Operating Support

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$7,337
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Crow River Players AKA Little Theatre Auditorium
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2019
End Date
December 2019
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Kandiyohi
Stearns
Meeker
McLeod
Renville
Swift
Pope
Douglas
Anoka
Dakota
Ramsey
Hennepin
Washington
Carver
Scott
Wright
Chisago
Sherburne
Kandiyohi
Stearns
Meeker
McLeod
Renville
Swift
Pope
Douglas
Anoka
Dakota
Ramsey
Hennepin
Washington
Carver
Scott
Wright
Chisago
Sherburne
Project Overview

Operating Support

Project Details

Operating Support Year 2, FY2019.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

John White: writer, photographer, retired journalist; Georgette Jones: literature teacher, theatre actor/director/teacher; Marilee Strom: musician, former art teacher, business owner; Kathy Fransen: musician, theatre, Rhythm of the River coordinator; Janet Olney: visual artist, Willmar Area Arts Council coordinator; Joyce Meyer: photographer, retired art teacher, Canby Arts Council; Pam Blake: retired art educator, visual artist, Tyler Arts Council, Lincoln County Art Fair, South Dakota Arts Educators Association, Southwest Minnesota Weaver’s Guild; Michele Knife Sterner: theatre actor, SMSU Associate director for Access Opportunity Success program; Tom Wirt: artist, owner Clay Coyote Gallery, Hutchinson Center for the Arts, past member Hutchinson Public Arts Commission; Joyce Aakre: visual arts, writing, Discover Dassel committee, Board member for Litchfield Community Education, Exhibit committee for Dassel Area Historical Society; Kelly Muldoon: graphic artist, Prairie Music Association, Prairie Oasis Players; Dan Wahl: writer, visual artist, director, adjunct English instructor SMSU; Anne O’Keefe-Jackson: human resources director, bead and quill work; Cindy Reverts: visual artist, Rock County Fine Arts Association treasurer, Council for Arts in Humanities in Rock County; Brett Lehman: Worthington International Festival, Worthington City Band, Worthington Concert Association; Reggie Gorter: vocalist, theatre, voice/dance teacher; Dana Conroy: producer/filmmaker; Claire Swanson: visual arts, arts teacher, Meander Art Crawl Committee.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Joyce Aakre: visual art, writing, Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Board; Pam Blake: visual art, Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Board; Mark Bosveld: theatre, arts administration; Steve Linstrom: writing, museum admin; Anne O’Keefe-Jackson: visual art, Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Board Board; Liz Rackl: visual art, arts administration; Tom Wirt: visual art, Southwest Minnesota Arts Council Board.

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2017 Regular Session, chapter 91, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$7,337
Other Funds Leveraged
$35,983
Direct expenses
$43,320
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

1) Increasing the volunteers, production support, and actors. 2) Expanding productions, concerts, and events. 3) Increase winter audience from 35 to 50 and summer audience from 70 to 100 and establish a membership program. 4) Maximizing our advertising dollars by planning ahead and including multiple events. The success of the Little Theatre benefits an underserved rural community, bringing to it a variety of quality entertainment. The theatrical community, seasoned and novice, will benefit from performing opportunities. Local businesses will benefit from the number of potential customers we bring to town. Non-profits will benefit by having a facility to use to educate and enrich the community. New entertainment projects will have a space to showcase their venue. The greatest benefit will be to the general public, they will have a full year of quality entertainment options. Our goals are clearly defined with specific numbers, so it will be easy to determine if we have met our goal. We will be continuing to keep attendance records to clearly chart our progress. Measuring our patrons satisfaction will be evidenced in repeat attendance and if they join our membership once the program is established. Success will also be determined by the number of people served, and by our ability to meet our expenses and continue to make the necessary improvements to the facility.

Measurable Outcome(s)

We have increased the number of board members to 12, while also diversifying the ages of our board members (ages sixteen to retirement age). We utilized new volunteers during our Haunted House and Dickens Christmas events. We moved forward with some consistent programs during 2019: three plays, three music events, Classic Comedy Film Fest weekend, one Story Show, one Style show, and Haunted House and Dickens Christmas events, as well as 23 Rialto Revisited movie days ( a collaboration with New London Roaming Cinema). We found ways to start building audiences with movies, by trying different types and seeing what attracted audiences. While we didn't establish a membership program we did start a season ticket option. Without a part-time employee, we are maximizing our advertising dollars in different ways, utilizing more social media, free online calendars, and newspapers.

Proposed Outcomes Achieved
Achieved most of the proposed outcomes
Source of Additional Funds

Other,local or private

Recipient Board Members
Bethany Lacktorin, Jackie Burggraff, Deb Mortenson, Ashley Hanson, Laura Jackson, Brooke Eischens, Erik Hatlestad, Bev Dresser, Andrea Mossberg, V Mortenson, Maria Novak, Keith Olson
Project Manager
First Name
Virginia
Last Name
Lief
Organization Name
Crow River Players, Inc.
Street Address
PO Box 535
City
New London
State
MN
Zip Code
56273
Phone
(320) 354-4536
Email
glief@charter.net
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

509 W Main St, PO Box 55
Marshall, Minnesota 56258 

Phone
Phone Manager: Nicole DeBoer
(507) 537-1471
Email the Agency