Rural and Community Art Project Grants

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,460
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Minnesota State Old Time Fiddle Contest
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
February 2015
End Date
October 2015
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
St. Louis
St. Louis
Project Overview
Rural and Community Art Project Grants
Project Details
Minnesota State Old Time Fiddle Championships. We plan to hold the 34th annual Minnesota State Old Time Fiddle Championships on Saturday, August 1, 2015 at the Merritt Elementary School Auditorium in Mountain Iron, Minnesota. In addition to the contest we plan to hold a February fiddle workshop in Duluth and another workshop and fiddle jam session the day prior to the contest. Contestants will compete August 1st for the chance to qualify for the National Old Time Fiddle Championships held every June in Weiser, Idaho. Both the preliminary and final rounds of competition are open to the public for a modest fee.
Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications
Erling Ellison: jewelry designer and creator, speech coach and judge, director of Garrison Art Fair; Ken Bloom: Director of Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota-Duluth; Janeen Carey: vocalist, retired Hibbing Community College librarian and information media specialist; Kate Fitzgerald: Program Director North Shore Music Association, writer; Peter Pestalozzi: furniture maker, wood worker; David Beard: Assistant Professor University of Minnesota-Duluth writing studies; Mark King: actor, theater reviewer, musician; Adam Guggemos: graphic designer, art events promoter; Michelle Ronning: jewelry designer and maker; John Gregor: photographer, art educator, community art advocate; Ann Russ: music performer, community song leader, choir director, workshop leader, past director and founder of North Shore Music Association; Tara Makinen: Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Dana Mattice: Development and Communications Director of The Art Institute Duluth, Shannon Sweeney: stage manager for Duluth Playhouse and former production manager for the Minnesota Ballet; Moira Villiard: visual artist and student of arts and communication at University of Wisconsin-Superior.
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Erling Ellison: jewelry designer and creator, speech coach and judge, director of Garrison Art Fair; Ken Bloom: Director of Tweed Museum of Art, University of Minnesota-Duluth; Janeen Carey: vocalist, retired Hibbing Community College librarian and information media specialist; Peter Pestalozzi: furniture maker, wood worker; Mark King: actor, theater reviewer, musician; Adam Guggemos: graphic designer, art events promoter; Michelle Ronning: jewelry designer and maker; John Gregor: photographer, art educator, community art advocate; Ann Russ: music performer, community song leader, choir director, workshop leader, past director and founder of North Shore Music Association; Tara Makinen: Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Dana Mattice: Development and Communications Director of The Art Institute Duluth; Moira Villiard: visual artist and student of arts and communication at University of Wisconsin-Superior.
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2013, Chapter 137, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access ACHF Arts Education ACHF Cultural Heritage

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$4,460
Other Funds Leveraged
$1,040
Direct expenses
$5,500
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Our goals are to: 1. Help our participants expand their artistic skills by participating in the workshops, and by listening to and learning new tunes performed by fellow fiddlers and judges at the contest and at the jam session. 2. Provide a quality performance experience for the contestants. 3. Bring quality old time fiddle music to the residents of our community. We will measure our success by: 1. Having an audience of 400 between the preliminary and final rounds. 2. Holding expenses to $9,500. 3. Having at least 40 contestants. 4. Having 10 new contestants in the new, non-fiddle category. 5. Providing an enjoyable experience for the audience. 6. Providing a rewarding performance experience for contestants and an opportunity to hone their skills and learn new ones. Audience count will be calculated based on ticket sales. Contestants will be counted and recorded by category. We will keep records of income and expenses to assure the budget is met. Audience enjoyment will be a subjective judgment based on observing the audience during the performances and gathering feedback informally as we talk to people at the event. We will ask contestants to complete a post-contest survey rating their experience and identifying areas for improvement.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Sheila Wilcox, Holly Weir, Linda Weir, Erik Honkanen, Tucker Nelson, Mary Peterson
Project Manager
First Name
Sheila
Last Name
Wilcox
Organization Name
Minnesota State Old Time Fiddle Contest
Street Address
PO Box 600
City
Virginia
State
MN
Phone
(218) 735-8212
Email
swilcox@vmps.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

424 West Superior Street, Suite 104
Duluth, MN 55802

Phone
Project Manager: Rebecca Graves
218-722-0952
Email the Agency