Minnesota Festival Support
ACHF Cultural Heritage
The variety and number of Minnesota artists that are presented through festivals increases. Minnesota festivals have greater financial stability and serve broader audiences. The number of Minnesotans who experience the arts through festivals increases. We used qualitative interviews with attendees, and social media and vendor comments to assess our success in providing a high-quality, diverse lineup.
Our entertainment line-up performed at least six sub-genres of jazz, along with a number of genre-melding songs. Eighty-two Minnesota artists participated this year. We achieved our goal of providing a quality, diverse entertainment lineup. Tools used included informal qualitative interviews with attendees, social media comments, vendor comments, and the vibe at Golden Thyme the week after the Fest. Jazz sub-genres performed included New Orleans street parade-style, big band, historically-correct renditions from the golden age of jazz, salsa, and Nu Jazz. New artist and headliner Abdul Zuhri was selected due to his strong reputation as an up-and-comer in the jazz world. Co-headliner Cheryl Pepsii Riley was added because of her reputation as a strong vocalist with decades of experience. 2: Increased financial support creates a higher quality festival--enhanced features and benefits and higher quality entertainment--which, in turn attracts more vendors and sponsors. This year was the first time we were able to sell our stage sponsorship. We also received interest from a corporation that appears to be on board in 2013. The grant helped us with our marketing, which included an ad campaign in the Villager. A social media intern took our Facebook likes from 100 to over 500. We witnessed audience growth in urban tourists and families with young children. Our expanded Family Fun Zone was packed; we had 450 face-painted kids, distribution of 500 balloons and 600 fans, and Theater Improv performed to more than 200 kids.
Other, local or private