Community Arts

2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$5,000

Fund Source

Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

Recipient

Hmong Cultural Center

Recipient Type

Non-Profit Business/Entity

Status

Completed

Start Date

January 2014

End Date

December 2014

Activity Type

Grants/Contracts

Counties Affected

Ramsey

Project Overview

Community Arts

Project Details

Funding for the Qeej Instructional Program, offering 3 afternoon classes a week teaching children and youth how to play the Qeej, a bamboo wind pipe instrument played at traditional Hmong funeral ceremonies.

Competitive Grant Making Body

Board Members and Qualifications

Julie Andersen: Executive Director, Eagan Art House; Jill Anfang: Program Director, Roseville Parks and Recreation; Bethany Brunsell: Music Teacher and Performer; Kathy Busch: Realtor and Shakopee School Board Member; Shelly Chamberlain: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Operations Director; Paul Creager: Saint Paul Public Schools Administrator, Square Lake Film Festival Director; Joan Elwell: Lakeshore Players Executive Director; Mary Erickson: Eastern Carver County Schools Community Education; Kristi Gaudette: Prior Lake Savage Community Education; Peter Leggett: Walker West Music Academy Executive Director; Dayna Martinez: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts; Christine Murakami Noonan: Minnesota State Fair Foundation; Margaret Rog: Consultant and Grant Writer; Heather Rutledge: ArtReach Saint Croix Executive Director; Rachel Smoka: Children's Theatre Company Development Officer; Beth Starbuck: Vocal Performer; Dameun Strange: Composer and Performer; Melissa Wright: William Mitchell College of Law.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Cassandra Shore: Artistic, Education, Administration; Mary Jo Lewis: Artistic; Zhen Zou: Administration, Artistic; Mary Beth King: Artistic, Organizational Development, Administration; Ruth Virkus: Artistic, Administration; Don Mabley-Allen: Artistic, Administration, Disabilities Specialist; Laura Weber: Audience Development; Susan Kane: Administration, Disabilities Specialist.

Conflict of Interest Disclosed

Project Details: 2014 Fiscal Year

Legal Citation / Subdivision

Laws of Minnesota 2013, Chapter 137, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 3

Appropriation Language

ACHF Cultural Heritage

2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$5,000

Other Funds Leveraged

$3,488

Direct expenses

$8,488

Administration costs

Number of full time equivalents funded

Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The Qeej Music program is evaluated through an assessment of student attendance, periodic instructor examination of student ability, and an annual survey of students and parents. Outcomes of interest in the evaluation process for the Qeej instrument afterAudience/Participant Count: It is the goal of the program to serve 40 students in 2014.

Measurable Outcome(s)

The classes served 30 children and youth with 3 levels of instruction - Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced during the grant period. Class participants met 3 days a week for a total of 6 hours per week over the entire grant period. The Qeej program also reached much broader numbers of people, both Hmong and non-Hmong through the posting of videos of songs taught in class on YouTube and the Hmong Cultural Center arts website and through performances at several local community events. The YouTube videos may be viewed at: http://www.learnabouthmong.net/qeej-videos-project.html.

Description of Funds

Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members

Sean Lee, Dao Xiong, Khue Yang, Gerald Fry, Scott Uzzle, Txhiaj Lee, Wam Kou Ly

Project Manager

Txongpao

Lee

Hmong Cultural Center

379 University Ave Ste 204

St Paul

55103