Arts Learning Grant

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$5,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Citizens for Backus/Alexander Baker, Inc. AKA Backus Community Center
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
May 2019
End Date
August 2019
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Koochiching
Koochiching
Project Overview

Arts Learning Grant

Project Details

Summer Arts Week/Youth Art Classes at Backus Community Center.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

Tara Makinen: executive director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Moira Villiard: visual artist, cultural programming coordinator at American Indian Community Housing Organization; Amber Burns: choreographer, dancer, actor, middle school art teacher; Margaret Holmes: visual artist, poet, and former Children’s Theatre employee; Tammy Mattonen: visual artists, co-founder of Crescendo Youth Orchestra; Kayla Aubid: Native American craft artist, writer, employee at MacRostie Art Center; Ariana Daniel: mixed media artist, arts instructor; Kathy Neff: musician, Director, Fine Arts Academy at the University of Minnesota Duluth; Ron Piercy: jeweler, gallery owner; Emily Swanson: arts administrator at Oldenburg Arts and Cultural Community; Christina Nohre: writer and arts advocate.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Amber Burns: choreographer, dancer, actor, middle school art teacher; Tammy Mattonen: visual artist, co-founder of Crescendo Youth Orchestra; Ariana Daniel: mixed media artist, arts instructor; Kathy Neff: musician, director, Fine Arts Academy at the University of Minnesota Duluth; Amy Varsek: education director, Duluth Art Institute; Kendra Carlson: writing and theater instructor, University of Minnesota Duluth; David Marty: former director of the Reif Performing Arts Center, Grand Rapids.

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
Yes
Conflict of Interest Contact

Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, Drew Digby (218) 722-0952

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2017 Regular Session, chapter 91, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access ACHF Arts Education ACHF Cultural Heritage

2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$5,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$3,975
Direct expenses
$8,975
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

1. Develop art appreciation within younger members of our community by exposing them to a variety of art forms and providing an opportunity to express themselves creatively. Success will be reflected in their return to Backus for future classes. 2. Provide a venue for area artists and teachers to share knowledge and expertise with children that don’t otherwise have an opportunity to experience arts education. Success will be reflected in post-course surveys and willingness to teach future classes. 3. Introduce youth to the dramatic arts, encouraging them to build performance and theatre skills. It is our goal that at least two new members will join in future Borealis Bards productions. Post-participation surveys will be issued to students, teachers, artists, and parents. Questions will include how to improve the program, what went well or not well, overall satisfaction levels, and what skills were gained during the week. Informal interviews with younger participants will be used to gather their satisfaction level and what skills they feel they gained. Responses to these surveys will be used to plan and improve future arts education classes.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Sixty-eight local youth, ages five ? 13, participated in arts learning activities for one week during their 2019 summer vacation. Participant evaluations, gained through both written format and oral interview, reported a 90% satisfaction rate with the instruction and what they learned. Eight adult teachers and three aids provided the instruction. 100 % of the instructors reported a high satisfaction of their involvement with the program.

Proposed Outcomes Achieved
achieved proposed outcomes
Source of Additional Funds

Other,local or private

Recipient Board Members
Kay Arnold, Patti Balland, John Faith, Julie Bartkowski, Sherrie Lessard, Beth Lowthian, Tracy Lee Lunser, Gail Rognerud, Derek Foss, Diane Maxey, Harry Batdorf, Tim Fairchild, Bob Marquardt, David Griffith
Project Manager
First Name
Ward
Last Name
Merrill
Organization Name
Citizens for Backus/AB
Street Address
Backus Community Center 900 5th St
City
International Falls
State
MN
Zip Code
56649
Phone
(218) 285-7225
Email
wardmerrill@backusab.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
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