Legacy Arts and Cultural Heritage

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$28,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Alexandria Area Arts Association, Inc. AKA AAAA Community Theatre
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
May 2014
End Date
August 2014
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Douglas
Grant
Otter Tail
Pope
Douglas
Grant
Otter Tail
Pope
Project Overview
Legacy Arts and Cultural Heritage
Project Details
To renovate underutilized areas in the building to support expanding education programming.
Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications
Eric Abrahamson: Business owner/painter, stage manager, actor; Pagyn Harding: literary artist, publisher/author; Mark Ryan: Plains Art Museum Director of Collections and Operations; Nancy Berns: Radio voice actor, costumer, vocal director, choral singer; Carolyn Aarsvold: Retired elementary music educator, violinist; Tim Ray: actor, director, technical director, musician-performer; Michael Eble: professor, gallery curator at University of Minnesota-Morris; Kari Adams: graphic designer, printmaker; Stan Goldade: High school math instructor, photographer, sculptor; Jim Arvidson; Susan Anderson: Art Advocate, Theatre and Art background.
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Don Clark: Minnesota State University-Moorhead Professor, photography; Eric Abrahamson: Business owner/painter, stage manager, actor; Mark Ryan: Plain Art Museum Director of Collections and Operations; Pagyn Harding: literary artist, publisher/author; Nancy Berns: Radio voice actor, costumer, vocal director, choral singer; Carolyn Aarsvold: Retired elementary music educator, violinist; Tim Ray: actor, director, technical director, musician-performer; Kari Kjesbo: former gallery manager, catering business owner; Gary Henrickson: former professor of literature; Michael Eble: professor, gallery curator, University of Minnesota-Morris; Kari Adams: graphic designer, printmaker; Carolyn Flieder: fiber artist, former quilt shop owner; Amy Schmidt: literary artist, visual artist, bookstore owner; Randy Peterson Pope: Chiropractor, Arts Advocate; Jim Arvidson: Retired businessman, fundraiser, art advocate.
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2013, Chapter 137, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$28,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$71,900
Direct expenses
$99,900
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

With the funding I plan to purchase a quality printing press, rollers and other printmaking materials to get back into working with a medium that I have been unable to do for many years. The purchase of these materials will allow me to advance to the next stage of my career as an exhibiting artist. My plan is to research and create a series of large scale monoprint-mixed media prints that will be part of 2 solo shows at the PRCA and LRAC Solo Gallery in 2014. With the purchase of this equipment and material I will also be able to teach a printmaking class during the 2014 Prairie Camp, the week long summer arts camp for school aged children in the Morris area.As this is a renovation project, evaluation becomes slightly more challenging. We aim to evaluate this project through a couple of methods: 1. Quantitative evaluation of our actual project completion outcomes versus benchmark data from before the project. 2. Quantitative evaluation of post project participation levels versus benchmark data from before the project. 3. Qualitative evaluation of post project completion surveys and member response weighed against community needs identified at the projects genesis. 4. Qualitative evaluation through a survey of our participants, including 65% of respondents providing positive summative feedback on the space, its effectiveness and usability. Respondent pool will include both participants (directors, students, designers who use the space) as well as Alexandria Area Arts Association members.

Measurable Outcome(s)

The evaluation results were unilaterally high. We wanted 65% of respondents to give positive summative feedback and received 95%. We also learned much through the evaluation process, including the need for greater break out spaces, and that most respondents didn't like the support pillars in the room (though structurally there is nothing we can do about that - we did invest in new, much smaller support columns). Additional comments included the desire for mirrors for movement work, and sound-proofing the room. However, one respondent summed up the space thusly: ''Can't wait until the flooring is in! Was great to have a place for the larger group to sprawl out in, and access to the basement bathrooms and board room (where lunch was served) made it very handy. The only downside was how loud the little footsteps from the Jungle Book Cast were when they thundered above us on break from rehearsal - though how fun to have that many people in the theatre at one time.''

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Bruce Wegner, Dave Anderson, Gary Lund, Holly Wallerich, Kelly Presby, Ken Kolstad, Nicole Fernholz, Rachel Capistrant, Sara Stadtherr
Project Manager
First Name
Benjamin
Last Name
Klipfel
Organization Name
Alexandria Area Arts Association, Inc. AKA AAAA Community Theatre
Street Address
618 Broadway St
City
Alexandria
State
MN
Zip Code
56308
Phone
(320) 762-8300
Email
info@alexandriaareaarts.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
Location

133 Mill Street South
Fergus Falls, MN 56537-2574 

Phone
Project Manager: Timothy Wollenzien
218-739-5780