Artist Initiative

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2018 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$10,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Erica Jane. Berry
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2018
End Date
December 2018
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Blue Earth
Hennepin
Le Sueur
Nicollet
Blue Earth
Hennepin
Le Sueur
Nicollet
Project Overview

Artist Initiative

Project Details

Berry will revise her essay collection, a personal and cultural exploration of fear through the lens of the wolf, and prepare a book proposal for agents. She will also organize a reading in a Minneapolis bookstore.

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. Chair, 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. Officer at -Large, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Rebecca Davis-Lee: Touring pianist, piano and music theory teacher. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Sean Dowse, Mayor of Red Wing, elected 2016. Former executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. Secretary/Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies.; Dobson West: Senior advisor, Spell Capital Partners Fund; Christina Widdess: Arts organization consultant; former managing director, Penumbra Theatre. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Ashley Benites: Novelist, writing instructor, Arts Board grantee; Victoria Blanco: Writer and teaching artist; Arts Board grantee; Karlyn Coleman: Writer; teaching artist at the Loft; Arts Board grantee; Shannon Gibney: Author and activist; teaches in English department at MCTC; Margaret Newman: Writer and teacher; Arts Board grantee; Matthew Ryan: Writer, English professor at Concordia St. Paul; Arts Board grantee; Michele Valenti: Writer, winner of Loft Mentor Series in fiction

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2017 Regular Session, chapter 91, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2018 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$10,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$0
Direct expenses
$10,000
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

I intend to finish revising my essay collection and to draft a book proposal so I am ready to approach agents at the end of the grant period. The project will be successful if, by the end of the grant period, I have a polished book draft and a proposal ready to send to agents. 2: I intend to host a reading in a Minneapolis bookstore featuring a diverse group of writers reading about fear. This outcome will be successful if I am able to organize a well-attended reading with a selection of writers addressing fear in different ways.

Measurable Outcome(s)

I wrote two new introductory essays for my collection, drafted a book proposal, and am currently in talks with agents. The project was successful because I have a proposal and stronger, new example essays to show to agents. 2: I hosted a reading in a Minneapolis coffee shop featuring a diverse group of writers reading about fear. This outcome was successful because the event was standing-room only and featured a diverse group of writers addressing their vulnerabilities and reading one another's work.

Project Manager
First Name
Erica
Last Name
Berry
Organization Name
Erica J. Berry
State
MN
Phone
(503) 913-4833
Email
berryericaj@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