Arts Learning

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$39,428
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Theater Mu, Inc. AKA Mu Performing Arts
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
March 2013
End Date
June 2014
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Hennepin
Ramsey
Hennepin
Ramsey
Project Overview
Arts Learning
Project Details
Mu Performing Arts, in partnership with Project SUCCESS, will lead immigrant and English language learner students at Washington Technology Magnet, Battle Creek Middle School, and Anne Sullivan Communication Center through stories and a theater residency.
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
Lawrence Benson: Multi-media/genre expressionist, author, publisher; Julie Deters: Visual arts teacher, Cloquet School District, Award-winning educator; Phyllis Doyle: Retired arts administrator; award-winning poet and fiction writer; Alison Good: Former commercial artist, educator and administrator; active community volunteer; Lori Janey: Board member of Minnesota Chinese Dance Theater; design engineer, Seagate Technology; Kimberly Meisten: Director of Community Engagement, VocalEssence; Education; Meghan Nodzon: Nonprofit arts organization development professional; Mary Reed: Craft artist, author and educator
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
Yes
Conflict of Interest Contact
Executive director Sue Gens (651) 215-1600
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2011, First Special Session, chapter 6, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Education

2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$39,428
Other Funds Leveraged
$3,269
Direct expenses
$42,697
Administration costs
$1,909
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Barriers to participation for recent immigrant and English language learning students will be mitigated through participation in a Stories program theater residency. Evaluation will be determined by student attendance and number of students in the audience at the final performance. Student and teacher evaluations will measure the program success and willingness to participate in future theater residencies. 2: Up to 150 underserved middle and high school students will participate in Stories, attend final performances, and/or see a Mu mainstage show for free. Participant numbers will be tracked, including student performers, student and adult audience members, and number of subsidized tickets used for mainstage productions.

Measurable Outcome(s)

We worked with English Language Learner (ELL) students at Anne Sullivan Communication Center and Battle Creek Middle School and disadvantaged students at Jefferson Community School. Barriers to participation for these students include language (for ELL students), resources (for Jefferson Community School), and perceptions that these students couldn't handle creating and performing in a play (due to language ability for ELL students and behavior for some students at Jefferson Community School). All students successfully wrote, rehearsed, and performed in an original short play for a live audience, mitigating all barriers. 2: 125 students participated in Mu Stories, creating and performing in an original play, through four programs: two at Battle Creek Middle School, one at Anne Sullivan Communication Center, and one at Jefferson Community School. 405 students attended the final performances, not counting those students who performed in the plays. Participants selected the final performance audience, which consisted of peers, family members, teachers, and Mu and Project SUCCESS staff. Students were offered free tickets to our main stage shows via Project SUCCESS, and students at Battle Creek Middle School in May 2014 received a special discount from Stages Theatre to attend our co-production of STARRY RIVER OF THE SKY.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Greg Anderson, Jeff Chen, Don Eitel, Candice Hern, Michael Hu, Daniel Le, Dorothy Mollien, Randy Reyes, Kari Ruth, Rick Shiomi, Kaimay Yuen Terry, Tom Thao, PJ Vitoff, Atlee Wong
Project Manager
First Name
Sara
Last Name
Ochs
Organization Name
Theater Mu, Inc. AKA Mu Performing Arts
Street Address
275 E 4th St Ste 496
City
St Paul
State
MN
Zip Code
55101-1682
Phone
(612) 789-1012
Email
sara@muperformingarts.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