Creative Support for Organizations-Round 2

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2021 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$13,770
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Skylark Opera AKA Skylark Opera Theatre
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2021
End Date
December 2021
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Dakota
Hennepin
Ramsey
Scott
Dakota
Hennepin
Ramsey
Scott
Project Overview

Creative Support for Organizations-Round 2

Project Details

Skylark Opera Theatre will present a series of live, socially distanced programs of opera, operetta, and musical theater selections at senior residences throughout the greater Twin Cities.

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

Carrie Abfalter: Abfalter is the fund development manager for WACOSA, a nonprofit that creates day programs for adults with disabilities. In addition to her work with WACOSA, Abfalter teaches fitness classes at local gyms in Saint Cloud and enjoys spending time outdoors. Abfalter attended the College of Saint Benedict?in Saint Joseph, graduating with a bachelor of arts in social work.; Ryan Borden: Borden is an arts and culture professional with an education and equity focus. A recent arrival to Minnesota, Borden was previously the public programs manager at the Musical Instrument Museum in Phoenix, AZ, where he collaborated with local communities to develop and execute large-scale cultural events. He has taught percussion both scholastically and independently in multiple states and has served as a panelist and reviewer for the Southwest Folklife Alliance's Master-Apprentice Program and ASU Gammage's Teaching Artists Program. Also a performing musician, he earned a MM in percussion from the University of Missouri.; Xiaohong Chen: Xiaohong Chen practices law and provides legal and financial consulting. Previously, she had held various positions with large health insurers including Anthem, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, and United Healthcare. She has been dancing with the Minnesota Chinese Dance Theater since 1994. She also has been serving as a volunteer board member there for more than 20 years. Chen holds a PhD in health services research, policy, and administration from the University of Minnesota and a JD from William Mitchell College of Law.; Sindiswa Georgiades: Sindiswa Georgiades has spent more than a decade as a project management and fund development professional. Sindiswa has a proven success record in the implementation and execution of fund procurement, project management, and organization leadership. Graduating suma cum laude with a BA in marketing management from Concordia University in Saint Paul. She also served as a Roy Wilkins Institute community fellow at the University of Minnesota.; Sandy Nadeau: Nadeau has just retired after 32 years working in the nonprofit realm in Wisconsin, Colorado, and Minnesota. She has served as an executive director, director of development, and director of communications at small, medium, and large organizations.; Briauna Williams: Williams a graphic design graduate. She is a teaching artist for the Capri Theater, Artistry, She Rock She Rock, and Young Rembrandts. Williams is a community leader and artist curating spaces for black and brown people to aid in healing with and through the arts. Williams is a muralist, self- taught artist, and henna artist. Her work has been featured at the Phoenix Theater sponsored by Springboard for the Arts, as well as an exhibition within a Duluth court house. Williams is motivated by youth and her community. Black peoples' struggles and resilience have been a common core in most of her works.

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
$13,770
Other Funds Leveraged
$363
Direct expenses
$14,133
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Skylark Opera Theatre will bring live, socially-distanced opera and musical theater performances to senior facilities throughout the Twin Cities. The outcome will be evaluated by soliciting written and verbal feedback from the residents served, the staff at the facilities, and the participating artists.

Measurable Outcome(s)

The performances described in the grant application were successfully performed. Written evaluations were solicited from all the facilities where performances took place. Verbal feedback was encouraged immediately after each performance from residence staff and audience.

Proposed Outcomes Achieved
achieved proposed outcomes
Recipient Board Members
Angeline Carlson, Penny Fena, Jack Neveaux, Matt Belanger, Ann Morelli Spencer, Margaret Artz, Jill Heins Nesvold, Alyson Tolbert Richert, Dan Atkins
Project Manager
First Name
Ann
Last Name
Spencer
Organization Name
Skylark Opera AKA Skylark Opera Theatre
Street Address
75 W 5th St Ste 224
City
St Paul
State
MN
Zip Code
55102
Phone
(651) 292-4309
Email
ann@skylarkopera.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