Artist Initiative

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$10,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Eric Braun
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
July 2013
End Date
January 2014
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Hennepin
Blue Earth
Nicollet
Le Sueur
Anoka
Hennepin
Blue Earth
Nicollet
Le Sueur
Anoka
Project Overview
Artist Initiative
Project Details
Braun will complete his novel, begin to search for a publisher, and meet with secondary and post-secondary students to discuss writing and publishing.
Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications
Judson Bemis Jr.: Actor, arts administrator, founder and principal of Clere Consulting. Secretary, Minnesota State Arts Board.; 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. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Sean Dowse: Executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Music Coalition, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies.; John Gunyou, City manager, Minnetonka.; Benjamin Klipfel: Board member, Minnesota State Arts Board. Executive Director, Alexandria Area Arts Association, Inc. Director and arts educator.; Ellen McInnis: Director of Twin Cities government relations, Wells Fargo. Member of Bottineau Boulevard Partnership. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Pamela Perri: Executive vice president, Builders Association of Minnesota.; Margaret Rapp: Former educator, Saint Paul Academy and Summit School. Officer at-large, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Anton Treuer: Professor of Ojibwe, Bemidji State University.
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Cezarija Abartis: Author, Faculty member, St. Cloud State University, St. Cloud; Lesley Arimah: Writer, novelist, Mankato; Nicole Helget: Writer, Mankato; Elizabeth Johnson-Miller: Poet, essayist, faculry member, College of St. Benedict/Saint John's University; Moe Norton-Westbrook: Writer, performance artist, Minneapolis; Cole Perry: Writer, Bovey; Dominic Saucedo: Writing faculty, Minneapolis Community and Technical College; Patrick Thomas: Editor and program manager, Milkweed Editions, Minneapolis
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
Yes
Conflict of Interest Contact
Executive director Sue Gens (651) 215-1600
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2011, First Special Session, chapter 6, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$10,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$1,000
Direct expenses
$11,000
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

I will engage with more than 120 English and writing students about my novel and writing and publishing in general. If I visit at least four high school English classes and three college writing classes to read from my novel and discuss writing and publishing, I will have achieved outcome 1. 2: I will read to public audiences totaling at least 300 people in at least three venues. If I give a reading at Minnesota State University-Mankato and at least two public readings in Twin Cities venues, I will have achieved outcome 2.

Measurable Outcome(s)

I spent an entire day speaking with 7th grade English Language Arts students about writing and publishing, reaching 192 students (six classes of 32 each). I spoke with four university classes—three undergraduate classes at Anoka-Ramsey Community College and one graduate class at Minnesota State University, Mankato—on the topic of making a career of writing and editing, reaching a total of 62 students. I evaluate the degree to which I achieved my intended outcome by comparing my intended outcome of reaching 120 students with my actual outcome of reaching 254 students. The result is that I reached more than twice as many of the individuals than intended, which means I more than fulfilled my intended outcome. 2: I participated in a reading at the What's Up Lounge in Mankato, Minnesota on September 18, 2013, at which about 80 audience members were reached. On Friday, February 21, 2014, I gave a reading at Honey in Minneapolis, Minnesota, at which about 25 audience members were reached. I evaluate the degree to which I achieved my intended outcome by comparing my intended outcome of reaching 150 adults to my actual outcome of reaching 105. The result is that I reached 45 fewer adults than intended, falling short of my intended outcome. I still consider this a successful outcome because the audience reached was enthusiastic, and information about my Artist Initiative grant reached a larger pool of potential audience members even if they did not make it to one of the readings.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Project Manager
First Name
Eric
Last Name
Braun
Organization Name
Eric Braun
State
MN
Phone
(612) 345-2702
Email
ericbraun@mac.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