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
Grand Rapids Players, Inc.
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
February 2015
End Date
April 2015
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Itasca
Aitkin
Cass
Koochiching
St. Louis
Itasca
Aitkin
Cass
Koochiching
St. Louis
Project Overview
Rural and Community Art Project Grants
Project Details
Young Frankenstein. The Grand Rapids Players will present their spring musical Young Frankenstein in February 2015. This will be their last performance in the existing Reif facility prior to the beginning of the Reif expansion project. This project will be directed by highly qualified directors; artistic, musical, and construction. It will include collaboration with the Itasca Orchestral Society for the orchestra along with the Reif Dance Program for choreography. An aggressive marketing campaign through a wide variety of successful research-based media and networks is being formulated.
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
$11,147
Direct expenses
$15,607
Administration costs
$0
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Our goal in the production of Young Frankenstein is to produce 5 stellar performances in February 2015 that will include collaborations with the Itasca Orchestra Society and the Reif Dance program. Another of our goals is to draw a larger audience in the 20's-30's age bracket. We realize that these are the people who will keep community theatre (and the arts) in existence in our community. We, therefore, have made it our mission to market this production extensively using the media to which this young audience will respond. This is the final Grand Rapids Players performance in the existing Reif Center (the venue closes for extensive renovations in April) and we plan to draw large audiences to build our credibility in the region, to include new faces both on stage and backstage, and to strengthen our organization's ability to market successfully. This production will be evaluated by the cast and crew through a survey that will be completed at the end of the project. Our audiences will be asked to complete a survey at the end of the show. This survey will be tucked in their program. It will include information that will let us know if we reached our targeted audience along with other pieces of info that will include miles traveled, a critique of the show, suggestions, etc. Our ticket sales will be another measureable evaluation of our success. We anticipate an arts review on our local radio station along with letters to the editor.

Measurable Outcome(s)

1. Increased number in auditions attendees - yes, there were many new faces and a mixture of ages. 2. Increased audiences - yes. Grand total of 830 patrons - 20% increase from last production AND 120 had attended 0-2 of our past productions! 3. Operate within a balanced budget - yes. 4. Accumulate useful information via audience and cast/crew surveys - yes - the surveys gave us positive feedback about our aggressive and new-found promotion efforts, increased our email addresses, acquired a list of interested participants in the organization, feedback on the production, and suggestions for upcoming shows.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Sam Grigsby, Sharon Marty-Rasmussen, Greg Tuttle, Steph Schroeder, Susie Mogan, Josh Cagle, Jennifer Eck, Patricia Bunes, Rachel Randle
Project Manager
First Name
Sharon
Last Name
Marty-Rasmussen
Organization Name
Grand Rapids Players, Inc.
Street Address
PO Box 26
City
Grand Rapids
State
MN
Zip Code
55744
Phone
(218) 999-9650
Email
srasmussen@isd318.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