The SWAY (Seniors Weaving Arts with Youth), a community dance/theatre program is a collaborative between artist (Kairos Dance Theatre) and social service entity (NORC: Home for a Lifetime!). The program blends art, elders and youth in an intergenerational dance/theater series over 4-6 weeks culminating in a community celebratory performance.
Lyngblomsten to provide a year of arts events workshops for older adults and intergenerational community members designed to enhances lives, ignite creativity, and drive passion toward living full, whole lives. Workshops in visual arts, writing, vocal music, and storytelling will happen on site as well as provide funds for off-site transportation to arts events.
A prominent county courthouse, a Depression-era school building, an iconic Modern ice-cream stand, and a Northern Minnesota lakeside overlook are among the diverse sites named to the Preservation Alliance of Minnesota’s 2010 list of the state’s 10 Most Endangered Historic Places.
A photographic exhibit featuring the 10 Most Endangered Historic Places for 2010 was created with MHCG funds and displayed at museums, libraries, and other public places statewide throughout the year.
To partner with local non-profits to bring arts and cultural heritage demonstrations to the Pope County Fair. Demonstrations will range from quilting and spinning to the fine arts, rosemaling, and lefse making.
To bring Native American cultural heritage programming to the Chippewa County Fair. Dancers, singers, drummers, and storytellers from the Upper and Lower Sioux tribes will perform at a grandstand event.
To offer new arts and history programming at the Itasca County Fair. Visitors will have the opportunity to listen to a harpist, dulcimer player, and watch a presentation on the dogsled, clothing, and making of the film Iron Will.
To construct a multi-purpose building for music, theater, entertainment, and artistic demonstrations. The structure will be designed to enhance the quality of sound and the visibility of the artists who perform on stage for the audience.
To restore several Dakota City building exteriors on the fairgrounds, in collaboration with Dakota City Heritage Village. These local structures that portray a 1900 era rural village include the 1867 Vermillion Presbyterian Church, the belfry of the District 96 one room school, and the 1861 frame structure that was originally built as a school and most recently used as the millinery and dressmaker’s shop.
To commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the Minnesota Historical Society is creating a broad range of opportunities to help students, teachers and the general public learn more about the war and the role Minnesota played.
To upgrade a portable stage. The Cottonwood County Agricultural Society has purchased a new portable stage that is larger in size and accommodates a greater variety of performers. With this upgrade, the Agricultural Society will be able to accommodate 50-60 uses throughout the year at different venues and help to bring a larger, culturally diverse group to performances.
Research shows that traditional teaching tools, such as textbooks and lectures, don’t fully engage today’s students who have grown up surrounded by technology and who use it in their daily lives. In this ongoing project, an additional two Minnesota Historical Society historic sites will improve their service to “21st Century Learners” and their teachers and parents.
To restore the old Carbine House on the fairgrounds. The Crow Wing County Fair will rehabilitate an historic house on the fairgrounds that was originally an old trading post and was later occupied by Duncan and Ella Carbine. They will work with the Historical Society to ensure that the restoration is done in a historically accurate manner.
To provide programming that tells the story of Dakota County's 160 years of settlement, Minnesota history and cultural traditions, through an entertaining tent show that combines story telling and original music. The show will be reminiscent of the 1900s era Chautauqua programs. It will be performed daily in the tent at Dakota City Heritage Village.
To construct a portable stage that can be used for arts, cultural heritage, and Minnesota history programming at different fairground locations, and to commission a local artist to paint a mural depicting fair related activities.
To provide quality arts and cultural programming to the East Otter Tail County Fair. The fair held a fiddle contest with three major divisions open to different ages and welcomed Heart O’Lakes Harmony Barbershop Choir and Quartet to the stage. The purpose of the arts and cultural events is to create a multicultural and generational awareness of different talents in Minnesota.
To offer several demonstrations throughout the fair to educate fairgoers on key parts of Minnesota’s history and how these aspects contributed to the economic and agricultural status of the state. Programming will include a lumberjack show and the Iron Will dog sled exhibit.
To offer a series of free, historical presentations at the Murray County Fair. Topics covered will include: the Sweetman Colony of Murray County; the role of women during the early settlement of Murray County; the Dakota Conflict of 1862; and a presentation on the history of the Murray County Fair. Based on the research presented on the history of the fair, a book will be published.
To hold an Oktoberfest celebration at the fair. A large percentage of the population in Isanti County has German heritage, and the fair will host several traditional German performances and an authentic German dinner.
To rehabilitate the Old Settlers’ Cabin on the fair grounds. The Kandiyohi County Fair will replace shingles on the cabin, which was built in 1926 by the Old Settlers’ Association. The cabin is both a historic structure and houses county artifacts.