Artist Initiative

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$7,810
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Heidi K. Czerwiec AKA Heidi Czerwiec
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2020
End Date
June 2021
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Hennepin
Morrison
Ramsey
Hennepin
Morrison
Ramsey
Project Overview

Artist Initiative

Project Details

From editor feedback, Czerwiec will revise, pitch, and market her memoir Real Mother which explores social and economic issues around open adoption. She will share insights and techniques at an artist talk/workshop.

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.; Uri Camarena: Business consultant, Metropolitan Economic Development Association. Board chair, Minneapolis College of Art and Design. 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: Mayor of Red Wing, elected 2016. Former executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Philip McKenzie, Oboe and English horn player; adjunct oboe faculty, NDSU. Secretary/Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Mary McReynolds-Pellinen: Executive director, Lyric Center for the Arts; coordinator, First Stage Gallery. Officer at-large, 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.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Sumayyah Beck: Writer; development coordinator at Cedar Cultural Center; Rachel Castro: Writer; teaching artist at the Loft; Catherine Friend: Author, MN Book Award winner; Susan Nettell: Writer; Arts Board grantee; Elizabeth Torres: Writer; professor of English, Bethany Lutheran College; Kao Yang: Hmong-American writer and educator

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2019 First Special Session, chapter 2, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$7,810
Other Funds Leveraged
$1,120
Direct expenses
$8,930
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

I will revise, pitch, and market a book-length memoir, a new genre for me. Evaluation will include revision and pitching and/or submission of manuscript to agents and/or presses. 2: I will engage audiences on the topic of open adoption and writing around absences through readings, panels, and workshops. Evaluation will be based on quality of discussion and attendance at artist talks/panels/workshops, and audience survey.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Book-length memoir-in-essays was revised, submitted, and marketed. Book manuscript was revised extensively from feedback, and submitted to 14 presses. It was determined that, given the book's noncommercial style, pitching to agents was not warranted. 2: A Zoom panel reading/discussion on writing about adoption and absence by four Minnesota writers was streamed and recorded. Four panelists and 45 participants attended the panel, and 30 people so far have watched the recording. Comments by panelists, in Zoom chat, and on social media attest that the discussion was valuable and gave specific strategies for writers.

Source of Additional Funds

Other,local or private

Project Manager
First Name
Heidi
Last Name
Czerwiec
Organization Name
Heidi K. Czerwiec AKA Heidi Czerwiec
State
MN
Phone
(701) 213-7873
Email
heidi.czerwiec@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