Project Grant

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2022 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$7,545
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Sinclair Lewis Foundation
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
October 2022
End Date
October 2022
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Benton
Sherburne
Stearns
Wright
Douglas
Pope
Hennepin
Washington
Dakota
Morrison
St. Louis
St. Louis
Benton
Sherburne
Stearns
Wright
Douglas
Pope
Hennepin
Washington
Dakota
Morrison
St. Louis
St. Louis
Project Overview

Project Grant

Project Details

Sinclair Lewis 2022 Writers Conference

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
$7,545
Other Funds Leveraged
$7,230
Direct expenses
$14,775
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

We will host the 32nd Annual Sinclair Lewis Writers Conference in Sauk Centre, continuing our artistic goal of instructing and mentoring writers of all ages and backgrounds.; Our primary outcome is to increase participant access to professional writers while providing practical knowledge relating to participants' particular areas of writing. Another outcome is the ability to attract professional writers who can connect with participants of all skill levels to serve as presenters. A third outcome is to continue to attract writers of all ages and abilities from central Minnesota to attend the conference. These main outcomes will be measured from the participant feedback forms that we gather at the end of the conference day. Perhaps the best evidence that points to our achieved outcomes is the fact that we have sponsored this conference each year since 1990, attracting 70-100 writers per year. Many of the participants have attended more than one conference. We receive requests from professional writers to be speakers at our conferences. We have succeeded in attracting the best of Minnesota writers to be speakers, including Robert Bly, Bill Holm, Jon Hassler, Will Weaver, Douglas Wood, Gary Paulsen, Kevin Kling, Frederick Manfred, Leif Enger, Faith Sullivan, Joyce Sutphen, James Bradley and many more. These key outcomes all provide evidence that the Sinclair Lewis Writers Conference meets a need and achieves its outcome goals. We will gather written feedback from all participants at the conference, both in-person and virtual. We will than collate the data to use as a planning tool for future writers conferences.; We measure our outcomes by asking each participant and presenter to provide written feedback concerning their conference experience. The feedback form is included in each participant's and presenter's registration folder that they receive at the start of the day. We gather the completed feedback forms at the end of the day and collate the responses. Many of our presenters, in fact, have been suggested by participants in this manner. One way to measure our outcomes is by the percentage of returning participants that we attract each year. The Sinclair Lewis Writers Conference enjoys a high degree of loyalty among both participants and presenters, many of whom ask to return as speakers for future conferences.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Provide a forum for 150+ artists to exhibit/sell their work to a large public audience. Provide art experience for 1,500 youth in various media in the Little Lemons Children's Area. Offer an evening concert to more than 1,000. Send post-event evaluation to art vendors. Evaluate options for activities in the Little Lemon's area. Survey audience to gather feedback on event.

Proposed Outcomes Achieved
Achieved proposed outcomes
Source of Additional Funds

Other,local or private

Recipient Board Members
Jim Umhoefer: president, Roberta Oson: vice president, Deb Himsl: treasurer, Tracy Tamillo: secretary, Mark Roberg: board member, John Rasmussen: board member, Pat Lewis: board member, Mike Carlson: board member, Eric Torgerson: board member, Nancy Weyer:
Project Manager
First Name
James
Last Name
Umhoefer
Organization Name
Sinclair Lewis Foundation
Street Address
39336 Wild Rose CT
City
Sauk Centre
State
MN
Zip Code
56378
Phone
(320) 352-2735
Email
umhoefer@mainstreetcom.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

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