Artist Initiative

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$7,600
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Jay O. Eisenberg
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2017
End Date
December 2017
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Hennepin
Hennepin
Project Overview

Artist Initiative

Project Details

Eisenberg will develop Big Old Rock, a one person show about the geology of Minnesota and the topography of transgender bodies, that draw from the performer's life and interviews with transgender adults and youth. Two performances will take place in the Twin Cities.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

Ardell Brede: Mayor of Rochester, elected 2002.; Peggy Burnet: Businesswoman, art collector, and community volunteer. Member of the Smithsonian National Board. Former chair of the board, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Officer at Large, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Uri Camarena: Business consultant, Metropolitan Economic Development Association. Board chair, Minneapolis College of Art and Design.; Michael Charron: Dean of the School of the Arts, Saint Mary?s University of Minnesota. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Rebecca Davis-Lee: Touring pianist, piano and music theory teacher. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Sean Dowse, Former executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. Secretary/Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; David Glenn: Ceramic artist. former executive director of the Minnesota Project.; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board; Janice Sivertson: Gallery owner and visual artist; Dobson West: Senior advisor, Spell Capital Partners Fund; Christina Widdess: Arts organization consultant; former managing director, Penumbra Theatre

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Patrick Calder-Carriere: Faculty member, School of Performing Arts, Minnesota State University Moorhead; Susan Haas: Artistic producing director, Open Eye Figure Theatre, Minneapolis; Rachel Haider: Performing arts manager, Northfield Arts Guild; Wendy Knox: Artistic director, Frank Theatre; Daniel Pinkerton: Playwright and lyricist; Aamera Siddiqui: Playwright and performer; coartistic director, Exposed Brick Theatre; James Williams: Chair, department of theater and dance, Winona State University; artistic director, Paul Bunyan Playhouse

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

2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$7,600
Other Funds Leveraged
$2,400
Direct expenses
$10,000
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

I will continue to expand this performance piece to engage with and include other trans narratives from the Twin Cities community, not merely my own. Successful representation of multiple trans stories onstage, and engagement with the Minneapolis trans community in pre-show roundtables and post-show talkbacks. 2: I will cultivate my skills as a solo deviser, as someone who is more accustomed to ensemble devising and working with pre-existing text. I will seek feedback from my director/dramaturg and from other trans theatre artists.

Measurable Outcome(s)

I will create a performance that does not seek to represent all trans narratives, but includes material that will be resonant with community members. Via post-show discussions with the trans community members who saw this show, as well as hand-written surveys passed out after each show, we received feedback from members inside and outside of the trans community. 2: I will cultivate my skills as a solo deviser, as someone who is more accustomed to ensemble devising and working with pre-existing text. Creative team members, and trans theatre artist consultants, were able to offer critical feedback at the end of the process that spoke to the development and growth of the work.

Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Project Manager
First Name
Jay
Last Name
Eisenberg
Organization Name
Jay O. Eisenberg
State
MN
Phone
(914) 844-5308
Email
kay.jay.eisenberg@gmail.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