Operating Support
ACHF Arts Access
Twin Cities children and teens are engaged and inspired by their participation in the performing arts. Outcomes: by fiscal year 2013, the total number of youth served by Youth Performance Company classes and the Young Artists Council has increased by 35%. By fiscal year 2013, Young Artist Council activities have increased by 20%. This goal aligns with the goals that people of all ages, ethnicities, and abilities participate in the arts; and the arts are interwoven into every facet of community life. For the first set of outcomes, The Youth Performance Company staff directors met periodically to review goals around Youth Performance Company classes and Young Artist Council. Throughout the year, the Director of Education adjusted tactics to try to reach class enrollment goals. The Assistant Director works closely with the Young Artist Council to plan their season of activities and monitor their work. This year, we explored new possibilities around evaluating our programs and our engagement with youth. Youth Performance Company was introduced to the Youth Work Institute and the Youth Program Quality Assessment tool. When we examined the tool, we concluded that it would be a good fit for our variety of programs providing valuable feedback to strengthen the Youth Performance Company way. This evaluation method was focused on our engagement with youth activities and was not applicable to our Arts Board operating support grant. We do feel a need to mention it here in order for the Arts Board and others stakeholders to understand how deeply Youth Performance Company values evaluation. 2: Youth Performance Company’s audience values the development of teens through theatre. Outcomes: by fiscal year 2013, Youth Performance Company’s core non-school audience base has increased from 600 to 800. By fiscal year 2013, 25% of Youth Performance Company’s non-school audiences are also donors. This goal aligns with goal that Minnesotans believe the arts are vital to who we are. Youth Performance Company's Associate Director and the Board Marketing Committee actively monitors audience numbers and makes adjustments to tactics throughout the year. Our Director of Development works closely with the Treasurer and Board Development Committee to monitor individual giving results.
Fiscal year 2013 was a tremendous year for Youth Performance Company, including receiving the Minnesota Council for Nonprofits/MAP for Nonprofits Mission Award for work on racism. While having a robust marketing and outreach effort, Youth Performance Company failed to reach stated goals for class participation. Our location is next to the future Central Corridor light rail line. With construction happening throughout the year, we saw a decrease of 30% participation in classes. However, our unique and popular Young Artist Council has seen an increase in participation of over 35% in fiscal year 2013. The Young Artist Council activities increased by 50% including holding three main shows with performances held over three weeks each, including: Women and Wallace, Anne of Green Gables, and A Night Where Anything Goes: A Cabaret. 2: Youth Performance Company understands how critical individual participation and support is for maintaining a sustainable organization. In fiscal year 2013, Youth Performance Company's non-school audience base increased to over 800 people. Our marketing committee worked very hard this past year to reach out to many individuals and organizations. We also focused on opportunities for parents and alumni to become even more involved with our programming. Since 2010, Youth Performance Company has made an important effort to increase individual donors to ensure that we are a sustainable organization. We have spent considerable time to identify and cultivate individuals who are interested in the advancement of teens as well as focus more attention on our parents and alumni. This effort is paying off with over 25% of our non-school audience members becoming donors.
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