Creative Support for Organizations-Round 3

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2021 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$15,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Park Square Theatre Company AKA Park Square Theatre
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
April 2021
End Date
March 2022
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Beltrami
Benton
Chippewa
Chisago
Clay
Cottonwood
Crow Wing
Dakota
Freeborn
Goodhue
Hennepin
Itasca
Lac qui Parle
Lake
Le Sueur
McLeod
Meeker
Mille Lacs
Nobles
Olmsted
Ramsey
Rice
Scott
Sibley
Stearns
St. Louis
Wabasha
Washington
Watonwan
Wright
Beltrami
Benton
Chippewa
Chisago
Clay
Cottonwood
Crow Wing
Dakota
Freeborn
Goodhue
Hennepin
Itasca
Lac qui Parle
Lake
Le Sueur
McLeod
Meeker
Mille Lacs
Nobles
Olmsted
Ramsey
Rice
Scott
Sibley
Stearns
St. Louis
Wabasha
Washington
Watonwan
Wright
Project Overview

Creative Support for Organizations-Round 3

Project Details

Park Square Theatre will adapt live theater into Zoom versions of plays and activities for distance learning.

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

Joy-Anne Anfinson: Dolo is an artist in the Twin Cities. She is a founding member of Blackout Improv, host and writer for American Public Media, and has also created, produced, and performed on stage for over a decade. After graduating from Metropolitan State University with a BA in theater, Dolo has continued arts activism through performing and teaching all over the world.; Stephanie Clark: Klaark holds an MFA from Cornell University, College of Architecture, Art, and Planning (AAP); and a post baccalaureate degree from The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and Tufts University. Their work has been featured in the Chicago Review, Bat City Review, Blue Mesa Review, Studio Visit Magazine, and on BOOOOOOOM!. They have exhibited internationally at Biquini Wax EPS, Mexico City, Mexico; Hus Hakarla Jorundar, Hrisey, Iceland; and Milk Glass Co., Toronto, Canada. Klaark has been artist-in-residence at Vermont Studio Center, Johnson VT; Zen Mountain Monastery, Mt. Tremper, NY; and Contemporary Artists Center at Woodside, Troy, NY. They have been an Instructor at Cornell University, Cornell Prison Education Program in Ithaca, NY, and an Educator at Marwen in Chicago, IL. Clark is the recipient of the Tagvverk Torf Grant. They presently live and work in Minneapolis where they are an adjunct professor at Minneapolis College.; Christy Goulet: Goulet is an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians located in North Dakota. Goulet recorded a CD in 2018 "The never ending journey continues"; it was nominated for artist of the year, song of the year, traditional song of the year, and female artist of the year at the Native American Music Awards of 2019. Goulet speaks and sings both Anishanabbe and Dakota languages. She creates ceremonial clothing including dresses, shawls, men's Sundance skirts, ribbon skirts/shirts, bead work, and moccasins. She was recently highlighted on Antiques Road Show-Behind the Scenes at Bonanzaville, West Fargo.; Lynne Harper: At the end of 2013, Harper retired early from a management position, returning to university to complete a BA in art history at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She received an MA in the art of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas from UEA and the Sainsbury Research Unit, Norwich, Norfolk, UK. Her MA thesis was a case study of British library engagement with West African communities in London. Since then, she has interned or volunteered at museums and historical societies, working as a an independent curator, conducting research to support or create exhibitions and community engagement activities.; Melissa Higgs Kohler: Higgs is a poet and science fair director, who previously taught at The Loft and the University of Illinois Springfield, and served as president of the Vachel Lindsay Association, a small arts nonprofit. She has published three chapbooks of poetry and received second prize in the Basil Bunting Poetry Competition in 2017. Her reviews and interviews can be found at The Poetry Foundation, the Adroit Journal, and Kenyon Review Online. She received her MFA in creative writing from Hamline University in 2002.; Charles Johnson: Johnson has spent his entire life in the arts. A Gustavus Adolphus College graduate, he taught music for thirty-four years in Pillager public schools, winning teacher of the year in 2007. He successfully applied for two grants bringing more arts opportunities to that school. He has performed on stage and in the pit for different theaters in the Brainerd area. He has performed with orchestras, choirs, and bands. Upon retirement, he began writing and has been published in a variety of places. Photography also became an interest; his photos have been displayed at various public places. He plans to continue his artistic pursuits.; Heidi Miller: Originally from Wisconsin Rapids, WI, Miller joined the faculty at Gustavus Adolphus College in 2014, after five years spent in Massachusetts, where she served as artist in residence in winds and director of the Williams College wind ensemble in Williamstown, MA. She cofounded the Minneapolis/Saint Paul based Sapphire Chamber Consort. Miller has led numerous public school music festivals, instrumental and vocal ensembles, and chamber ensembles, and has performed as a soprano specializing in contemporary and early music. Recent engagements include presenting at the 2019 Minnesota Music Educators Convention, the 2018 Minnesota Intercollegiate Honor Band, the 2016 and 2017 Ordway High School Honor Band, and adjudicating large group festivals in Minnesota, Maine, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire. As a vocalist, Miller has performed with the Minnesota Chorale, the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra Anniversary Chorale, the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra (Minnesota), and more. She earned a MM in conducting from Ithaca College, and a BM in music education and performance from the University of Minnesota.; Joanna Seton: Seton's current positions include senior writer consultant at Access Philanthropy and a freelance writer for nonprofits. Seton has an extensive past in nonprofits including education, communications, and fund development. Seton has served as a grant reviewer for Minnesota Office of Justice Programs and has been a volunteer usher at the Sheldon Theatre in Red Wing. Shelton has a bachelor's degree from Victoria University (Wellington, NZ), a master's degree from Exeter University (Exeter, UK), and a PhD from University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Seton?s diplomas are in library studies and English as a second language teaching.; Laura Sivert: Sivert is a professor at the University of Wisconsin-Stout, where she works with artists as colleagues and as students. She graduated with a PhD in art history from Penn State. She has lived in Minneapolis most of her life and has worked at local institutions including the Weisman Art Museum and Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts. Sshe specializes in contemporary ecological art.; Ashley Taylor-Gouge, Taylor-Gouge (she/they) is the program director at the Sexual Violence Center (SVC), a stand-alone rape crisis center serving Carver, Hennepin, and Scott Counties. With over ten years of experience in domestic and sexual violence organizations, as well as a brief stint in the world of matchmaking, they provide oversight of SVC?s programs, manage the agency?s outreach and education efforts, curate the social media presence, and coordinate programmatic evaluation. After receiving their bachelor's degree in human development and family studies from Kent State University (Kent, OH), they went on to obtain their master's of public and nonprofit administration from Metropolitan State University (Saint Paul).

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
$15,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$0
Direct expenses
$15,000
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Park Square Theatre will make the theatre safe for live shows, produce zoom versions of plays and tour to schools unable to travel to the theatre. Track artist and audience numbers and responses to the three methods of producing and presenting plays to assess which should be continued and/or expanded. Measures: surveys, follow-up emails, social media, interviews, artists/partner evaluations.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Park Square developed Covid preparedness plans to make the theatre safe for live shows and produced zoom versions of plays to connect with audiences. 1. Ability to return to live theatre due to effectiveness of cleanliness and safety features2. Interest in zoom plays 3. Audience and participant feedback on virtual performances (surveys, emails, social media, artist/partner evaluations).

Proposed Outcomes Achieved
achieved most of the proposed outcomes
Recipient Board Members
Paul Sackett, Susan Rostkoski, Andrea Trimble Hart, Paul Casey, Nancy Feldman, Jewelie Grape, Mark Howlett, Paul Johnson, Paul Mattessich, Kristen Berger Parker, Paul Stembler
Project Manager
First Name
C. Michael-jon
Last Name
Pease
Organization Name
Park Square Theatre Company AKA Park Square Theatre
Street Address
408 St Peter St Ste 110
City
St Paul
State
MN
Zip Code
55102
Phone
(651) 291-7005
Email
pease@Parksquaretheatre.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