Folk and Traditional Arts
Folk and Traditional Arts
The Somali Museum of Minnesota will build the capacity of Somali artists in the Twin Cities and Willmar to advance Somali traditional art forms in their communities.
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.
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
Executive director Sue Gens (651) 539-2650
ACHF Cultural Heritage
Expert and emerging Somali artists across two geographies will gain capacity for teaching and advancing their art form. We will document the number of emerging and expert artists presenting work through weaving workshops, dance performances, and Mobile Culture Shows. We will track how many of these artists are new relationships, and if these are new opportunities for them. 2: New audiences will better understand historic Somali cultural arts, their importance, and their relevance in Minnesota communities. We will measure the number of new attendees to program activities, and gather qualitative data about transforming attitudes about Somali traditional art. For example, we expect at least 250 new attendees in the Willmar area.
Outcome 1: Expert and emerging Somali artists across two geographies gained capacity for teaching and advancing their art form. There were over 20 young people that took part of the traditional dance classes; 6 of them join the permanent Somali museum dance troupe. The artists were appreciative of the programs and reinforced the need for such programs. Outcome 2: The audiences got to look at historic Somali cultural arts, and learn about their importance and their relevance in Minnesota communities. The surveys and informal feedback suggested the audience appreciated the programs and gained knowledge of Somali arts.
Other,local or private