Project Grant
Project Grant
8 Saint Cloud area writing artists will lead 8 circles to mentor 70-80 creative writers / artists from diverse demographics.
Buddy King: CMAB Board Char, St Cloud Playwright, percussionist, teaching artist, engaged in numerous youth arts initiatives in the community; 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; Denise Todd: CMAB Board Member, Dance Valdosta State University; U.S. Air Force Veteran, Geospatial Intelligence Analyst; undergraduate at St. Cloud State University pursuing a Major in Community Health; Jo McMullen-Boyer: CMAB Board Member, Station Manage of KVSC Radio, Grant writer, Music Concert Projucer, Community Events Organizer; 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 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;
Buddy King: CMAB Board Char, St Cloud Playwright, percussionist, teaching artist, engaged in numerous youth arts initiatives in the community; 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; Denise Todd: CMAB Board Member, Dance Valdosta State University; U.S. Air Force Veteran, Geospatial Intelligence Analyst; undergraduate at St. Cloud State University pursuing a Major in Community Health; Jo McMullen-Boyer: CMAB Board Member, Station Manage of KVSC Radio, Grant writer, Music Concert Projucer, Community Events Organizer; 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 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;
ACHF Arts Access
1. LyricaliTea Circle participants will be able to describe one or more of the benefits of poetry and explain why the practice of creative self-expression is enriching. 2. LyricaliTea Circle participants will feel safe enough with their leaders that they will freely and honestly express their needs and hopes for future circles. 3. At least 6 individuals in each of the 8 target demographics (on average) will participate in LyricaliTea Circles between February and July 2022 and at least 4 individuals in each demographic (on average) will choose to sustain their community's circle by becoming members or making a donation to support future LyricaliTea circles. 4. LyricaliTea Circle Leaders will report that the experience of leading a circle has enlivened and/or enriched their own creative practice and/or deepened their connection to a central Minnesota arts community. We have found that narrative evaluations are more more valuable to us than quantitative surveys. Narration allows for a more complex and nuanced assessment of needs and expectations in the communities we serve. Because this project primarily serves writers, we will have no problem soliciting qualitative, rather than quantitative responses to our questions. Examples are provided in the uploaded file. At the end of the 6th session, adult participants will be asked to complete a short narrative evaluation. For children and teens, the narrative evaluation will take place as an audio-recorded discussion. The process and procedure for this will be overseen by Wendy Muhlhauser, EdD who is familiar with restrictions and regulations around recording people under 18. Young people will respond orally to questions in a discussion format. While it could be problematic to get young people to talk, we expect that after meeting with their leaders for 6 sessions, they will have developed the necessary trust and sense of safety within the group to talk about their experience. Circle Leaders will also provide written answers to questions about their experience of leadership training and support. In the past, we have averaged nearly 80% response rate to our carefully designed, short narrative surveys.
A successful outcome was met when I had the first public exhibition in the new gallery space. Proposal success was measured by the number of gallery visitors. Over the grant period, I had a total of 246 gallery visitors, which were measured using a head count method.