The Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota (CMSM) will complete the innovative community engagement process started with the previous Legacy grant. CMSM will build upon the progress created with the previous Legacy grant by transitioning the team's focus to carrying-out of strategic access strategies that engage a diversity of community members in the exhibit development process, resulting in the completion of fabrication plans for exhibits and environments that are accessible; engaging; and reflect the diverse art, culture, and heritage of southern Minnesota.
Building on the exhibit development community engagement process carried through three successive Legacy grants, the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota used the 2013 direct appropriation to prepare for and begin building exhibit components for its permanent facility by combining professional museum expertise with local resources, volunteers, and community involvement.
In 2007, the Children's Museum of Southern Minnesota (CMSM) conducted an environmental scan of early learning opportunities for children in southern Minnesota. It became apparent that the region creates few opportunities for children to engage in self-directed learning experiences in social settings; in particular, opportunities that create access to arts, culture, and heritage. This is still true today.
Building on the exhibit development community engagement process carried out through four successive Legacy grants, the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota will use the 2014-15 direct appropriation to complete fabrication and installation of several exhibit components for its permanent facility. Local resources, volunteers, and community involvement will be combined with museum expertise to complete this process.
This project had three components: 1) An arts club that meets weekly and provides arts education and peer mentoring; 2) A theater play that will showcase issues/challenges within the Somali community in the community. The workshops are designed to introduce youth to traditional Somali arts and encourage them to extend the tradition through their own artistic practice. 3) Showcasing Somali Art, presentation and intercultural community engagement at the Somali Independence day Festival in 2016.
The program that we are proposing has three components; 1) weekly arts club that provides arts education and peer mentoring for youth that are designed to introduce youth to traditional Somali arts. 2) A Somali arts show and cultural learning opportunity taking place at The Southern Theater in Minneapolis through The Southern’s Arts Residency and Art Share Programs. 3) Showcasing Somali art at the Somali Independence day Festival in 2017.
Local television station (KTTC) donated 485 BETA videos and 557 16mm films to the History Center of Olmsted County. New storage methods and materials were implemented to preserve and stabilize these donations. The historic collection was sorted, organized and rehoused into archival containers which were then labeled, cataloged and entered into a Past Perfect database.
This valuable resource, now stored in the HCOC research library, has been made more accessible to the public.
To hire a qualified historian to complete an evaluation to determine eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places for the 1878 N. H. Forsyth property in Houston, MN.
An illustrated, self-guided tour booklet was developed and produced that describes Fort Snelling during the WWII years. The guide contains many photos of historic and current views and the sketch maps are easy to follow to locate the identified sites. Approximately 200 copies were distributed to libraries, cultural institutions, participants in the Upper Post redevelopment process, The Veterans Administration Hospital, services organizations and the MN soldiers Home.
To repair and restore the gutter system and cornice assembly of the George W. Gardner House, a contributing feature of the Historic Hill District listed in the National Register of Historic Places
To contract with qualified professionals to prepare construction documents for the repair of the roof of the Gardner House, listed in the National Register of Historic Places and headquarters of the Germanic-American Institute.
To hire qualified professionals to replace the roof on the George W. Gardner House, listed in the National Register of Historic Places and home of the Germanic-American Institute.
To hire a historical architect to conduct a conditions assessment of the George Gardner House, listed in the National Register of Historic Places and currently in use by the Germanic-American Institute.
To contract with qualified professionals to prepare a Historic Structure Report for the George Stoppel Farmstead, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, now used as an open air museum.
An exhibit on the early history of Gladstone was developed and implemented by the Maplewood Area Historical Society using grant funding, donations and a generous amount of volunteer labor and hours. A professional exhibit planner guided the research and planning for the displays. Ten (10) panels were printed and artifacts, maps and photographs were selected. Display cases and boards were installed. Interactive displays include a DVD presentation, a clothing try-on station and an old school desk on which to color pages.
To research and write a script for an introductory video on the history of the Minnesota Governor's Residence (Horace Irvine House), listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
To acquire professional services in preparing a Historic Landscape Report preparatory to improving public access the history of the Horace Irvine House/Governor's Residence, listed in the National Register of Historic Places
To write and design a site guide for improved public access to the Minnesota Governor's Residence, which is the Horace Irvine House, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
To produce a short video introduction about the history, architecture, and use of the Horace Irvine House (Minnesota Governor's Residence), listed in the National Register of Historic Places.