Operating Support

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2021 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,801
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Lake Benton Opera House, Inc.
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2021
End Date
December 2021
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Lincoln
Lincoln
Project Overview

Operating Support

Project Details

Operating Support Year 2, FY2021

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

John White: writer, photographer, retired journalist; Georgette Jones: literature teacher, theatre actor/director/teacher; Anna Johanssen: fiber artist, art teacher, Remick Gallery board, president of Windom Women's Investment group, treasurer of Cottonwood County Animal Rescue, officer of Cotton Quilters; Kristen Kuipers: musician, private lesson and K-12 classroom music instructor, theater, writing, volunteer with Jackson Center for the Arts; Janet Olney: visual artist, Willmar Area Arts Council coordinator; Joyce Meyer: photographer, retired art teacher, Canby Arts Council; Michele Knife Sterner: theater (actor), SMSU Associate director for Access Opportunity Success program; Lisa Hill: musician, Crow River Singers, attorney; David KelseyBassett: visual artist, musician; Anne O'Keefe-Jackson: human resources director, bead and quill work; Brett Lehman: musician, social worker, Worthington City Band; Erica Volkir: performing arts, Director of Pipestone Area Chamber of Commerce and CVB; Alison Nelson: art, music, and dance teacher, fundraiser for Kerkhoven Fire Department Auxiliary; Lynette Swenson: visual arts teacher, folk artist, Swift County Food Shelf advisory board; Claire Swanson: visual arts, arts teacher, Meander Art Crawl Committee. Carisa Clarke: graphic design/web development, arts volunteer, board member DAC of Murray County

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Carisa Clarke, visual art, SMAC Board; Brett Lehman, music, SMAC Board; Steve Linstrom, writing, nonprofits; Jane Otto, arts admin; Janet Olney, visual art, arts admin, SMAC Board; Tammy Makram, arts admin.

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2019 First Special Session, chapter 2, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2021 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,801
Other Funds Leveraged
$0
Direct expenses
$0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Our top goal during the period funded by this grant will be to continue to introduce our organization to new customers through promotion and outreach. By making more people aware of what we do, we in turn hope to draw more people through our doors to buy tickets. We are confident we can keep our current patrons coming back, and likewise, believe newcomers to our building will be impressed enough to return in the future We constantly strive to make improvements to our productions, our publicity and our outreach into the area. We constantly query our patrons on what they like and where they feel we could have done better through surveys to random attendees at our productions. Results are analyzed throughout the year by our board of directors and our path forward is molded through these discussions.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Our main concern was surviving financially though being closed due to the pandemic and rebounding to draw our crowds back. We accomplished that. We did random surveys of our ticket buyers, asking for a 1-to-5 score on experience at the show, quality of production, being able to hear the actors, likelihood of recommending the Opera House to others, and likelihood of returning in the future. Overall scores averaged 4.5 with the lowest for being able to hear the actors at 4.1?room for improvement. We had a hugely successful season, with two productions nearly sold out.

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

Other,local or private

Recipient Board Members
Mark Wilmes, Jodi Greer, Sandy Hanson, Milo Downs, Davide Norgaard, Lisa Willert, Nathaniel Gates, Crystal Enga, Justin Condelli, Kathy Holck, Alan Riedel, Adam Madsen, Priscilla Osland, Betze Deutz
Project Manager
First Name
Mark
Last Name
Wilmes
Organization Name
Lake Benton Opera House, Inc.
Street Address
PO Box 1
City
Lake Benton
State
MN
Zip Code
56149
Phone
(507) 828-6957
Email
lakebentonoperahouse@gmail.com
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