Artist Initiative

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$10,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Diana Joseph
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2020
End Date
June 2022
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Blue Earth
Hennepin
Le Sueur
Nicollet
Ramsey
Waseca
Blue Earth
Hennepin
Le Sueur
Nicollet
Ramsey
Waseca
Project Overview

Artist Initiative

Project Details

Joseph will work on her nonfiction book about family estrangement and disenfranchised grief, receive feedback from a mentor, and give a reading and two workshops.

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

Venus de Mars: Multidisciplinary artist and musician; Carson Faust: Teacher with Cow Tipping Press; Arts Board grantee; Vanessa Ramos: Writer, artist, educator; Arts Board grantee; Glenda Reed: Writer and educator; Arts Board grantee; Erin Sharkey: Writer, graphic designer, cultural producer; Molly Sutton Kiefer: Poet, essayist, editor and publisher of Tinderbox Editions in Red Wing; Diane Wilson: Dakota writer and educator

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
Yes
Conflict of Interest Contact

Executive director Sue Gens (651) 539-2650

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
$10,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$100
Direct expenses
$10,100
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

To develop as a writer through mentorship with another writer. Mentorship from Minnesota writer Nicole Helget will provide me with feedback that will help me grow as a writer. 2: To use the literary arts to increase audience understanding of family estrangement, creative nonfiction ethics, and the writing process. I will give a reading and provide two workshops; after each, I will distribute paper surveys to collect attendees' feedback.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Diana Joseph developed her artistic practice, in particular, her ability to depict difficult characters with empathy. Joseph received ongoing, evaluative feedback from her mentor, Lesley Arimah. Arimah's outside perspective helped Joseph see characters based on people with whom she's had challenging relationships in a more open-minded, compassionate way. 2: Diana Joseph developed her skills for engaging with audiences, in particular, her ability to lead a writing workshop over Zoom. 100% of attendees at Joseph's workshop on Difficult Characters Based on Real People either Agreed or Strongly Agreed that Joseph's workshop provided them with helpful tips for depicting difficult people honestly and with empathy.

Source of Additional Funds

Other,local or private

Project Manager
First Name
Diana
Last Name
Joseph
Organization Name
Diana Joseph
State
MN
Phone
(507) 380-6041
Email
diana.joseph@mnsu.edu
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