Operating Support

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$61,432
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Park Square Theatre Company AKA Park Square Theatre
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
July 2012
End Date
June 2013
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Ramsey
Hennepin
McLeod
Rice
Wright
Sherburne
Dakota
Washington
Meeker
Polk
Anoka
Le Sueur
Isanti
Carver
Scott
Goodhue
Carlton
Waseca
Blue Earth
Chippewa
Todd
St. Louis
Steele
Olmsted
Martin
Lyon
Lac qui Parle
Yellow Medicine
Otter Tail
Redwood
Winona
Sibley
Cass
Watonwan
Mower
Crow Wing
Brown
Faribault
Pine
Norman
Lincoln
Beltrami
Stearns
Pipestone
Jackson
Cottonwood
Becker
Ramsey
Hennepin
McLeod
Rice
Wright
Sherburne
Dakota
Washington
Meeker
Polk
Anoka
Le Sueur
Isanti
Carver
Scott
Goodhue
Carlton
Waseca
Blue Earth
Chippewa
Todd
St. Louis
Steele
Olmsted
Martin
Lyon
Lac qui Parle
Yellow Medicine
Otter Tail
Redwood
Winona
Sibley
Cass
Watonwan
Mower
Crow Wing
Brown
Faribault
Pine
Norman
Lincoln
Beltrami
Stearns
Pipestone
Jackson
Cottonwood
Becker
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 Burnett: Choral director and professor of music, Carleton College.; Sunny Chanthanouvong: Executive director, Lao Assistance Center. Policy Fellow, Humphrey School. Board member, St Paul Foundation, Asian/American Health Coalition, Harrison Neighborhood Association. Member, MN Compulsive Gambling Advisory Committee, Civil Rights Commission.; Nolita Christensen: Marketing and operations consultant, Great North Show Providers.; Brian Jose: Executive director of fine arts programming, College of St Benedict/St John's University.; Jerry Lopez: Executive director, Ce Tempoxcalli.; Jennifer Penzkover: Coordinator, Saint Cloud Arts Commission.; Andrea Specht: Executive director, Bloomington Theatre and Art Center.; Sarah Stauder: Executive director, Rochester Art Center.
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
$61,432
Other Funds Leveraged
$2,034,936
Direct expenses
$2,096,368
Administration costs
$4,800
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.5
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Artistic excellence goals: build a new 200-seat thrust stage facility; continue to be the East Metro’s leader in Twin Cities' premieres; and actively recruit additional talent, artists of color, and emerging artistic leadership. Related outcomes include: producing full seasons of emotionally resonant work on both stages, employing 186 theater artists in our community, putting diverse artists in leadership roles, and expanding our artistic reach with three artistic associates and producing partners. Measurements used to determine how the outcomes were achieved: 1) Attendance/sales analysis of actual numbers of attendees, new and returning. 2) Number of attendees at discussions and events. 3) Audience surveys, responses to weekly follow-up emails after each attendance, and teacher evaluations. 4) Internal assessment against strategic and five-year business plans by staff, board, educators, and artists. 5) Financial results, including actual revenue/expense and staffing needs against plans. 6) Contributed revenue analysis including renewal and increased rates from current donors and acquisition of new donors. 7) Comments on emails and social media. 2: Management goals: build and protect the funds, assets and human resources needed to support our programming model, and assure the succession of Park Square’s volunteer and staff leadership, artists, and audiences. Related outcomes include: maximizing earned revenues, focusing the leadership staff as a major gifts team, building sustaining gift and multi-year pledge programs, implementing a capitalization strategy to build reserves, creating a culture of ongoing succession, and increasing young adult attendance by 10%. Measurements used to determine how the outcomes were achieved. 1) Comparative sales report. 2) Purchase renewal and frequency rate. 3) Discount and marketing codes. 4) Google analytics of Web site traffic. 5) Surveys and evaluations, including demographics as appropriate. 6) Cost/subsidies per student served. 7) Use of access devices and discounts. 8) Feedback from focus groups. 9) Evaluation by Board, staff, associates, partners, educator advisory board.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Park Square Theatre produced a full season of nine emotionally resonant plays on the proscenium stage. One highlight was Johnny Baseball, an original production by the award-winning composer/lyricist team of Rob and Willie Reale and writer Richard Dresser. We continued to hold up our artists as valued citizens and leaders through regular events for donors; demonstrations/discussions for students, seniors, and general audience; and publicity, marketing, and fundraising materials. As a member of the Rotary Club of Saint Paul, Michael-jon Pease hosted a Rotation Day that brought Rotarians to tour and learn about the theatre, and gave a program at a more intimate Thursday meeting. Park Square also promotes stories and quotes from donors, subscribers and community stakeholders in our printed and electronic materials. These testimonials further attest to the vibrant role Park Square plays in the community. 2: Park Square engaged 22,222 students in the theater arts with subsidized and free tickets. 44 schools received subsidized tickets; 4,153 student tickets were subsidized; six schools (563 students) received discounted Immersion Days; and 1,500 youth participated in a free five-day school workshop. 25% of the schools returned for more than one show, and the number of Immersion Days increased by 34%. Last year attendance by those aged 21-40 grew by 24% to 29%, representing a 55% increase in young adults. Ticket prices continue to range from $25 (previews) to $58 (premium seats at regular performances). Each regular show includes our unique 99-cent night to mitigate the price barrier. A $5 senior discount is available, theatre-goers 30 and under pay only $15, and college students can buy play passes (5 tickets for $20). In addition, a team of four Artistic Associates, from a variety of cultural backgrounds, works with Artistic Director Richard Cook to shape our increasingly diverse programming.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other

Recipient Board Members
Jeff Johnson, Sara Beckstrand, Judy McNamara, Julie Cox, Caldwell Camero, John Berthiaume, Elizabeth Cobb, Barb Davis, Rajiv Garg, Kristin Geisler, Karen Heintz, John LeFevre, Tim Ober, Naomi Pesky, Keith Schwartz, Robert Thompson, Helen Wagner, Susan Wenz
Source of Additional Funds

local or private

Project Manager
First Name
Michael-jon
Last Name
Pease
Organization Name
Park Square Theatre Company AKA Park Square Theatre
Street Address
408 St Peter St Ste 110
City
St Paul
State
MN
Zip Code
55102
Phone
(651) 767-8485
Email
pease@Parksquaretheatre.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