House and include one free beverage. The survey will act as the beverage coupon and will be required to complete before collecting the free drink. One month following the final performance, PlaceBase will conduct an Evaluation Session. The cast, partners and stakeholders will be invited to evaluate the ripple effects of the project and discuss next steps. All information gathered will be compiled and presented to the stakeholders in an Evaluation Report completed by PlaceBase Productions. PlaceBase Productions will also engage a videographer / photographer who will document elements of the process, prepare a short video documentary, and capture the performance, which will be made available to the cast, partners, and community following the production.
The production attracted a regional and intergenerational audience including many who do not typically attend arts events in our region. Many also expressed being surprised by the level of talent and quality of the production - especially the music and singing; they enjoyed moving from scene to scene and experiencing the different scene locations; they appreciated learning about the history of the area in a new way; and they were impressed by the level of participation from both audiences and cast. Audience members expressed the power of using art to share history and stories, and a desire to bring a show like this to their community. Approximately 60% of our audience left feeling more connected to Granite Falls history and/or Granite Falls as a place to experience the arts.
Other,local or private