Creative Support for Individuals-Round 2

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2021 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$5,950
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Christi L. Furnas AKA Christi Furnas
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2021
End Date
June 2022
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Anoka
Becker
Beltrami
Benton
Blue Earth
Hennepin
Isanti
Olmsted
Ramsey
Sherburne
Stearns
St. Louis
Washington
Anoka
Becker
Beltrami
Benton
Blue Earth
Hennepin
Isanti
Olmsted
Ramsey
Sherburne
Stearns
St. Louis
Washington
Project Overview

Creative Support for Individuals-Round 2

Project Details

Furnas will create an accessible website and online store with weekly updates about art and mental health.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

Ardell Brede: former mayor of Rochester; Peggy Burnet: entrepreneur, art collector, and community volunteer; Uri Camarena: business consultant, Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA); Michael Charron: executive director of grants and sponsored programs for Saint Mary's University of Minnesota., Saint Mary's University of Minnesota; Sean Dowse: former mayor of Red Wing; former executive director, Sheldon Theatre; Anthony Gardner, vice president, marketing and communications at CentraCare; Philip McKenzie: team lead with Boutique Air, founder and owner of Bluedoor 74, adjunct college faculty; Mary McReynolds-Pellinen: executive director, Lyric Center for the Arts; Thomas Moss: consultant to nonprofits and government agencies; Dobson West: retired attorney; Christina Widdess: nonprofit consultant; former managing director, Penumbra Theatre

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Maya Beecham: Maya Beecham is a collage artist and founder of CardFolk, LLC, a greeting card company that features original collage images with ethnic and fashionable flair. Beecham serves as a grants coordinator at the Minnesota Office of Higher Education. She has fourteen years of experience working in the nonprofit and government sectors with specific focus on philanthropy, education and the arts. Beecham graduated from Hamline University with a BA in communication studies and has served as a volunteer board member for Walker West Music Academy.; Shantel Dow: Shantel Dow is the executive director for the Reif Arts Council and the Myles Reif Performing Arts Center in Grand Rapids. Prior to this position, Dow was the president and booking agent for the Dow Artists, Inc. talent booking agency established in 2003. She is currently on the board of directors for the Minnesota Presenters Network and is a member of the Association of Performing Arts Professionals and Grand Rapids Arts. In 2018, she served as cochair for the Arts Midwest Conference held in Indianapolis.; Gina Kundan: Kundan is the board chair for Ananya Dance Theatre and the director of the Center for Health Interprofessional Programs (CHIP) at the University of Minnesota. She has more than 15 years of experience. Kundan holds a BFA in dance from Wright State University; an MA in social theory, and a certificate in mediation and conflict resolution from Hamline University; and an MPA from the Hubert H. Humphrey School of Public Affairs.; Christine Marcotte: Marcotte writes historical fiction and nonfiction. She recently completed her first manuscript, What Amelia Knows, a novel about the ax murder of her third great grandfather. Since 2014, she has written the Reminisce column for the Deer River and Grand Rapids newspapers. She has had four short stories published since May 2019. At this time, she is working on a historical trilogy and a linked short story collection. She lives in northern Minnesota with her husband, a variety of pets, and her three-year-old grandson, a frequent visitor.; Jonathan Salmon: Salmon is a camping professional working with individuals with disabilities and has a master's degree in theology from the University of St Andrews in Scotland. He grew up in the north east of England and has been involved in the arts for around 30 years, both in the U. K. and the U. S. This has involved working on theatrical boards and currently serves as treasurer, having also been in the chair role previously. He participates in theater both on stage and off, is active in his local church, and married to an accomplished musician.; Vicki Stenerson: Stenerson is currently serving as the president of the Bemidji Community Theater board of directors. She studied English and political science at Bemidji State University. Her academic focus on Shakespeare was developed further when she studied at Oxford University with a member of the Royal Shakespeare Theater Company. Stenerson has directed productions with the Bemidji Community Theater, Sarens Productions, and Vision Theater. She is a lighting designer, light operator, stage manager, and actor, participating in productions at Paul Bunyan Playhouse, Swashbuckler's Guild, Mask and Rose Women's Collective, and Bemidji Community Theater. She has directed First City Handbell Choir, Bethel Lutheran Church Adult Choir, and the Bethel Lutheran Church Passion Play.; Jennifer Vickerman: Vickerman earned her BA from Gustavus Adolphus College (Saint Peter) with majors in music performance in voice and theater. She also earned a fundraising certificate from the University of St. Thomas (Saint Paul). Vickerman is a gift planner at Gustavus Adolphus College and leads the Friends of Music group for alumni, parents, and friends. While employed at Thrivent Financial, Vickerman held roles in new business development and financial advising. Vickerman is a twenty-three-year member of the VocalEssence Chorus, where she serves as the soprano section leader. Vickerman has served on fundraising committees and was involved in an adaptive planning process for VocalEssence led by EmcArts.; Thi Vu: Vu was born in a music traditional family in Vietnam and began to get acquainted with music when she was three years old. From the age of ten, Vu started studying music at the Music Conservatory (Saigon, Vietnam). She specializes in the performance of four instruments: ??n Tranh zither, ??n b?u monochord, ??n tam th?p l?c dulcimer, and ??n tr'?ng bamboo xylophone. As a professional musician, she has performed widely in Vietnam, Singapore, Australia, Hawaii, Virginia, Texas, and Minnesota. She has extensive experience as an educator and served as a music instructor at Saigon South International School for over eight years. In 2018, Vu founded the Vietnamese Traditional Music of Minnesota, a nonprofit organization to promote the culture of Vietnam through art and music.

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2019 First Special Session, chapter 2, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2021 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$5,950
Other Funds Leveraged
$0
Direct expenses
$5,950
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Christi Furnas will connect to the disability and arts communities by creating and maintaining an accessible website with a weekly update. Christi Furnas will use website analytics to help evaluate visits to the site as well as art sales and feedback. She will send a survey to participants who have signed up for her email list near the end of the grant year.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Christi Furnas connected to the arts and disability communities by creating and maintaining an accessible website in addition to monthly emails. Christi Furnas used the website analytics to evaluate site visits, sales. She also used correspondence, and feedback.

Proposed Outcomes Achieved
achieved proposed outcomes
Project Manager
First Name
Christi
Last Name
Furnas
Organization Name
Christi L. Furnas AKA Christi Furnas
State
MN
Phone
(612) 251-2558
Email
christifurnas@yahoo.com
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