Community Arts

2015 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 2015

End Date

December 2015

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: Eagan Art House Executive Director; Jill Anfang: Roseville Parks and Recreation Program Director; Bethany Brunsell: Music Teacher and performer; Kathy Busch: Realtor, Shakopee School Board Member; Shelly Chamberlain: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Operations Director; Joan Elwell: Lakeshore Players Executive Director; Mary Erickson: Eastern Carver County Schools Community Education; Anthony Galloway: Actor, storyteller, West Metro Education Program; Jamil Jude: Theatre artist; Peter Leggett: Walker West Music Academy Executive Director; Dayna Martinez: Ordway Center for the Performing Arts; Coleen McLaughlin: Arts Midwest Director of External Relations; Tom Moffatt: Silverwood Park Supervisor; Christine Murakami Noonan: Minnesota State Fair Foundation; Heather Rutledge: ArtReach Saint Croix Executive Director; Rachel Smoka-Richardson: Minnesota Public Radio Development Officer; Dameun Strange: Composer and performer; Melissa Wright: Twin Cities Public Television.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Karen Kasel: Organizational planning, artistic, volunteerism; Zhen Zou: Education, administration, artistic; Ashley Hanson: Artistic, youth programming, education; Andrew Leitch: Fundraising, administration, organizational development; Mary Beth King: Artistic, organizational development, administration; Christine Shyne: Administration, audience development, youth programming; Nina Graham: Fundraising; Amy Danielson: Audience development, organizational development, computer systems; Jennifer Wood: Fundraising, administration, organizational development.

Project Details: 2015 Fiscal Year

Legal Citation / Subdivision

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

Appropriation Language

ACHF Cultural Heritage

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$5,000

Other Funds Leveraged

$4,688

Direct expenses

$9,688

Administration costs

Number of full time equivalents funded

Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Hmong Cultural Center will serve 40 children and youth with Qeej classes 3 afternoons a week across the entire grant period. These children and youth will learn key songs, dance steps and the cultural significance associated with the Qeej musical instrument in the Hmong funeral ceremony. Evaluation methods utilized in the Qeej classes include daily student attendance, student surveys of program satisfaction and instructor examination of student ability in designated skill areas.

Measurable Outcome(s)

The classes served 30 children and youth with 3 levels of instruction - Beginner and a combined Intermediate/Advanced sections during the grant period. Class participants met 2 days a week for a total of 6 hours per week over the entire grant period. Qeej class participants also were involved in outreach and community performance activities including performances at the Little Mekong Asian Night Market event in St Paul in the Summer of 2015 on August 7-8, 2015 and the Ramsey County Fair in July 2015.

Description of Funds

Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members

Kamai Xiong, Khue Yang, T Scott Uzzle, Chaleng Lee, Txhiaj Lee, Gerald Fry, Wam Kou Ly

Project Manager

Txongpao

Lee

Hmong Cultural Center

379 University Ave Ste 204

St Paul

55103