Arts and Cultural Heritage

2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$8,000

Fund Source

Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

Recipient

Merely Players Community Theatre

Recipient Type

Non-Profit Business/Entity

Status

Completed

Start Date

October 2016

End Date

May 2017

Activity Type

Grants/Contracts

Counties Affected

Blue Earth

Brown

Faribault

Nicollet

Le Sueur

Martin

Sibley

Waseca

Watonwan

Project Overview

Arts and Cultural Heritage

Project Details

They will present their 2016-2017 season of plays, including: “The 25th Annual Putnam Spelling Bee,” October 2016; “The Snow Queen,” December 2016; and “The Dixie Swim Club,” May 2017; all held at Lincoln Community Center, Mankato. “Back to 80’s,” March 2

Competitive Grant Making Body

Board Members and Qualifications

Jessica Barens: serves on the Waseca Community Education Advisory Council; Steve Davis: member of the Mankato Symphony Orchestra and Minnesota State University/Community Orchestra, volunteer for Mankato Area Youth Symphony Orchestra and New Ulm Suzuki School of Music; Denice Evers: retired teacher and volunteer with the Springfield Community Theater; Diane Harms: sings with the Saint Peter Choral Society and the Minnesota Valley Chorale; Charles Luedtke: retired college Professor of Music, New Ulm and member of the Sioux Trails Chapter, American Guild of Organists; Randy Mediger: retired principal and teacher and charter member of LeSueur Community Theater; Lauren Shoemaker: music instructor at St. Peter Public Schools; Dana Sikkila: a visual artist and the Executive Director of the 410 Project Gallery, Mankato; Carol Soma: retired Language Arts teacher and volunteer with the Kee Civic Theatre; Dennis Van Moorlehem: retired teacher and volunteer on Sibley County Fair Board and community festivals; Gina Wenger: a college Professor of Art at Minnesota State University-Mankato; Greg Wilkins: a visual artist and the Director of Student Activities at Minnesota State University-Mankato.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Jessica Barens: serves on the Waseca Community Education Advisory Council; Steve Davis: member of the Mankato Symphony Orchestra and Minnesota State University/Community Orchestra, volunteer for Mankato Area Youth Symphony Orchestra and New Ulm Suzuki School of Music; Denice Evers: retired teacher and volunteer with the Springfield Community Theater; Diane Harms: sings with the Saint Peter Choral Society and the Minnesota Valley Chorale; Charles Luedtke: retired college Professor of Music, New Ulm and member of the Sioux Trails Chapter, American Guild of Organists; Randy Mediger: retired principal and teacher and charter member of LeSueur Community Theater; Lauren Shoemaker: music instructor at Saint Peter Public Schools; Dana Sikkila: a visual artist and the Executive Director of the 410 Project Gallery, Mankato; Carol Soma: retired Language Arts teacher and volunteer with the Kee Civic Theatre; Dennis Van Moorlehem: retired teacher and volunteer on Sibley County Fair Board and community festivals; Gina Wenger: a college Professor of Art at Minnesota State University-Mankato; Greg Wilkins: a visual artist and the Director of Student Activities at Minnesota State University-Mankato.

Conflict of Interest Disclosed

Project Details: 2017 Fiscal Year

Legal Citation / Subdivision

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

Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2017 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$8,000

Other Funds Leveraged

$60,184

Direct expenses

$68,184

Administration costs

Number of full time equivalents funded

0.00

Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The quality, types and number of arts opportunities in our region, and the organizations or venues that offer them increases. Real or perceived barriers to arts participation and arts access are identified and addressed. Audience members, production cast and crew, and Board and staff members (if in attendance) will complete our survey (please see our current survey/attachment). The General Manager will distribute and compile the results that will be presented in written form to the Board and the final report for this grant. Ticket sales reports will be generated for each production and compared to the previous season to determine changes in attendance. Depending on the production and audience, specific questions may be added: e.g., we would want to know from the Minnesota State Academy for the Deaf audience members any changes to improve their experience.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Yes, we achieved our planned outcomes. We used a survey. This helped us to refine the production process and communications, determine our capacity to do our work, as well as making decisions about which shows to produce.

Description of Funds

Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members

Amanda Hauman, Amy Larson, Shayne Narjes, Susan Olson, David Peterson, Christi Smith, Tom Solseth, Corey Van Raalte

Project Manager

Connie

Van Raalte

Merely Players Community Theatre

110 Fulton St PO Box 3637

Mankato

56001