Folk and Traditional Arts

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$18,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Nirmala Rajasekar
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2019
End Date
December 2019
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Benton
Hennepin
Ramsey
Stearns
Benton
Hennepin
Ramsey
Stearns
Project Overview

Folk and Traditional Arts

Project Details

Rajasekar and percussion master Muruga Boopathi will conduct workshops and lectures on special compositions in Indian Carnatic music known as varnams and thillanas. They will perform two concerts that will feature these compositions.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

Ardell Brede: Mayor of Rochester, elected 2002.; Peggy Burnet: Businesswoman, art collector, and community volunteer. Chair of the Nominating Committee, Smithsonian National Board. Trustee, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Uri Camarena: Business consultant, Metropolitan Economic Development Association. Board chair, Minneapolis College of Art and Design. Officer at-large, Minnesota State Arts Board; Michael Charron: Dean of the School of the Arts, Saint Mary's University of Minnesota. Secretary/Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Sean Dowse: Mayor of Red Wing, elected 2016. Former executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Citizens for the Arts. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Philip McKenzie, Oboe and English horn player; adjunct oboe faculty, NDSU; Mary McReynolds-Pellinen: Executive director, Lyric Center for the Arts; coordinator, First Stage Gallery; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies.; Dobson West: Senior advisor, Spell Capital Partners Fund.; Christina Widdess: Arts organization consultant; former managing director, Penumbra Theatre. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Shamso Ahmed: Henna artist; community organizer; Jose Alvillar Hinojosa: Artist and educator; Paul Dahlin: Swedish American fiddler honored by the NEA; Mary Ellen Halverson: Lead quilter with Arts Board grantee Evening Star Quilters; Peggy Korsmo-Kennon: COO, American Swedish Institute; Rita Mustaphi: Founder and artistic director, Katha Dance Theatre. Choreographer, dancer, and educator.; Lucia Pawlowski: Assistant professor of English and cultural studies at St. Thomas; Kari Tauring: Nordic musician and educator; Arts Board grantee; Gene Yang: Active participant in Hmong cultural activities in Walnut Grove; school paraprofessional; Leah Yellowbird, Artist; Arts Board grantee

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
Yes
Conflict of Interest Contact

Executive director Sue Gens (651) 539-2650

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2017 Regular Session, chapter 91, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Cultural Heritage

2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$18,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$9,000
Direct expenses
$27,000
Administration costs
$400
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Workshop participants will gain knowledge of varnams and thillanas and understand their importance in this genre of music. At the end of the workshops, Boopathi and I will evaluate the learning achieved and confidence gained by asking the students to discuss, identify and demonstrate some varnams and thillanas they have heard and studied in the workshops. 2: Attendees of the lectures will have an understanding and appreciation of the these special compositions of Carnatic music -varnams/thillanas. Entry and exit surveys will be collected/ tabulated by the project evaluator; she will conduct oral interviews/ collect feedback that will inform us of the knowledge gained by the participants.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Workshop participants gained knowledge of varnams and thillanas and understood their importance in this genre of music. Nirmala, Boopathi and Shrini ended each session with a Quiz by which they were able to assess learning in each session. During workshops students scripted compositions learnt and lead singing of material taught to demonstrate their own learning. 2: Attendees of the lectures left with an understanding and appreciation of the these special compositions of Carnatic music -varnams/thillanas. Ongoing observations of each session team leads participated in including lectures / Presentations / Panel Discussions, and Music workshops for students. Attendees were asked to answer questions relating to the topic orally a the end of each session.

Proposed Outcomes Achieved
achieved proposed outcomes
Source of Additional Funds

Other,local or private

Project Manager
First Name
Nirmala
Last Name
Rajasekar
Organization Name
Nirmala Rajasekar
State
MN
Phone
(763) 245-6799x c
Email
nirmalarajasekar@hotmail.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