Pangea World Theater is launching a new institute that brings social practice and community based artists together to utilize Placemaking/Plackeeping projects that center Indigenous, Black and Immigrant knowledge and cultural approaches to transforming Minneapolis and our shared world. The Seeding Change Institute will hold a research and development cohort of ten artists to shape the curriculum and structure for future institutes. The SCI will open to general applications in the fall of 2023.
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.
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.
To bring a variety of new arts and cultural heritage programming to the Northern Minnesota District Fair. Fair will collaborate with Ice Box Radio Theater, Native American speakers, host a bag pipe band and a local country band.
To increase Wright County Fair's capacity to host more performing arts programming by improving stage sound and lighting. With the enhancements, the fair will be able to provide the public with more diverse programming beyond traditional commercial musical performers, and schedule more programming by allowing evening performances.
With the approval of many ACHF projects and partnerships that include a component of enhanced online access to Minnesota Historical Society information and materials, the Society needed to increase the capacity of its technology platform.
This funding enabled the Society to help deliver web development services, and to purchase servers and equipment to meet the increased demands created by the ACHF programs.
Here are examples of three web sites created through this project that allow the general public to learn about other ACHF-funded history projects:
To upgrade the capacity of Washington County Fair to host a variety of performing artists at the fair by upgrading the sound system. To purchase mixing console, power amplifier, microphones, dual CD player adaptable to inputs from USB, memory sticks, MP3, therefore allowing the fair to invite performers using digital sound devices.
To enhance its collections database through additional content, development and implementation of a controlled vocabulary, and making the database accessible to the public via its website
To enhance Yellow Medicine County Fair's capacity to host arts and cultural heritage events in their Outdoor Heritage Center by purchasing bleacher seating, a stage, and improving the floor to make the area more handicap accessible.
The Minnesota Historical Society is developing a major, new, hands-on exhibit designed to bring the rich cultural tapestry of Minnesota into vivid focus. Visitors to “Then Now Wow" (the exhibit's working title was "Our Minnesota") at the Minnesota History Center will explore the state’s distinctive places and meet the people who have made their homes here.
In 2011, Arts and Cultural Heritage funds supported staff time devoted to creating the exhibit which opens in fall 2012.
199 issues of the monthly periodicals, The Student and The Mankatonian, from Mankato state Normal School (1888-1913) were digitzed to preserve them and make them more readily available to researchers, geneologists and the MN public at large.
Digitized copies were placed in the University Archives Digital Collections at Minnesota State University, Mankato and at the MN Reflections site as part of the Minnesota Digital Library.
To stabilize 10 structural elements on the Alex Seitaniemi Barn, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, and used as a cultural attraction.
To stabilize, repair, and restore log components on the Alex Seitaniemi Housebarn, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, preparatory to implementation of interpretative programming for the public.
To improve display areas that feature quilts, historic and artistic photographs, American Indian fine art, indigenous floral arrangements, locally grown herbs, and other handiwork indicative of Becker county by purchasing display cases and improving lighting. Additionally, to feature American Indian performers and a Norwegian performing pair to share their talents under the free tent during the fair.
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 improve fair visitor access to performing arts at the Sherburne County Fair by installing stage lighting, making the seating area handicap accessible, and building a dressing and changing room for performers.
An interpretive exhibit and program plan, "Dakota Native Plant Garden", was designed and developed for outdoor display. The exhibit uses the stories from several generations of a Dakota family who originally lived along the shore of Mde Waka Ska (Lake Calhoun). The stories reveal the ethno-history of the Bakken's restored wetland and prairie. This area contains more than 40 species of native plants historically used for medicinal and cultural purposes.
To enhance arts access in East Otter Tail County by updating the park stage. Additionally, to feature chainsaw carving demonstrations throughout the fair week.
To enhance the spectator experience at the gazebo stage at the Wabasha County Fair. The fair provided a sun roof area for spectators to watch performances out of the sun.
A reuse study on the Hurd House/Anderson Hotel, which is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, was completed by John Lauber and Associates with a final draft sent to the City of Wabasha on 1/24/2011. The City of Wabasha Historic Preservation Commission and Port Authority along with City Administrator and Planner were directly involved with the development of the project.
To repoint masonry and restore first floor façade and architectural details on the Stranger's Refuge Lodge #74 IOOF, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, to be reused as the public library.
To increase interest in and access to programming on the performance arts stage by purchasing a sun shade for audiences. The shade will provide relief from the scorching summer sun so that participants and spectators can enjoy the historical and cultural programming.
To hire a qualified consultant to develop architectural drawings for reuse of Halfway Ranger Station, listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
To rehabilitate plumbing, electrical, and weather-tightness, and restore interior finishes on the log residence of the Marcell Ranger Station, constructed by the Civilian Conservation Corps and listed in the National Register of Historic Places
To increase Redwood County Fair's capacity to feature diverse arts and cultural heritage performances by expanding a current stage. The stage enhancement will allow room for multiple artists to perform at once, and will offer the audience a better sight-line for performances. Funds will also be used to hire a writer to publish pieces in local newspapers, the fair website, and facebook, to inform the public of the competitive and historical nature of the open class exhibits at the fair.
To offer the opportunity for fairgoers to experience and participate in a variety of cultural performances and historical presentations. Wright County has a diverse population and a rich history in agriculture and culture, but is moving toward a more suburban based population. The fair is focusing on providing experiences which will expose fairgoers to diverse historical and cultural experiences.
To upgrade the fair’s stage lighting and provide arts and cultural performances and demonstrations. The Wilkin County Fair will enhance their lighting system on the Free Stage. The fair’s plan is to make the stage a major part of the fair and offers dance, polka, jazz, bluegrass, folk swing choir performances, along with educational demonstrations, such as spinning llama wool.
To enhance the existing performance stage, install six “farm museum” murals produced by a local high school, and offer several programs promoting northern Minnesota’s agricultural heritage. Koochiching County Fair has updated their performance stage to have the capacity to offer several arts performances including a barbershop quartet, a robotic puppet show, a dogsled demonstration, and an antique machinery display. In addition to offering performance art shows, the fair has installed several murals created by local children celebrating the areas local agricultural history.
