Project Grant

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$2,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Wirth Center for the Performing Arts
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
September 2016
End Date
April 2017
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Benton
Stearns
Wright
Benton
Stearns
Wright
Project Overview
Project Grant
Project Details
The Wirth Center's Jam Band 101 offers free rock band/jam band class to encourage more musical activity in local children. This class will meet every other week with no time commitment to the students. Students are welcome to drop in anytime they can.
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; Ken Barry: blues musician, Victorian photographer, Nuclear Engineer; George Minerich: film, digital, and nature photographer, local arts center, photography club volunteer; 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
Linda Brobeck: Central Minnesota Arts Board Director; Paula Benfer: visual artist working in printmaking, batik on paper, collage and assemblage; Ryan Dunlop: musician who plays anything with strings on it from bass to violin, makes music with everything from soft-synths to electronics programmed to make all sorts of noise; Jeff Prauer: Former Executive Director of the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council, past president and vice president of the Forum of Regional Arts Councils of Minnesota, symphony orchestra management, freelance trombonist; Donna Rice: cast glass sculptor, teaching artist; Carrie Zwack: performing arts and music, St Cloud Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Administrative Assistant, member of the Meire Grove Community Band, works with Pioneer Place Theatre and the Veranda Lounge.
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

2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$2,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$990
Direct expenses
$2,990
Administration costs
$390
Number of full time equivalents funded
0.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Community children are encouraged to participate in a free group music activity. Have a minimum of six children participate in every other week rock band classes throughout the school year (15 classes total). As a result, area children have access to music education regardless of finances, are encouraged to keep music in their schedule, and meet other young musicians and support their peers. Surveys and open forum will solicit feedback from families and students. Participation counts will be taken each week to track attendance of class.

Measurable Outcome(s)

We successfully attracted area children to experience a rock and roll class. We had an average of 7.46 children per class (112 total children attended the 15 classes), which was tracked with attendance sheets at each class. The children enjoyed the types of music we selected to learn, and also mentioned (both in classes and in the survey) an interest in learning different styles, including funk, heavy metal, and jazz. Our primary goal was classic rock and 50's/60's rock, and we were happy to see the students enjoying those styles and expressing an interest in further studies of a variety of styles. We had an average of 3 adults stay through each class to listen and observe. Some parents also filled out the exit surveys and left feedback such as "Excellent job! Nothing like it in town. Don't stop!" and "It was really fun and so glad we joined - gained a lot!"

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Anita Baugh, Arnie Kahara, Erin Szabo, Matt Westlund, 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