Artist Initiative

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$10,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Michael P. Torres
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2017
End Date
December 2017
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Blue Earth
Blue Earth
Project Overview

Artist Initiative

Project Details

Torres will work with an editor to revise his first book of poems, Against the Closed Ear of Sky. He will host a poetry workshop for homeless youth at the 410 Project and give a reading in Mankato.

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

Richard Broderick: Poetry and fiction writer; writing instructor at the Loft and Anoka-Ramsey Community College; Yahya Frederickson: Poet, professor of English at Minnesota State University Moorhead; Wendy Gonzalez-Baez: Writer, teacher, performance poet and installation artist; Athena Kildegaard: Poet; lecturer, University of Minnesota Morris.; Michelle Matthees: Widely-published poet and educator; Saara Myrene Raappana: Published poet; editor of Cellpoems, a poetry journal; Carolyn Williams-Noren: Poet

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
$10,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$0
Direct expenses
$10,000
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

I will develop a first book of poems currently in progress that will be ready for submission by the end of the grant period. Keeping count of new poems I have created and completed and receiving feedback from a professional, will confirm my progress towards submission of a full manuscript for publication. 2: I will host a poetry workshop and reading centered on identity, inviting homeless youth I work with, artists in my community and the public. Reportage of attendance at the event, along with content presentation and audience response gauged by survey handed out at the event.

Measurable Outcome(s)

I developed my first collection of poems and began submitting it to first book competitions. I submitted individual poems to journals (some were accepted for publication). I submitted the collection to competitions after revising and receiving manuscript consultation. The collection is currently a finalist for a first book prize. 2: I printed 50 copies of chapbooks written by homeless or at-risk youth at the Reach drop-in center. The chapbook was released at a reading. I counted 38 people in attendance. All 50 copies of the chapbook were given away.

Project Manager
First Name
Michael
Last Name
Torres
Organization Name
Michael P. Torres
State
MN
Phone
(909) 374-9001x c
Email
torres.remek@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