Arts Access

2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$49,450

Fund Source

Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

Recipient

ArtStart

Recipient Type

Non-Profit Business/Entity

Status

Completed

Start Date

January 2016

End Date

August 2016

Activity Type

Grants/Contracts

Counties Affected

Dakota

Hennepin

Ramsey

Washington

Project Overview

Arts Access

Project Details

ArtStart will engage twenty underserved teenagers in an exploration of studio arts, poetry, arts education, nonprofit management, and public art through the lens of nature and environmental stewardship.

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. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Michael Charron: Dean of the School of the Arts, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Rebecca Davis-Lee: Touring pianist, piano and music theory teacher; Wendy Dayton: Arts and community leader and philanthropist.; Sean Dowse, Executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Music Coalition, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; David Glenn: Executive director of the Minnesota Project, ceramic artist; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies; Janice Sivertson: Gallery owner and visual artist; Dobson West: Private equity manager; board chair, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Maya Beecham: Education team coordinator, Bush Foundation; visual and spoken word artist; freelance writer; Mary Bromen: Executive Director, Dakota Woodlands Women's and Family Homeless Shelter; John Connelly: Independent consultant to nonprofits, photographer; Scott Dixon: Artist and administrator, Commonweal Theatre; Sandra Gillespie: Visual artist; online writing instructor, University of Alaska Anchorage; former program director, Alaska State Council on the Arts; Fatima Said: Executive director, Project FINE (Focus on Integrating Newcomers through Education) in Winona; Robert Weisenfeld: Director of government grants and sponsored programs, Gustavus Adolphus College, Saint Peter

Conflict of Interest Disclosed

Project Details: 2016 Fiscal Year

Legal Citation / Subdivision

Laws of Minnesota 2015 Special Session, chapter 2, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3

Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$49,450

Other Funds Leveraged

$9,000

Direct expenses

$58,450

Administration costs

$3,000

Number of full time equivalents funded

Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Underserved youth demonstrate increased artistic and leadership skills as they explore career opportunities in the arts through the lens of nature and environmental stewardship. The project is evaluated by gathering qualitative and quantitative data using pre and post-surveys, implementing a reflective protocol process that promotes continuous improvement, and reporting informal observations.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Nineteen underserved youth increased artistic and leadership skills as they explored career opportunities mentored by artists inspired by nature. Participants, both teens and artists, participated in reflection sessions held directly after an experience using a SWOT analysis approach. Teens wrote and drew in journals throughout the duration of the program and often referred to their journals as a way to evaluate the week. They also participated in a pre-program survey to determine areas of the visual arts they wanted to explore. All participated in a final reflection session and a formal evaluation of the program.

Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members

Sabrina Sutliff-Gross, Janice Hamilton, Barbara Fleig, David Swenson, Deb Holtz, Linda Stuckey, Elizabeth Wright

Project Manager

Carol

Sirrine

ArtStart

1459 St Clair Ave

St Paul

(651) 698-2787

carol@artstart.org