Operating Support

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$15,683
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
The Film Society of Minneapolis-Saint Paul
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
July 2012
End Date
June 2013
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Hennepin
Carver
Scott
Dakota
Ramsey
Rice
Le Sueur
Sibley
Steele
Olmsted
Kandiyohi
McLeod
St. Louis
Anoka
Stearns
Hennepin
Carver
Scott
Dakota
Ramsey
Rice
Le Sueur
Sibley
Steele
Olmsted
Kandiyohi
McLeod
St. Louis
Anoka
Stearns
Project Overview
Operating Support
Project Details
General operating support
Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications
Judson Bemis Jr., Actor, arts administrator, founder and principal of Clere Consulting. Secretary, Minnesota State Arts Board.; 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. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Sean Dowse, Executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Music Coalition, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies.; John Gunyou, City manager, Minnetonka.; Benjamin Klipfel, Board member, Minnesota State Arts Board. Executive Director, Alexandria Area Arts Association, Inc. Director and arts educator.; Ellen McInnis, Director of Twin Cities government relations, Wells Fargo. Member of Bottineau Boulevard Partnership. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Pamela Perri, Executive vice president, Builders Association of Minnesota.; Margaret Rapp, Former educator, Saint Paul Academy and Summit School. Officer at-large, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Anton Treuer, Professor of Ojibwe, Bemidji State University.
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Judson Bemis Jr., Actor, arts administrator, founder and principal of Clere Consulting. Secretary, Minnesota State Arts Board.; 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. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Sean Dowse, Executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Music Coalition, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies.; John Gunyou, City manager, Minnetonka.; Benjamin Klipfel, Board member, Minnesota State Arts Board. Executive Director, Alexandria Area Arts Association, Inc. Director and arts educator.; Ellen McInnis, Director of Twin Cities government relations, Wells Fargo. Member of Bottineau Boulevard Partnership. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Pamela Perri, Executive vice president, Builders Association of Minnesota.; Margaret Rapp, Former educator, Saint Paul Academy and Summit School. Officer at-large, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Anton Treuer, Professor of Ojibwe, Bemidji State University.
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2011, First Special Session, chapter 6, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$15,683
Other Funds Leveraged
$619,292
Direct expenses
$634,975
Administration costs
$2,400
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.8
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The Film Society will present high quality film exhibition and other programming, promote the art of filmmaking and Minnesota filmmakers, collaborate with arts and other organizations, provide broad access to the arts, and foster arts activities and appreciation. High attendance numbers and ticket sales, positive feedback from audience polls, membership growth and filmmaker involvement were indicators of the achievement of Outcome 1. Attendance numbers and ticket sales, the easiest to evaluate, were tracked through ticketing software. Festival attendance reached the highest levels ever. Year-round attendance was stable. Audience surveys were provided to every attendee upon entrance to a film; survey results were compiled and analyzed and indicated a diversification of our audiences in terms of background, ethnicity, age, and financial status, and indicated a high level of audience satisfaction with and interest in our programming. Membership numbers reached our highest ever, indicating continued support and appreciation of our work. 2: All Minnesotans will be given opportunities to participate in and become better informed and educated through the medium of film, and the art of film is interwoven into many facets of the community and contributes to the vitality of community life. The art of filmmaking thrives in Minnesota. We will continue to expand the International Film Festival and our year-round programming. We will measure our continued success toward this goal through increased attendance and earned and contributed income, audience polls, word-of-mouth, and collaborative participation. We will also focus on providing access for new international and immigrant populations through geographically-focused series and festivals, increased partnerships and collaborations, and we will expand Minnesota made programming and exhibition in support of Minnesota artists. Increased attendance and earned income (ticket sales) indicated successful audience interest and engagement as well as more opportunities for participation. Audience surveys were provided to every attendee upon entrance to a film; survey results were compiled and analyzed and indicated a diversification of our audiences in terms of background, ethnicity, age, and financial status, and indicated a high level of audience satisfaction with and interest in our programming. Where polled, word of mouth was noted to be a high motivator for attendance. Membership numbers reached our highest ever, indicating continued support and appreciation of our work. Our revenue continued to grow in every contributed and earned income area indicating increased audience and funder interest. More numerous and successful collaborations with local institutions and with Minnesota filmmakers and artists, along with increased interest in future engagements, indicated successful engagement and collaborative participation.

Measurable Outcome(s)

400 high-quality narrative and documentary feature length and short form independent films from 67 countries, 59 of which were made by Minnesota artists, were exhibited throughout fiscal year 2013. 133 local, national and international filmmakers attended the exhibition of their works, providing valuable context for audiences. Panel discussions featuring national, international and local industry professionals underscored the inherent educational value in both narrative and documentary film. Collaborations with arts and other organizations included new partnerships with numerous Minnesota organizations such as the Guthrie Theatre, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, and Partnership Resources, Inc. New programming and outreach initiatives providing arts access to Minnesota's new international populations were successfully implemented. Emphasis on local filmmakers fostered the creation and appreciation of art in Minnesota. 2: Programming, festivals, events, and our daily exhibition initiatives were expanded to provide more opportunities for Minnesotans to participate in the arts as well as to provide access to both Minnesota's new international and immigrant communities and our general audience. Initiatives included, among others, an African Series and Spotlight entitled Songs of Exile in the Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Film Festival, an expanded Polish FilmFest in the summer, National Theatre Live and a Gordon Parks Retrospective. Minnesota filmmaking was highlighted throughout the year, and films from Minnesota made up approximately 15% of total programming. Neighborhood activities, events and engagements, as well as off-site programming further wove The Film Society into the fabric of the community.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other

Recipient Board Members
Tim Grady, Melodie Bahan, Anne Carayon, Senator Richard Cohen, Tom DeBiaso, Mary Reyelts, Robert Silberman, Susan Smoluchowski, Karen Sternal, Mark Tierney, Stephen Zuckerman
Source of Additional Funds

local or private

Project Manager
First Name
Susan
Last Name
Smoluchowski
Organization Name
The Film Society of Minneapolis-Saint Paul
Street Address
125 Main St SE Ste 125A
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Zip Code
55414
Phone
(612) 331-7563x 206
Email
susan.s@mspfilmsociety.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