Arts Access

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$20,900
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Sounds of Hope, Ltd.
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
November 2015
End Date
August 2016
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Crow Wing
Morrison
Stearns
Todd
Crow Wing
Morrison
Stearns
Todd
Project Overview
Arts Access
Project Details
Saint Paul based Songs of Hope will provide programming in five cities in northern Minnesota for the first time, while targeting seniors, youth, and new populations.
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
No
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
$20,900
Other Funds Leveraged
$9,196
Direct expenses
$30,096
Administration costs
$1,300
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

New relationships created in cities to the north will result in new concert venues and new audiences in 2016 and beyond. During and after the project, Sounds of Hope will conduct discussions with local groups and individuals hosting or facilitating the arts activities to determine successes and to begin planning future projects. 2: 1,500 general public audiences, 300+ seniors, and 100 underserved youth will attend concerts and workshops. Trained staff members will count audiences and workshop attendees and conduct random surveys, while other staff will interview community contacts, with the organization maintaining and using resulting records in future planning.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Strong new relationships in Long Prairie, Melrose, Brainerd, and Glenwood. Promising ones in Crosslake, Biwabik, Little Falls, and Sauk Centre. We measured audience satisfaction through written and oral surveys and through post-concert discussions with sponsors. Also, we contacted local sponsors post-project to gauge interest in return visits, new community resources available, and likely programming. During evaluations, conversations quickly turned from the past project to future projects. We have started a database of likely contacts, partners, and programs, with the database to continue growing in future years. 2: Audience counts with help from partners indicate total audiences of 1,625, including 600 seniors and roughly 150 underserved youth in workshops. Trained staff performed audience counts at all venues. Local school partners provided demographic information on youth in workshops. Staff at senior care facilities provided information about residents to staff. The program director conducted follow-up to gauge and explore new approaches to engage more youth of color, rural residents, and youth in general. Detailed notes of partner feedback was kept by the program director and/or was committed to emails.

Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Judy Morrison, Virginia Cone, Fred Perez, Hannah Hoes, John Choi, David Badgley, Gary Pederson, Jim Keane, Bethany Gladhill
Project Manager
First Name
Thomas
Last Name
Surprenant
Organization Name
Sounds of Hope, Ltd.
Street Address
253 4th St E Ste 205
City
St Paul
State
MN
Phone
(651) 225-4179
Email
info@soundsofhope.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