Artist Initiative

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$10,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Christi L. Furnas AKA Christi Furnas
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
March 2016
End Date
February 2017
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Hennepin
Ramsey
Hennepin
Ramsey
Project Overview
Artist Initiative
Project Details
Furnas will develop “Crazy Like a Fox,” a graphic novel about living with schizophrenia. She will give a reading from the work and host a discussion at Soo Visual Arts Center in Minneapolis.
Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications
Ardell Brede: Mayor of Rochester, elected 2002.; Peggy Burnet: Businesswoman, art collector, and community volunteer. Chair of the Nominating Committee, Smithsonian National Board. Trustee, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Michael Charron: Dean of the School of the Arts, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Rebecca Davis-Lee: Touring pianist, piano and music theory teacher; Sean Dowse, Executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Music Coalition, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; David Glenn: Executive director of the Minnesota Project, ceramic artist; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies; Janice Sivertson: Gallery owner and visual artist; Dobson West: Senior advisor, Spell Capital Partners Fund
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Katayoun Amjadi: Ceramist; assistant to director at Circa Gallery; John Cox: Artist; instructor of visual arts and art history; Elizabeth Devine: Jewelry designer and lettering artist; Southeastern Minnesota Visual Artists co-op board member; Miigis Gonzalez: Visual artist; Anna Metcalfe: Visual artist and educator; Anders Nilsen: Award-winning author and artist of graphic novels; Jehra Patrick: Program director, Mn Artists; visual artist
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
$10,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$1
Direct expenses
$10,001
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Christi Furnas will learn a new medium and grow as a multi-disciplinary artist. Furnas will work with a mentor for the duration of the grant period. Artwork from two chapters will be completed. A full draft of the manuscript will be scripted. 2: Christi Furnas will engage a new audience. At the completion of two chapters, Furnas will have a reading and discussion of her work. Attendance at the presentation will be counted and a short survey of impressions and questions will be collected from attendees.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Furnas developed new skills as a graphic artist and implemented these skills in order to create art which met a new audience, expanding her career. The printed mini-comics are examples of the outcomes of the learned skills. They stand alone as stories. Furnas used her new skills in order to create the comics. 2: Ninety mini-comics were distributed. Eighty people participated in events. A new audience was introduced. More Minnesotans participated in the arts. Attendance was estimated at each event. After each presentation, surveys were distributed to participants. Questions included: Did you learn anything about mental illness? Do you feel that this project inspires conversation on mental health? Did you learn about the process of storytelling? Please leave additional comments. Distribution of the mini-comic also helps evaluate engagement of Minnesotans.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Project Manager
First Name
Christi
Last Name
Furnas
Organization Name
Christi L. Furnas AKA Christi Furnas
State
MN
Phone
(612) 251-2558
Email
christifurnas@yahoo.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