Operating Support
Operating Support
The Playwrights' Center champions playwrights and new plays to build upon a living theater that demands new and innovative works.
Ardell Brede: Mayor of Rochester, elected 2002.; Peggy Burnet: Businesswoman, art collector, and community volunteer. Member of the Smithsonian National Board. Former chair of the board, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Uri Camarena: Business consultant, Metropolitan Economic Development Association. Board chair, Minneapolis College of Art and Design.; Michael Charron: Dean of the School of the Arts, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Officer-at-large, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Rebecca Davis-Lee: Touring pianist, piano and music theory teacher. Vice Chair, 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. Secretary/Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies.; Janice Sivertson: Gallery owner and visual artist; Dobson West: Senior advisor, Spell Capital Partners Fund; Christina Widdess: Arts organization consultant; former managing director, Penumbra Theatre. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.
Michael Arturi: Universal Music Center founder and executive director; Dorothy Belstler: Executive director, Twin Cities Pride; Amy Braford Whittey: Business developer for the arts for HGA; Cheryl Kessler: Founder and principal evaluator, Blue Scarf Consulting, LLC; Colleen LeBlanc: Retired community educator; former Five Wings Regional Arts Council board member; William Miller: History professor at the College of Saint Scholastica, former MSAB board member; Jessica O'Brien: Community engagement manager, Region Nine Development Commission; Elizabeth Jane Olive: Retired nurse and transplant coordinator; community volunteer; costumer; Christi Schmitt: Program coordinator, Saint Paul Public Schools office of multilingual learning; Alexis Walstad, Co-executive director, Karen Organization of Minnesota
ACHF Arts Access
Promote high quality new plays by and for diverse Minnesotans to impact community vibrancy and to lead the field. Track interest among theaters in plays by writers of color and female writers; collect audience and critic feedback on new play readings/productions; assess equitable pay for playwrights of color. 2: Support the learning and artistic development goals of Minnesota playwrights and engage the public in new play readings and discussions. Track number of participants for public readings of new plays, Community Conversations, and classes/seminars; gather qualitative feedback from participants about the events and their impact.
With eight Minnesota theaters and 60+ broadly diverse playwrights, supported topical premiere productions and readings fostering public conversation and dialogue. Tracked Minnesota theater partnerships and related productions; tracked writers engaged in all public activities; gathered commentary and evaluative input from critics, audiences, partners, participants, and artists. 2: 150+ gained playwriting skills/craft; 60+ new plays moved towards production via workshops; 1700+ public audiences responded to play ideas/topics. Tracked number, content and participation in classes, seminars, new play development workshops and public readings; gathered qualitative feedback from participants and assessed impact with project partners.
Other, local or private