Folk and Traditional Arts

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$14,574
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Saint Olaf College
Recipient Type
Public College/University
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2016
End Date
December 2016
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Dakota
Goodhue
Hennepin
Houston
Kandiyohi
Ramsey
Rice
Washington
Dakota
Goodhue
Hennepin
Houston
Kandiyohi
Ramsey
Rice
Washington
Project Overview
Folk and Traditional Arts
Project Details
Saint Olaf College will host a folk school camp, as well as adult classes in spoon carving, Sami inspired bracelet making, and Scandinavian flat-plane carving, to teach traditional Nordic handcrafts in the folk school philosophy.
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.; Michael Charron: Dean of the School of the Arts, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Rebecca Davis-Lee: Touring pianist, piano and music theory teacher; Sean Dowse, Executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Music Coalition, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; David Glenn: Executive director of the Minnesota Project, ceramic artist; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies; Janice Sivertson: Gallery owner and visual artist; Dobson West: Senior advisor, Spell Capital Partners Fund
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Jewell Arcoren: Community resources coordinator of Healing Place Collaborative; Rhonda Dass: Associate professor of anthropology and director of museum studies, Minnesota State University, Mankato; Mary Erickson: Fiber artist, museum exhibit researcher; Stanley Maroushek: Owner, Slim's Woodshed and Museum; Linda McShannock: Curator of textiles and clothing collection, Minnesota Historical Society; Scott Pollock: Director of exhibitions, collections and programs, American Swedish Institute
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
Yes
Conflict of Interest Contact
Executive director Sue Gens (651) 215-1600
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2015 Special Session, chapter 2, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Cultural Heritage

2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$14,574
Other Funds Leveraged
$9,702
Direct expenses
$24,276
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Through a youth camp and adult classes, qualified teachers will teach attendees about traditional Nordic art forms and their contextual history. Attendees will produce one to ten objects. We will survey them and their teachers about knowledge shared in the folk school tradition re: Scandinavian heritage and the processes for making handcrafts. 2: Southern Minnesota residents of all ages will gain closer access to classes about the Folk School philosophy and making traditional Nordic handcrafts. We will broadly advertise the camp and adult classes throughout Southern Minnesota to attract full enrollment. We will poll attendees about hometowns and change in knowledge about Nordic handcraft skills.

Measurable Outcome(s)

In a week-long youth camp and adult classes, attendees learned handwork skills and Nordic history from qualified teachers. They produced 1-10 objects. Online surveys were sent to all participants after the classes and camp ended. Surveys asked questions such as: Which class did you attend? Had you ever made Nordic handcrafts before? What was your favorite part of class? Will you continue to work on your carving skills on your own? For camp, we asked: Which handcraft did you enjoy learning most: spoon carving; weaving; birch bark weaving/basketry; Sami bracelet-making? Do you wish camp had been longer or shorter? 2: 110 people participated in a variety of hands-on classes, and seven youth attended the week-long Folk School Camp. Most came from the Southeast Minnesota region. Online surveys included a question about hometowns, so we could ascertain where attendees came from. Also, we sent an online survey that asked how they heard about the class, what they did and didn't like about the experience, and whether they will continue to take classes at the Saint Olaf Folk School. During the introduction portion of each class, students spoke openly about how they learned of the class, why they signed up, and what other types of programming would interest them.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Larry Stranghoener, B. Kristine Olson Johnson, Carl Crosby Lehmann, Glenn Taylor, Dean L. Buntrock, Martin E. Marty, Addison Piper, O. Jay Tomson, Jerrol M. Tostrud, David R. Anderson, Rev. Elizabeth Eaton, Nancy J. Anderson, Gregory L. Buck, Samuel M. Dotzler, Rev. William O. Gafkjen, Ronald E. Hunter, Jay Lund, Timothy Maudlin, Gretchen Morgenson, Kevin P. Bethke, Kari Bjorhus, Eric Hanson, Philip Milne, Callyssa Ozzello, Theresa Hull Wise, David Hill, Ward Klein, Peter Gotsch, Susan Gunderson, Mark Jordahl, Jeffrey W. Bolton, John B. Grotting, Jody Kleppe Horner, John R. Raitt, Jon W. Salveson, Alphonso Tindall
Project Manager
First Name
Melissa Flynn
Last Name
Hager
Organization Name
Saint Olaf College
Street Address
1520 St Olaf Ave
City
Northfield
State
MN
Zip Code
55057
Phone
(507) 786-5007
Email
hager@stolaf.edu
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