Technology/Equipment Grant for Individual Artist

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$1,200

Fund Source

Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

Recipient

Andrew J. Helbacka-Bennett AKA Andy Bennett

Recipient Type

Individual

Status

Completed

Start Date

December 2014

End Date

December 2014

Activity Type

Grants/Contracts

Counties Affected

St. Louis

Project Overview

Technology/Equipment Grant for Individual Artist

Project Details

I'm seeking funds to upgrade my 7-year old, slowly expiring desktop computer to a new Apple MacBook. This new computer will allow me a great deal more flexibility in terms of taking my work with me and writing whenever and wherever inspiration strikes, as well as the software suite included and available through the app store will allow me to develop my online presence as a writer through blog posts, social media, photos and video editing and production, all of which are becoming crucial aspects of a writer's career.

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; Catherine Meier: website designer, printmaker, drawer, animator; David Beard: Assistant Professor of 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; Ashley Leek: student of Art Education at University of Minnesota-Duluth, ceramic artist, art educator; 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.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Erling Ellison: jewelry designer and creator, speech coach and judge, director of Garrison Art Fair; Peter Pestalozzi: furniture maker, wood worker; Catherine Meier: website designer, printmaker, drawer, animator; Mark King: actor, theater reviewer, musician; Adam Guggemos: graphic designer, art events promoter; Michelle Ronning: jewelry designer and maker; Moira Villiard: visual artist and student of arts and communication at University of Wisconsin-Superior; John Gregor: photographer, art educator, community art advocate; Tara Makinen: Executive Director of Itasca Orchestra and Strings, musician; Dana Mattice: Development and Communications Director of The Art Institute Duluth.

Conflict of Interest Disclosed

Yes

Conflict of Interest Contact

Arrowhead Regional Arts Council, Robert DeArmond (218) 722-0952

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 ACHF Arts Education ACHF Cultural Heritage

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$1,200

Other Funds Leveraged

$1,496

Direct expenses

$2,696

Administration costs

Number of full time equivalents funded

Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

My goal is to purchase of a new 15-inch MacBook Pro with Retina Display to aid in my fiction, non-fiction and play/scriptwriting work, as well as the development of my online presence through my website (andyjaybennett.com) blog writing, freelance writing and social media. Development of video, photo and audio production and editing skills to assist in the development and enrichment of my online writing presence, which plays a very large factor in the success or failure of a writer's work in this modern, digital age. Anticipated outcomes include the completed purchase of the 15-inch MacBook Pro and the greater development of skills related to web content - both prose, photo, video and audio through the iLife applications as well as Adobe Creative Cloud.I will evaluate the success of my plan by (a) whether or not I am able to perform a much needed upgrade to my computer system and (b) whether the new computer and development of assorted web and multimedia skills result in an increase of traffic on my website and attention to my work in both printed and online forms.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Laptop purchased.

Description of Funds

Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Project Manager

Andrew

Helbacka-Bennett

Andrew J. Helbacka-Bennett AKA Andy Bennett

(218) 310-6395

andyjaybennett@gmail.com

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