Project Grant - Round 2

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$5,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Buffalo Community Theater
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
February 2013
End Date
February 2013
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Wright
Stearns
Wright
Stearns
Project Overview
Harvey
Project Details
Buffalo Community Theater will produce and hold performances of the classic comedy Harvey at the Discovery Auditorium in Buffalo, Minnesota, February 6-8 and 12-14, 2013 with actors, technicians, artists, and volunteers from Buffalo and surrounding communities in Central Minnesota.
Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications
Chris Rasmussen: retired Foley Senior High School Art teacher, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts Board Member, College of Saint Benedict/Saint JohnÆs University Fine Arts Programming Advisory Council Member; Charlene Sul: Art Director û Hands Across the World, facilitator, Art Lecturer; Mike Carlson: Foley High School Art Teacher, potter; Peter Veljkovich: former member of the Little Fine Arts Committee, former county representative for the South Suburban Arts Committee, Fine Arts Photographer, Disc Jockey; Leslie Hanlon: Director of Fundraising and Marketing for the College of Saint Benedict/Saint JohnÆs University Fine Arts Series; John Stander: Executive director of Elk River Arts Alliance, a career school administrator.
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Chris Rasmussen: retired Foley Senior High School Art teacher, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts Board Member, College of Saint Benedict/Saint JohnÆs University Fine Arts Programming Advisory Council Member; Charlene Sul: Art Director û Hands Across the World, facilitator, Art Lecturer; Mike Carlson: Foley High School Art Teacher, potter; Peter Veljkovich: former member of the Little Fine Arts Committee, former county representative for the South Suburban Arts Committee, Fine Arts Photographer, Disc Jockey; Leslie Hanlon: Director of Fundraising and Marketing for the College of Saint Benedict/Saint JohnÆs University Fine Arts Series; John Stander: Executive director of Elk River Arts Alliance, a career school administrator.
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2011, First Special Session, chapter 6, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access ACHF Arts Education

2013 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$5,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$5,086
Direct expenses
$10,086
Administration costs
$1,980
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Buffalo Community Theater will have provided approximately 15 staff and 30 local volunteers with an opportunity to work in a supportive artistic environment. We will have provided an opportunity for approximately 12 performers to grow and increased their skill sets in the performing arts discipline. We will have entertained nearly 400 audience members of all ages, from all economic and cultural backgrounds. We will have attracted at least 10 new people who have not been to or involved in a previous Buffalo Community Theater production. We will have increased awareness of and access to Buffalo Community Theater in the community, and exposed them to the art of live theater.We will evaluate our goals by tracking the number of people who staff, audition for, volunteer with, perform in, or attend our production. We will solicit comments and reactions from staff, audience members, actors, and volunteers through a set of surveys. An audience survey in programs will help to provide feedback from the perspective of someone who attended the production and will help us measure demographics, including economic and cultural backgrounds. In addition, an oral polling of each patron as they arrive at the theater, will let us track how many new patrons we have attracted through our marketing program.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Buffalo Community Theater successfully produced and mounted 6 performances of the classic comedy, Harvey in February, 2013. A staff of 14 and approximately 35 local volunteers (including 6 youth) worked together over a period of approximately 3 months in a supportive artistic environment to bring this story to the stage. Ten actors, including one youth, were cast in the production, and were able to grow as performers, and increase their skill sets in the performing arts discipline. Nearly 400 audience members of all ages, economic and cultural backgrounds were entertained. We attracted 3 new actors and approx. 25 new audience members to Buffalo Community Theater. We increased awareness of and access to Buffalo Community Theater in the community, and exposed them to the art of live theater. These outcomes were evaluated by recording the number of staff, volunteers and performers and through box office tallies. Attendance figures were carefully documented through the box office. First weekend ticket sales were slightly lower than projected due to a major snowstorm on the day of the Sunday matinee, but better attendance on the second weekend was observed and documented. Audience and participant surveys were conducted and gave us valuable feedback. In addition, an oral polling of each patron as they arrived at the theater, let us track how many new patrons we attracted through our marketing program. Approximately 12% of those who attended were first time attendees to a Buffalo Community Theater production. Audiences included people ranging in age from 5 to 88. Attendees came from all over the area, from St Cloud to Minneapolis. Total audience numbers were: 406 paying customers, plus 54 complimentary tickets.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Zanna Joyce, Mike Walsh, Lisa Ellwoods, Chris Cammarn, Dave Cammarn, Janice Luoma, Jon Salmon, Don Schmidt, Erin Walsh
Project Manager
First Name
Suzanna
Last Name
Joyce
Organization Name
Buffalo Community Theater
Street Address
PO Box 23
City
Buffalo
State
MN
Zip Code
55313-0023
Phone
(763) 898-8227
Email
zannaj@q.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