Project Grant

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$7,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Wirth Center for the Performing Arts
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
August 2016
End Date
August 2016
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Benton
Sherburne
Stearns
Wright
Morrison
Hennepin
Anoka
Benton
Sherburne
Stearns
Wright
Morrison
Hennepin
Anoka
Project Overview
Project Grant
Project Details
The Wirth Center's School of Rock summer camp is for students (grades 6-12) to learn the art of being a musician in a rock band. Camp consists of 6 - 3 hour sessions in which the students interact and learn from professional musicians with a final concert
Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications
Janice Courtney: Arts Adviser/Assistant Director of the St Cloud State University Program Board, arts advocate; Linda Brobeck: visual artist, owner of Crow River North, LLC, has served on a number of non-profit boards; Al Hams: Founder of Al's Music, author, served on a number of Boards of Directors; Leslie Hanlon: Director of Fundraising and Marketing for the College of St Benedict/St John's University Fine Arts Series; Doug Lien: watercolorist, member of the Central Minnesota Watercolorists, Community Education Art Class instructor; Ken Barry: blues musician, Victorian photographer, Nuclear Engineer; Mark Nelson: public school music teacher, choral director, community theatre director, voice lessons instructor, American Choral Directors Association of Minnesota Board Member; Justin Lewandowski: music advocate, promoter and booking agent, writer, actor, volunteer for a number of organizations.
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Justin Lewandowski: music advocate, promoter and booking agent, writer, actor, volunteer for a number of organizations; Lee Ann Goerss: Central Minnesota Arts Board Teaching Artist in visual and literary arts; Shane Mahon: Visual Arts Minnesota board member, multi-media artist; Jeffrey Bleam: Associate Professor of Theatre and Director/Designer at St Cloud State University, costume designer, graphic designer, film/video producer; Frank Haynes: Executive Director for Helping Hands Outreach, organizer, past president of Bismarck-Mandan (North Dakota) Arts Council.
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2015 Special Session, chapter 2, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access ACHF Arts Education

2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$7,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$20,295
Direct expenses
$27,295
Administration costs
$1,420
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

1) A minimum of 55 students, making up ten bands plus horn section. 2) A return rate of at least 30% students from previous years. 3) ten band coaches, 1 horn section coach. 4) Add a specialized vocal coach to work with the singers, new this year! 5) A minimum of two students from the previous year advancing to student instructor. 6) Less than 5% dropout rate (student starting camp but dropping before concert). 7) Final concert of at least 550. 8) Survey results all indicating good to excellent program. 1) Registration info for student count, return rate, drop out percent, and student instructor information. 2) Final concert program for number of bands and coaches. 3) Number of tickets sold for attendance. 4) Final survey sent to all families for feedback.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Our camp was well attended, with a forecast of 55 students and actual attendance of 69 students. We met our goals of returning students from last year and new students trying the camp for the first time, and we did not have any students start the camp and drop out. We forecast for 2 student instructors, and had 3 student instructors who had attended School of Rock in the past as students. Our ticket sales increased for the final concert this year, and we received almost all positive comments on our evaluation forms. Parents showed their overwhelming support for the program on the evaluation, here are a few quotes. 1 "This was our first year at School of Rock and it was a fantastic experience! Thank you so much to all who made it happen, you are running a terrific program. My child is already talking about next year and has a renewed energy for learning his instrument. Great communication with parents, too--thank you for that." 2 "A wonderful experience for my daughter! She is already asking me if she can participate again next year! Thank you to everyone" 3 "This was a great camp and the performances were very impressive, especially considering there were only a handful of rehearsals---a testament to very talented kids and excellent instructors. I only wish we would have known about this camp sooner. My kids had a blast!" There was some constructive criticism as well, concerning the positioning of instruments on stage for the final concert and obstruction of views, points well made that we will take into consideration next year for the final concert. Candid feedback that the instructors and administrators gathered from students during the camp ranged from students expressing an interest in a new style of music, trying lessons on a new instrument, and also getting together with friends they met at the camp later in the year to jam on their instruments together.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Anita Baugh, Erin Szabo, Matt Westlund, Arnie Kahara, Paul Wirth
Project Manager
First Name
Christopher
Last Name
Goering
Organization Name
Wirth Center for the Performing Arts
Street Address
823 1st St S PO Box 162
City
St Cloud
State
MN
Zip Code
56301
Phone
(320) 255-0318
Email
cgoering@wirthcenter.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
Location

P.O. Box 458
220 4th Ave North 
Foley, MN 56329

Phone
Project Manager: Leslie LeCuyer
320-968-4290x 3