Arts Access

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$95,626
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Illusion Theater and School, Inc. AKA Illusion Theater
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2013
End Date
December 2013
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Dakota
Hennepin
Dakota
Hennepin
Project Overview

Arts Access

Project Details

Illusion Theater will partner with The Link, a Twin Cities supportive program, to engage 200-400 in-risk and at-risk youth with Illusion, with an aim to spur long-term interest in theater while improving life chances for the youth.

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

Katherine Dodge: Executive director, Itasca Orchestra and Strings Program.; Elizabeth Flinsch-Garrison: Education and Outreach Director, Northern Clay Center; Patricia Grimes: Arts Coordinator- Sanford Center ( Neilson Place), Bemidji; Susan Haas: Artistic Producing Director, Open Eye Figure Theatre, Minneapolis; Joanna Kohler: Filmmaker and Media producer, community storytelling; Jennifer Monroe: President of the Lupus Foundation of Minnesota and Treasurer of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association; Sherri Pugh: Director of Operations, Sabathini Community Center; Robert Weisenfeld: Assistant Vice President,Corporate and Foundation Relations, Gustavus Adolphus College, St. Peter

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
$95,626
Other Funds Leveraged
$28,704
Direct expenses
$124,330
Administration costs
$8,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Illusion will develop a partnership with The Link that will result in potential ongoing programming that engages the target population with Illusion. Illusion leadership will engage in discussions and interviews with The Link staff to determine the success of the project and the potential for ongoing collaboration. 2: 200 at-risk and in-risk youth and young adults (age 16-24) will attend 3 or more Illusion plays/events designed for the target group. Illusion will maintain accurate attendance records.

Measurable Outcome(s)

The Link organization serves youth and young adults who are traditionally underserved due to homelessness, income, race, ethnicity and race. Illusion Theater has been able to work along with The Link staff to provide theater programming for their clients which include free performances, acting and writing workshops, along with meet and greets with the theater company of actors, directors and playwrights. We also work with the staff on providing transportation support and food for their clients and families. 2: We met with The Link staff extensively looking at the potential barriers and addressing the needs of their clients and staff to make this a successful partnership. We looked at times and schedules, transportation, food. One of the changes we addressed is to add earlier performance times so that the youth and staff wouldn't be out so late on weekday nights. We also planned the workshops so that they were welcoming and comfortable for both youth and young adults who had an interest in theater but never attended something like this before. As a result we had many return for more than one workshop and the numbers attending grew each time. We planned workshops in the summer and on school breaks where Illusion Artists went to The Link locations and worked with their clients. After each workshop or performance we asked for feedback about content, interests, needs of the clients and staff, and made changes accordingly. As a result the participation and interest has grown.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Robert Alama, Willie Bridges, Barbara Brin, Dr. Mark Bisignani, Anthony Bohaty, Amy Kramer Brenegen, , James W. Dierking, Doug Frank, Keith Halperin PH.D. , Susan E. Thurston, David L. Hansen, Christine Hansen, Christina Herzog, Christopher Madel, Vivian Martin, Bonnie Morris, Danica Natoli, Julia O'Brien, Therese Pautz, Emily Lilja Palmer, Jeff Rabkin, Karl Reichert, Michael H. Robins, Sally Scoggin, Jim Smart, David Stamps, Chris Wurtz
Project Manager
First Name
Michael
Last Name
Robins
Organization Name
Illusion Theater and School, Inc. AKA Illusion Theater
Street Address
528 Hennepin Ave Ste 704
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Zip Code
55403-1814
Phone
(612) 339-4944x 208
Email
mrobins@illusiontheater.org
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