Project Grant

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2022 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$8,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Great River Educational Arts Theatre AKA GREAT Theatre
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
August 2022
End Date
December 2022
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Benton
Sherburne
Stearns
Morrison
Kanabec
Meeker
Crow Wing
Anoka
Hennepin
McLeod
Pope
Wright
Wright
Benton
Sherburne
Stearns
Morrison
Kanabec
Meeker
Crow Wing
Anoka
Hennepin
McLeod
Pope
Wright
Wright
Project Overview

Project Grant

Project Details

Langston Hughes's "Black Nativity"

Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications

Buddy King: CMAB Board Char, St Cloud Playwright, percussionist, teaching artist, engaged in numerous youth arts initiatives in the community; Linda Brobeck: CMAB Board Vice Chair, Minnesota visual artist and owner of Crow River North, LLC., has served on a number of non-profit boards; Sean Donahue: CMAB Board Tresurer, Performing arts technician; Professional light and sound designer, operator and trainer; Musician with musical instrument, equipment retail experience; Large event and project manager; Joyce Lyons: CMAB Board Secretary, CMA actress, singer, educator, member of Buffalo Comm Orchestra Advisory Board; Jo McMullen-Boyer: CMAB Board Member, Station Manage of KVSC Radio, Grant writer, Music Concert Projucer, Community Events Organizer; Spencer Madsen: CMAB Board Member, Writer; educator; theatrical performer; aspiring filmmaker and visual artist; B.A. in English Education; M.A. in American Literature; orchardist at Clear Lake Cider; Gretchen Boulka: CMAB Board Member, Director of Performing Arts at Paramount Center for the Arts, arts administrator with background in development, special events, program management, marketing and communications; musician, member of the Association for Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) and on the Board of Directors for Minnesota Presenters Network; Tanya Piatz-Sandberg: CMAB Board Member, Visual Merchandiser with 3D display experience, fashion, event execution, and corporate shop concepts; 2D visual artist specializing in illustration and photography

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Buddy King: CMAB Board Char, St Cloud Playwright, percussionist, teaching artist, engaged in numerous youth arts initiatives in the community; Linda Brobeck: CMAB Board Vice Chair, Minnesota visual artist and owner of Crow River North, LLC., has served on a number of non-profit boards; Sean Donahue: CMAB Board Tresurer, Performing arts technician; Professional light and sound designer, operator and trainer; Musician with musical instrument, equipment retail experience; Large event and project manager; Joyce Lyons: CMAB Board Secretary, CMA actress, singer, educator, member of Buffalo Comm Orchestra Advisory Board; Jo McMullen-Boyer: CMAB Board Member, Station Manage of KVSC Radio, Grant writer, Music Concert Projucer, Community Events Organizer; Spencer Madsen: CMAB Board Member, Writer; educator; theatrical performer; aspiring filmmaker and visual artist; B.A. in English Education; M.A. in American Literature; orchardist at Clear Lake Cider; Gretchen Boulka: CMAB Board Member, Director of Performing Arts at Paramount Center for the Arts, arts administrator with background in development, special events, program management, marketing and communications; musician, member of the Association for Performing Arts Professionals (APAP) and on the Board of Directors for Minnesota Presenters Network; Tanya Piatz-Sandberg: CMAB Board Member, Visual Merchandiser with 3D display experience, fashion, event execution, and corporate shop concepts; 2D visual artist specializing in illustration and photography

Conflict of Interest Disclosed
Yes
Conflict of Interest Contact

Central Minnesota Arts Board, Leslie LeCuyer (320) 968-4290

Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2021, First Special Session, chapter 1, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2022 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$8,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$31,345
Direct expenses
$39,345
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
1,300.00
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Provide a creative and culturally diverse live theatre experience, engage culturally diverse local volunteer actors, create a high quality live performing arts experience, and deliver an accessible, engaging, and thought-provoking arts event; 1) To provide a creative and culturally diverse live theatre experience for more than 750 community members introducing them to this classic production (currently only being produced once a year over 80 miles away in the Twin Cities). 2) In order to produce an authentic telling of ?Black Nativity?, GREAT needs to engage a majority of culturally diverse local volunteer actors and give them the life-changing opportunity to be involved with advanced training techniques that will enhance their artistic skills. We will have allowed opportunity for community members who may not be familiar with GREAT to experience all that GREAT Theatre has to offer. By providing these opportunities we hope to encourage new members of our community to participate in more GREAT productions and activities throughout the year. 3) Create and execute a high quality live performing arts experience that shows a story not often told in our community. This will allow GREAT to build a deeper partnership with members of the Black community in St. Cloud, creating a space where people are empowered to share their stories; listen to others; experience joy, empathy, and self-discovery; and build life skills through quality arts education. 4) Deliver an accessible, engaging, and thought-provoking arts event in an intimate venue built by and for the community. Counting the number of people who engage with the show that are new to GREAT either as actors or audience members. Audience surveys as well as artistic staff and volunteer feedback.; The proposed outcomes will be measured quantitatively by counting the number of people who engage with the show that are new to GREAT either as actors or audience members as well as following up and tracking how many re-engage with GREAT in another way in the future. We'll measure qualitative date through audience surveys as well as artistic staff and volunteer feedback. All of this information will help us understand how the people of our community value diverse and thought provoking stories and create connections through theatre experiences.

Measurable Outcome(s)

The specific outcomes were met through this project. As Mary Ellen Gutknecht progressed from designing the stained glass panel, to cutting and installing the glass, to soldering the pieces together, she provided step-by-step videos to include the students and staff of progress and to ask for feedback to help guide towards the completion of the project. It was completed in a timely manner.

Proposed Outcomes Achieved
Achieved proposed outcomes
Source of Additional Funds

Other,local or private

Recipient Board Members
Cassie Miles: chair, Chad O'Brien: vice chair, Chris Kudrna: treasurer, Kimberly Foster: secretary, Joanne Dorsher: board member, Monica Segura-Schwartz: board member, Buddy King: board member, Dan Barth: board member, Janet Reagan: board member, Lori Gla
Project Manager
First Name
Lacey
Last Name
Schirmers
Organization Name
Great River Educational Arts Theatre AKA GREAT Theatre
Street Address
710 Sundial Dr
City
Waite Park
State
MN
Zip Code
56387
Phone
(320) 258-2787
Email
lacey@greattheatre.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 or Toll Free: 866-825-1471