Small Capital for Nonprofit

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$1,891

Fund Source

Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

Recipient

Minnesota Center Chorale

Recipient Type

Non-Profit Business/Entity

Status

Completed

Start Date

July 2015

End Date

August 2015

Activity Type

Grants/Contracts

Counties Affected

Stearns

Project Overview

Small Capital for Nonprofit

Project Details

Portable sound system to improve sound at concerts

Competitive Grant Making Body

Board Members and Qualifications

Janice Courtney: Stearns County Arts Advisor/Assistant Director of the Saint Cloud State University Program Board; Doug Lien: Watercolorist, member of the Central Minnesota Watercolorists, member of Artists of Minnesota, Community Education Art Class instructor; George Minerich: photographer, environmental professional; Linda Brobeck: visual artist, owner of Crow River North LLC; Ken Barry: blues musician, photographer; Mark Nelson: Choral Director, Community Theatre Director.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Janice Courtney: Stearns County Arts Adviser/Assistant Director of the Saint Cloud State University Program Board; Doug Lien: Watercolorist, Member of Central Minnesota Watercolorists, Member of Artists of Minnesota, Community Education Art Class instructor; George Minerich: Photographer; Al Hams: Founder of Al's Music, author; Linda Brobeck: Visual artist, owner of Crow River North, LLC; Ken Barry: Blues musician, Victorian and digital photographer; Mark Nelson: Choral Director, community theatre director, Choir Director at Saint John's Lutheran Church in Annandale, high school voice teacher.

Project Details: 2015 Fiscal Year

Legal Citation / Subdivision

Laws of Minnesota 2013, Chapter 137, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 3

Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$1,891

Other Funds Leveraged

$334

Direct expenses

$2,225

Administration costs

Number of full time equivalents funded

Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

This equipment will improve the sound and accessibility at concerts. Audience members who are hard of hearing will be better able to hear musical selections in locations where the sound systems are low quality. The sound quality will improve for audiences at outdoor public events in which the Chamber Singers participate. We plan to take evaluation surveys at the first concert where we utilize our small capital purchase to determine audience appreciation of improved sound quality. The program director will gain verbal feedback from audience members and performers.

Measurable Outcome(s)

We maintained our audience and increased our outreach for 2015. We evaluated this via ticket sales and estimate that we had additional 200 at our Austrian bon voyage concert, 500 at our Choral Community concert, and 900 at our Thanksgiving concert where we did not measure attendance by ticket sales because they were free. Additionally, we promoted membership through additional radio, Facebook, and postcard ads. We sold 9 tickets via Facebook ads in our first year trying them.

Description of Funds

Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members

Laura Capes, Laura Kangas, Tom Ramsey, Travis Scepaniak, Beverly Fiereck, Lila Heins, Keith Larson, Mary Kaeter, Don Neu

Project Manager

Jestine

Ware

Minnesota Center Chorale

PO Box 471

St Cloud

56302