Community Arts
Community Arts
Qeej Instruction Class. Funding to support the Hmong Cultural Center's Qeej Instructional Program. The Center's Qeej classes are offered 3 afternoons a week to teach children and youth how to play the Qeej, a bamboo wind pipe instrument that plays a pivotal role in the traditional Hmong funeral ceremony and the Hmong culture more generally. Classes will run from June 2017 through July 2018 at the Hmong Cultural Center in St Paul.
Julie Andersen: Eagan Art House Executive Director; Bethany Brunsell: Music teacher, performer; Shelly Chamberlain: Minnesota Council of Nonprofits Operations Director; Marisol Chiclana-Ayla: Artist, Board Chair at El Arco Iris; Jamil Jude: Theatre artist; Tricia Khutoretsky: Public Functionary Curator and Co-Director; 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; Osman Mohamed Ali: Somali Museum of Minnesota Founder and Executive Director; Kathy Mouacheupao: Twin Cities Local Initiatives Support, Corporation Cultural Corridor Coordinator; Adam Napoli-Rangel: Artist; Heather Rutledge: ArtReach Saint Croix Executive Director; Djenane Saint Juste: Afoutayi Dance Company Founder; Andrea Sjogren: Hopkins Public Schools Youth Programs Coordinator; Dameun Strange: Composer, Performer; Melissa Wright: Twin Cities Public Television.
Robert Cuerden: Audience development, marketing, fundraising, organizational, development, planning; Janet Fried: Artistic, education; Laura Krider: General management, administration, artistic; Vong Lee: Artistic, youth programming, community service, development; Anna Min: Audience development, marketing, organizational development; Noel Nix: Community service, development, general administration, organizational development; Nasibu Sareva: General administration, fundraising, community service, development; Joyce Strand: Youth programming; Joko Sutrisno: Artistic, education, audience development, marketing, general administration.
ACHF Arts Access
Over the grant period, Qeej Classes are offered Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons at Hmong Cultural Center from 5-7 PM (6 hours weekly) and at least 30 students receive Qeej instruction at the center in Beginning, Intermediate and Advanced Groups. 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 after-school program in 2017 include the following: Demonstrated development of personal skills performing the Qeej and understanding of the larger cultural meaning of Qeej songs. Increased student self-esteem, confidence and pride in their Hmong cultural heritage. Increased mutual respect and development of positive relationships between students, parents, and elders in the Hmong community.
The most significant outcome associated with the project was the continued availability of instruction in the Qeej musical instrument for a sizable number of children and youth in the Saint Paul area. The only other source of this instruction are expensive private lessons by local Qeej masters. The Qeej instrument plays a pivotal role in the traditional Hmong funeral ceremony and Hmong culture.
Other, local or private