Operating Support
ACHF Arts Access
Provide diverse artistic programming that reaches out to, and provides a stage for, underserved populations in Minnesota, including artists with disabilities, artists of color, and GLBT/queer-identified artists. Outcomes: connect with organizations to invite artists on our stage that are often underserved. Collaborate with organizations in an effort to create a stronger community for all artists. Seek out and invite artists from all backgrounds, artistic genres, and experience levels to perform in cabarets. Create opportunities for Minnesotans of all ages, ethnicities, and abilities to participate in the arts through varied programming, minimal barriers to performing on our stage, and no auditions. We evaluated our programming through a number of tracking systems. 1) Number of performance opportunities for artists. 2) Number of development opportunities for artists. 3) Total dollars paid out to artists. 4) Artist demographics (women, artists of color, GLBTQ-identified artists, youth artists, artists with disabilities, and transgender artists). 5) We initially surveyed artists, curators and audience members, but found it difficult to collect them (only 2-5 surveys would be returned per show). Instead, we met, phoned, and emailed groups to find out their opinions on effectiveness of shows. 2: Cultivate a love of art in future generations through the High School Cabarets Program. Outcomes: Work with local high schools to help students plan, create, and produce a cabaret. Encourage interested students to perform in additional cabarets and core programming, thus strengthening their connection to the arts. Provide free workshops that will further enhance their school curriculum and give economically disadvantaged students the opportunity to grow and develop artistically. Encourage the next generation of artists to develop their craft, and learn to appreciate the similarities and differences of their peers. We evaluated the High School Cabarets program through a number of methods. 1) We surveyed students and teachers to find the strengths, weaknesses, and overall opinion of the program. 2) We tracked demographics of students (students of color, GLBTQ-identified students, and students with disabilities). 3) We tracked students that performed in other programming at the Cabaret. 4) We tracked the number of students that became volunteers at the Cabaret.
We reached this goal through many different programming opportunities this year. We collaborated with Interact Center and the Epilepsy Foundation to add artists with disabilities to our shows, tripling the number of artists with disabilities over last year. Our cabaret Sistah Solo featured female African American artists, with performers ranging in age from 5 - 80 years old. We added new programming for anyone to perform in. Scrawlex is a monthly open stage night where performers sign up for a time slot and perform whatever they want. It is a chance for new and young artists to try something out in front of an audience. We added The Calof Spoken Word Series, which gives spoken word artists and singer/songwriters a chance to perform works-in-progress and receive feedback from audiences. 526 artists performed last year, including: 54% women, 31% artists of color, 29% GLBTQ artists, 18% youth (under age 18), 9% artists with disabilities, and 1% transgender artists. 2: We reached this goal through the following means. 1) We worked with 352 students from eight schools or youth organizations. Of the students that performed, 60% were students of color, 6% GLBTQ identified, and 1% students with disabilities. 2) We presented a total of seven High School Cabarets in the 2012-2013 school year. 3) We incorporated seven high school students into additional shows, including a student who performed slam poetry in a Calof Series evening and another who choreographed her first dance for an Open Call Cabaret last October. 4) We collaborated with Young Dance to present a weeklong workshop opportunity free to high school students that incorporated dance, movement, self-exploration, and stage presence. This workshop took place in July 2012.
Other
local or private