Operating Support Grant

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,474
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Northern Lights Music Festival, Inc.
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2019
End Date
January 2021
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
St. Louis
Lake
Cook
Itasca
St. Louis
Lake
Cook
Itasca
Project Overview

Operating Support Grant

Project Details

The Northern Lights Music Festival would like to engage a Managing Director who can work part-time, year-round.

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

Tara Makinen: executive director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Moira Villiard: visual artist, cultural programming coordinator at American Indian Community Housing Organization; Amber Burns: choreographer, dancer, actor, middle school art teacher; Margaret Holmes: visual artist, poet, and former Children’s Theatre employee; Tammy Mattonen: visual artists, co-founder of Crescendo Youth Orchestra; Kayla Aubid: Native American craft artist, writer, employee at MacRostie Art Center; Ariana Daniel: mixed media artist, arts instructor; Kathy Neff: musician, Director, Fine Arts Academy at the University of Minnesota Duluth; Ron Piercy: jeweler, gallery owner; Emily Swanson: arts administrator at Oldenburg Arts and Cultural Community; Christina Nohre: writer and arts advocate.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Tara Makinen: executive director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Margaret Holmes: visual artist, poet, and former Children’s Theatre employee; Kayla Aubid: Native American craft artist, writer, employee at MacRostie Art Center; Ariana Daniel: mixed media artist, arts instructor; Kathy Neff: musician, director, Fine Arts Academy at the University of Minnesota Duluth; Ron Piercy: jeweler, gallery owner.

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2017 Regular Session, chapter 91, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access ACHF Arts Education ACHF Cultural Heritage

2019 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,474
Other Funds Leveraged
$360,862
Direct expenses
$365,337
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
1.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Goal Statement: The Northern Lights Music Festival (NLMF) needs staffing support to deliver its comprehensive festival program to the Iron Range in the months of June and July. As a seasonal organization, NLMF finds it difficult to secure staff in the off-season, and we are fortunate to have identified a member of our staff, a Hibbing/St. Paul resident, who is able to assume Managing Director duties during the off-season. In particular, NLMF needs a person with local relationships who can dedicate time to Public Relations; liaising with the Board of Directors, especially on fundraising initiatives; liaising local and Metro press to place stories, and reviews of completed performances; in helping to develop and disseminate recruitment materials; in helping to contract free-lance orchestra musicians in a timely manner; to maintain data of the Young Artists Program applicants; and to begin School scheduling during the off-season in preparation for the arrival of all participants. Mitsuko Ichimura is Head of the Library Concerts. She, Mr. Zubich and Veda Zuponcic will meet before the end of the season to evaluate the quality of the concert and library events, including venues and performance quality, as well as transportation, scheduling conflicts and attendance. *Board of Directors evaluates the finances each season in its October Board Meeting, using figures provided by the Treasurer, Matt Uhan, and Business Manager Kathy Ortler. A budget for the next season is presented, with expenditures compared side-by-side to the previous season, and fund-raising goals voted upon before approving a new budget. Cost centers (tuition paying students) will be examined to determine if they paid their own way. Recruitment successes, and free-lance musician contracting will be evaluated from a financial perspective. Did the recruitment efforts underwrite the cost center? Were a minimum of hotel/dorm stays a result of early and competent contracting? *Board Publicity Committee meets to evaluate and make suggestions for future seasons materials and expenditures. * A full-day administrative staff meeting with Board President, is held after the festival closes. Front of house, housing, transportation, verifying delivery of lessons/coaching’s are on a checklist, with staff commenting as to success or areas that need attention for the future. In attendance are Barbara Baldrica, Veda Zuponcic, Steven Zubich, Kathy Ortler and Maria Sumareva, Northern Lights Music Festival School staff.

Measurable Outcome(s)

OUTCOME: Mitsuko Ichimura is Head of the Library Concerts. She, Mr. Zubich and Veda Zuponcic will meet before the end of the season to evaluate the quality of the concert and library events, including venues and performance quality, as well as transportation, scheduling conflicts and attendance. EVALUATION: We need to limit the number of of children's concerts so that the students aren't on the road so much. Those libraries that sufficiently market our events will get first priority: Virginia, Ely and Gilbert. OUTCOME: Board evaluates the finances each season in its October Board Meeting, using figures provided by the Treasurer, Matt Uhan, and Business Manager Kathy Ortler. A budget for the next season is presented, with expenditures compared side-by-side to the previous season, and fund-raising goals voted upon before approving a new budget. Cost centers (tuition paying students) will be examined to determine if they paid their own way. Recruitment successes, and free-lance musician contracting will be evaluated. Did the recruitment efforts underwrite the cost center? Were a minimum of hoteldorm stays a result of early and competent contracting? EVALUATION: Board studied the budget after the receipt of MSAB arts grant results. In November, after those results, the Board approved moving ahead with the 2020 program. Dahlin House becomes a cost center. OUTCOME: Board Publicity Committee meets to evaluate season's materials and expenditures. EVALUATION: Because the festival tried to limit expenses for publicity, it was suggested that, we increase spending in FY2020 OUTCOME: A full-day administrative staff meeting with Board President, is held after the festival closes. Front of house, housing, transportation, verifying delivery of lessonscoachings are on a checklist, In attendance are Barbara Baldrica, Veda Zuponcic, Steven Zubich, Kathy Ortler, NLMF School staff. EVALUATION: We packed too much content into too short a period.

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

Other,local or private

Recipient Board Members
Barbara Baldrica, Martin Zuponcic, Rhonda Zuponcic, Matthew Uhan, Pam Zahn, Gregg Allen, Mary Mulari, Vicky Gornick, Patricia Miller, Ryan Bajan, Gary Gibson, Lynne King, Jonathan Cleghorn, Eric Erie.
Project Manager
First Name
Veda
Last Name
Zuponcic
Organization Name
Northern Lights Music Festival, Inc.
Street Address
11 S 4th St W
City
Aurora
State
MN
Zip Code
55705
Phone
(609) 922-2965
Email
Zuponcic@yahoo.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

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