Folk and Traditional Arts

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$49,500
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Karen Organization of Minnesota
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2020
End Date
June 2022
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Ramsey
Ramsey
Project Overview

Folk and Traditional Arts

Project Details

The Karen Weaving Circle will promote and preserve the traditional art of Karen textile weaving in Minnesota. The project will join master weavers with Karen youth, who will learn traditional weaving skills and express themselves artistically.

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

Anne Adabra: Founder and chair, Minnesota Haitian Cultural Center; social studies teacher; dancer and storyteller; Carol Colburn: Teacher and researcher, Scandinavian garment making; Rhonda Dass: Professor of anthropology, Minnesota State University, Mankato; Lesly Gámez: Teacher, St Paul Public Schools. Dancer, Los Alegres Bailadores; Sarina Partridge: Educator and musician; Mai Vang: Founder of Hmong Museum; collections manager at Minnesota Museum of American Art; Gwen Nell Westerman Wasicuna: Poet and fiber artist

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 Cultural Heritage

2020 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$49,500
Other Funds Leveraged
$1,734
Direct expenses
$51,234
Administration costs
$1,202
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.50
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

At least thirty youth will increase weaving skills and appreciation of traditional art through workshops. KOM's Weaving Coordinator will attend each lesson to track attendance. She will measure students' progress by the connections they make with weavers, their enthusiasm, and by the conclusion of their weaving project at the workshop's end. 2: At least 1,000 people learn about Karen culture and weaving through student projects, the weaving exhibition, and vendor tables at public events. Keeping attendance at KOM events and tracking interactions around weaving displays will be one way to measure this outcome. Sales revenues from weaving purchases will be an equally telling measure of this outcome.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Eight youth increased weaving skills and appreciation of traditional art through workshops. Attendance, project completion, instructor observation. Reduced number in workshops due to Covid. 2: 297 people learned about Karen culture and w+Z16eaving. Project Coordinator documented sales and conversations with participants. Reduced number due to Covid-related event cancellations.

Source of Additional Funds

Other,local or private

Recipient Board Members
Jeffry Saw, Jennifer Dunbar, Kaziah Josiah, Maureen Rafferty, Timothy O'Brien, Saw Sunshine Timothy, Kari Collins, Isabel Toledo, George Thawmoo, Soe Doh, Julie Warner, Ler Htoo, Hsajune Dyan, Mallika Sutaya
Project Manager
First Name
Frank
Last Name
Hennick
Organization Name
Karen Organization of Minnesota
Street Address
2353 Rice St Ste 240
City
Roseville
State
MN
Zip Code
55113
Phone
(651) 788-7593
Email
fhennick@mnkaren.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