Operating Support

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$64,034
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Loft, Inc. AKA The Loft Literary Center
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
July 2012
End Date
June 2013
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Anoka
Becker
Beltrami
Benton
Blue Earth
Brown
Carver
Chisago
Clay
Cottonwood
Crow Wing
Dakota
Dodge
Douglas
Faribault
Fillmore
Freeborn
Goodhue
Hennepin
Hubbard
Isanti
Itasca
Jackson
Kanabec
Kandiyohi
Kittson
Le Sueur
Martin
Meeker
Mille Lacs
Morrison
Nicollet
Olmsted
Otter Tail
Pine
Pope
Ramsey
Rice
St. Louis
Scott
Sherburne
Stearns
Steele
Stevens
Wabasha
Washington
Watonwan
Winona
Wright
Anoka
Becker
Beltrami
Benton
Blue Earth
Brown
Carver
Chisago
Clay
Cottonwood
Crow Wing
Dakota
Dodge
Douglas
Faribault
Fillmore
Freeborn
Goodhue
Hennepin
Hubbard
Isanti
Itasca
Jackson
Kanabec
Kandiyohi
Kittson
Le Sueur
Martin
Meeker
Mille Lacs
Morrison
Nicollet
Olmsted
Otter Tail
Pine
Pope
Ramsey
Rice
St. Louis
Scott
Sherburne
Stearns
Steele
Stevens
Wabasha
Washington
Watonwan
Winona
Wright
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
Lawrence Adams: Principal, LarsonAllen, LLP.; Jonathan Carter: Solutions development manager, General Mills.; Ellen Copperud: Board member, Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council.; Kenna Cottman Sarge: Artistic director, Voice of Culture Drum and Dance. Educator, TU Dance Center. Dancer with Pramila Vasudevan.; Hong Dice: Professor of music, Carleton College, and Central Conservatory of Music in Beijing; Antony Goddard: Executive director, Paramount Arts Resource Trust, and St Cloud Opportunities.; Anna Johnson: Independent arts consultant; Therese Kunz: Creative director, Longville Arts Center; Founder, Screen Porch Productions, Inc.; Janis Lane-Ewart: Executive director and volunteer programmer, KFAI. Treasurer, Association of Minnesota Public Educational Radio Stations, and National Federation of Community Broadcasters.|Peter Spooner, Curator, Tweed Museum of Art. Board member, Duluth Public Arts Commission, Duluth Public Library, Artists Relief Fund, and Chester Bowl Improvement Club.
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
Yes
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
$64,034
Other Funds Leveraged
$1,639,992
Direct expenses
$1,704,026
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Writers of all backgrounds, ages, and skill levels will participate in the Loft's writing community, and will report gains in their artistic development through Loft programs. Over 4,000 Minnesotans-- diverse in ages, cultural backgrounds, and interest areas--will participate in the Loft's hands-on literary learning and mentorship opportunities in fiscal year 2013. More than 85% of fiscal year 2013 participants will report that their writing improved and that they gained greater knowledge of the creative writing craft. To evaluate participation and artistic development, we employ the use of post-class and post-conference surveys. Students and mentees self-report the answers to questions about the effectiveness of the experience, the knowledge of the teaching artist or mentor, and their personal artistic advancement. Registration information allows us to accurately track student enrollment in on-site and online classes and conferences. Although we meet resistance from constituents, we ask artists and students to self-report demographics. The Loft also recognizes and encourages writers of all levels by offering opportunities focused towards the many stages of artistic development of our constituents. We monitor enrollment by the skill level and genre of our classes. 2: The Loft will support a thriving artistic community by providing earning opportunities for writers. Artists' honoraria will make up at least 20% of the Loft's overall expenses in fiscal year 2013, with approximately $400,000 paid to writers. The Loft will provide honoraria to more than 200 Minnesota writers in fiscal year 2013. Information regarding artist honoraria is collected from the Loft's financial statements. The budget is approved by the board annually and ongoing reports are made regularly by the Managing Director. Artist payment is affirmed by the annual financial audit.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Writers of all backgrounds, ages, and skill levels participated in the Loft's writing community, and reported gains in their artistic development through Loft programs. This goal supports the goal of the Arts Board to provide opportunities for people of all ages, ethnicities and abilities to participate in the arts. In the past year, over 5,000 Minnesotans engaged in the Loft's hands-on literary learning and mentorship opportunities. Of participants who completed a survey, 96.8% reported that their writing improved, 91.8% gained a greater understanding of the creative writing craft, and 92.3% could identify next steps as a result of their experience. The cultural background of Loft participants reflects Minnesota's general population. While individual programs vary in diversity, we estimate the following overall demographic information for fiscal year 2013: 78% White, 8% Black, 5% Asian or Pacific Islander, 4% Latino or Hispanic, and 3% multi-racial. 2: The Loft supported a thriving artistic community by providing earning opportunities for writers. Artists' honoraria made up approximately 20% of the Loft's overall expenses in the past year, with $400,412 paid to writers. The Loft provided honoraria to more than 250 Minnesota writers in fiscal year 2013. Earning opportunities for writers include teaching classes, presenting at conferences, serving as adjudicators for contests, performing in special events, and participating in the Loft's award programs.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other

Recipient Board Members
Sarah Stoesz, John Schenk, Rachael Jarosh, Ruth Shields, Jocelyn Hale, Kent Adams, Lorena Duarte, Jacquelyn Fletcher, W Michael Garner, Dobby Gibson, Sharon Hendry, Lorna Landvik, Ed Bok Lee, Susan Lenfestey, Alisa Miller, Carrie Obry, Carla Paulson, Angela Shannon, Karen Sternal, Faith Sullivan, Kamau Witherspoon
Source of Additional Funds

local or private

Project Manager
First Name
Beth
Last Name
Schoeppler
Organization Name
Loft, Inc. AKA The Loft Literary Center
Street Address
1011 Washington Ave S Ste 200
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Zip Code
55415-1278
Phone
(612) 215-2580
Email
bschoeppler@loft.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