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 The following is a list of recent grants awarded to local organizations through MRAC funding:
Current Fiscal Year (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010)
FY09 (July 1, 2008 - June 30, 2009)
FY 2010 Arts Activities Support Grant Awards - Round 2
In June 2010, MRAC awarded $503,837 to 61 organizations/projects in the second round of its 2009/2010 Arts Activity Support grant program. This round's funded projects include summer festivals, music series, site-specific performances, a poetry slam, art residencies, a book festival, visual art exhibitions, plays, puppetry, dance programs, cultural heritage events, and more. The organizations and projects chosen demonstrate both strong artistic quality and a connection to a community need. All applications go through a competitive peer review panel process. The MRAC board makes the final decisions on all grant panel recommendations.
The following is a complete list of grantees sorted by county that includes award amounts, project summaries, and links to the grantee's website.
Anoka County
Artists del Norte $4,255.00
http://www.artistsdelnorte.org
Funding for a series of eight visual arts workshops with a focus on improving geographic and economic access to high-quality arts instructors for residents of the north metro. The workshops will be held in the north suburban area of Anoka County in November 2010. Rise, Inc.,
Rise, Inc., Art Speaks $4,100.00
https://www.rise.org/
Funding for Art Speaks, a program providing 20 individuals with significant disabilities the opportunity to express themselves through the creation and exhibition of original visual art in their communities. Classes will take place at Twin Cities area Rise, Inc. locations during summer and fall 2010.
Dakota County
Allegro Choral Academy $5,340.00
http://www.allegroca.org/
Funding for the 2010 Allegro Choral Academy, a vocal music educational program that provides instruction to students grades 2 to 8 along with three performance opportunities. Activities will take place between September 2010 and May 2011.
Hennepin County
20% Theatre Company Twin Cities $10,000.00
http://www.tctwentypercent.org
Funding for the organization's 2011 professional season of three productions: Anon, by Kate Robin; Helen, by Ellen McLaughlin; and That Face, by Polly Stenham. The performances will be held in Minneapolis in 2010-2011.
All My Relations Arts of NACDI $10,000.00
http://www.nacdi.org/default/index.cfm
Funding for the exhibition: Frank Big Bear Paintings, featuring the work of contemporary artist Frank Big Bear. The exhibit will be held in the Phillips neighborhood in winter 2010.
Aniccha Arts $10,000.00
http://aniccha.org/
Funding to produce and stage, Words to Dead Lips, a multi-disciplinary interactive performance using a child's perspective to reflect on the fulfillment of human potential. Performances will be held at Intermedia Arts in October 2010.
Art of This $4,000.00
http://www.artofthis.net
Funding for the third annual One Nighter, a series of eight, one-night visual art exhibitions by emerging local and national artists. The exhibitions will take place between June and October 2010.
Barebones Productions $10,000.00
http://www.barebonespuppets.org/
Funding to stage the 17th Annual Halloween Outdoor Puppet Extravaganza, a free outdoor pageant and performance that will take place at Hidden Falls Regional Park in St. Paul in October 2010.
Black Label Movement $10,000.00
http://blacklabelmovement.com/company
Funding for The Woyzeck Project, an interactive theatrical performance based upon Georg Buchner's 19th century play, Woyzeck. Performances will be held at the Southern Theater in fall 2010.
Black Storytellers Alliance $8,425.00
Funding to produce and stage The North Star Journey, a virtual tour of Minnesota's African-American history through word and song. Performances will be held in fall 2010 at Stages Theatre as part of their 28th annual national festival and conference: "In the Tradition..."
Carlyle Brown and Company $10,000.00
http://www.carlylebrownandcompany.org/
Funding to produce and stage Therapy and Resistance, a play about the Vietnam War draft resistance movement in 1968. The performances will be held at Dreamland Arts in St. Paul in September 2010.
Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center $6,000.00
http://www.cafac.org
Funding for the SPEAK Project, a four-week summer program designed to engage youth in a dialogue with their communities through the creation of public sculpture, poetry, and digital photography. Programming will be held at the Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center in Minneapolis in summer 2010.
Flying Foot Forum $10,000.00
http://www.flyingfootforum.com
Funding to produce and stage the premier performance of Heaven, an interdisciplinary performance of dance, theater, and music that follows an American journalist's odyssey through the Bosnian War in the 1990s. The performance will be held at the Guthrie's Dowling Studio Theater in spring 2011.
Fool's Productions $10,000.00
http://www.theatreoffools.com
Funding for the annual Fools Holiday Series consisting of a Halloween themed show entitled A Spirit of Halloween and a winter show entitled A Life of Serious Nonsense. Performances will take place at the Jewel Theatre in downtown St. Paul.
Franklin Art Works $7,500.00
http://www.franklinartworks.org
Funding to present an exhibition by Finnish artists Minna Rainio and Mark Roberts that explores the immigration process for Somali immigrants. The exhibition will consist of a three-screen video installation in Franklin Art Works' Main Gallery during fall 2010.
Hollywood Studio of Dance $10,000.00
http://www.hollywoodstudioofdance.org
Funding for the Nine-Month Dance Program, which provides professional lessons in ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, creative movement, praise dance, and fitness to youth and adults. Classes will take place in North Minneapolis between September 2010 and June 2011.
Indian Music Society of Minnesota $9,110.00
http://www.imsom.org
Funding to present a four concert series of Indian classical music. The series will include a fall festival of work by local artists and will begin in August 2010.
Japan America Society of Minnesota $3,400.00
http://www.mn-japan.org
Funding to present bon odori, a traditional Japanese folk dance to be performed during Como Park's Japanese Lantern Lighting Festival in August 2010.
Junior Composers $10,000.00
http://www.juniorcomposers.org/
Funding for the Junior Composers Festival: Live Music, Silent Films, featuring public readings of student compositions, workshops, seminars, film-screenings, gallery tours, and concerts. The festival will be held at the University of Minnesota in Summer 2010.
Kulture Klub Collaborative $3,400.00
http://www.kultureklub.org
Funding for the organization's 2010 Artists-in-Residence Program, which engages homeless youth in diverse artistic practice. The project will begin in June 2010.
Leonardo's Basement $10,000.00
http://www.leonardosbasement.org
Funding for Welcome to Griggs Park: Art and Invention with Leonardo's Basement, a program introducing art and creative building to children and adults. The activities will take place during summer 2010.
Lyndale Neighborhood Association $10,000.00
http://www.lyndale.org
Funding for the Music and Dance from Around the World program, a partnership between Lyndale Neighborhood Association and the Hosmer Library to present culturally diverse music and dance performances. Performances will take place at the Hosmer Library in Minneapolis.
Lyra Baroque Orchestra $9,966.00
http://www.lyrabaroque.org
Funding for the organization's 26th concert season, featuring five performances by Lyra's 21 local musicians with guest soloists from around the world. Performances will take place in St. Paul between September 2010 and April 2011.
Mad Munchkin Productions $8,320.00
Funding to produce and stage Snow Bound!, a puppetry and dance performance that interprets the human experience of winter through forms from nature. Performances will be held at the Ritz Theater in February 2011.
Mama Mosaic Theater $10,000.00
http://www.myspace.com/mamamosaictheater
Funding for Mama Mosaic's Conservatory, a 10-day intensive theater-training program for young women of color. The summer 2010 program will culminate in a public performance to be held at Pillsbury House Theatre in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis Musical Theatre $10,000.00
http://www.aboutmmt.org
Funding for the area premiere of the new musical, Bare: A Pop Opera. Performances will be held at the Illusion Theater in March 2011.
Minneapolis Thanksgiving Celebration Pow-Wow Committee $10,000.00
Funding for the 2010 Thanksgiving Celebration Pow-Wow, a three-day community event dedicated to preserving and celebrating Dakota, Ojibwe, and Ho-Chunk traditional dance and drumming. The event will be held at the Minneapolis American Indian Center during the 2010 Thanksgiving weekend.
Minneapolis Urban League $9,000.00
http://www.mul.org
Funding for a five-week ceramics project and the African American Culture Camp, an annual six-day art immersion camp for youth. The project will begin in August 2010.
Minnesota Spoken Word Association $10,000.00
http://mnspokenword.wordpress.com/
Funding for a weeklong spoken word and literary institute that will bring together high school students, teachers, artists, and arts educators to explore the role of urban arts in the community and classroom. The institute will be conducted in summer 2010.
Nenkin Butoh Dan $2,000.00
Funding to present Kamabuta Tsuitachi, an experimental site-specific performance based on the Japanese Obon festival. The presentation will take place at The Soap Factory in summer 2010.
Patrick's Cabaret $7,500.00
http://www.patrickscabaret.org
Funding for the High School Cabaret Program, a series of ten cabarets offering students the opportunity to create and present art on a professional stage. The project will begin in fall 2010.
Portraits of a Lifetime $4,064.00
Funding for Portraits of a Lifetime, an interpretive portrait project combining images of senior citizens with text of their life stories. The project will culminate in an exhibition to be shown at Hennepin County Medical Center in Minneapolis in spring 2011.
Rain Taxi, Inc. $2,250.00
http://www.raintaxi.com
Funding for the annual Twin Cities Book Festival, a free, one-day public literary event. The festival will take place at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College in October 2010.
Skewed Visions $10,000.00
http://www.skewedvisions.org
Funding for Black Water, a multidisciplinary site-specific performance inspired by W.G. Sebald's award-winning novel, Austerlitz. Performances will take place in a train station in fall 2010.
South Sixteenth High Jinks $7,720.00
http://www.artsledrally.com/
Funding for the annual Powderhorn Artsled Rally, a free winter celebration with sled-making workshops and sled art to be held at Powderhorn Park in Minneapolis in January 2011.
St. Stephen's Human Services $10,000.00
http://www.ststephensmpls.org/
Funding for the 2010 Roadshow, an original interactive performance work developed in collaboration with both housed and homeless people. Performances will run during National Hunger and Homelessness Week at several venues throughout the Twin Cities in fall 2010.
The Smooch! Project $8,000.00
http://www.thesmoochproject.com
Funding to engage photographed participants with help from an experienced editor/storyteller in developing personal narratives to expand and enrich the Smooch! Project's web-based photographic archive of people demonstrating affection with a kiss on the cheek.
Theatre Pro Rata $10,000.00
http://www.theatreprorata.org/
Funding to produce and stage Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, and Christopher Marlowe's Dido, Queen of Carthage. The two productions will be performed at the Gremlin Theatre as the organization's 2010/2011 main stage shows.
Upstream Arts, Inc. $10,000.00
http://www.upstreamarts.org
Funding for The Art of Working, an interactive arts program for adults with disabilities that uses dance, music, and poetry to nurture communication skills essential for obtaining employment.
Urban Samurai Productions $10,000.00
http://www.urbansamurai.org
Funding for the organization's 2010 theater season of three productions: Leave by Matthew Everett; [title of show] by Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen; and Rumors by Neil Simon. Performances will be held at the Sabes Jewish Community Center.
Young Dance, Inc. $10,000.00
http://www.youngdance.org
Funding for Origins and Destinations, a season of residencies for youth to explore traditional dance forms of global cultures. Each residency will include a choreography project and a family class, and will culminate in a public performance.
Ramsey County
Crossroads: Irish Traditional Music in Community $8,850.00
Funding for Crossroads: Irish Traditional Music in Community, a series of four public concerts. The series will begin in the fall of 2010 and be completed by fall 2011.
Flying Forms $5,600.00
http://www.flyingforms.org/
Funding for an early music concert series of four concerts that will take place between September 24, 2010 and May 29, 2011 at Olivet Congregational Church in St. Paul and First United Methodist Church in South St. Paul.
In Progress $10,000.00
http://inprogress.viewbook.com/portfolio/news
Funding for The Critical Eye, a digital arts mentorship program for youth ages 10 to 20. Activities will take place from July 2010 through May 2011.
Magnum Chorum $10,000.00
http://www.magnumchorum.org/
Funding for four concerts in their 20th Anniversary Season. The concerts will take place between September and December 2010 at various venues throughout the metro area.
Nautilus Music-Theater $10,000.00
http://www.nautilusmusictheater.org/
Funding for six ROUGH CUTS programs, a series of monthly presentations of works-in-progress, dialogues between artists and audience members, and explorations of the creative process.
Funding will support five regular presentations as well as one special performance as a part of the St. Paul Art Crawl.
Saint Paul Civic Symphony $10,000.00
http://www.saintpaulcivicsymphony.org
Funding for three outreach concerts, including a performance at the Children's EcoArts Festival, the annual children's concert at the Paul and Sheila Wellstone Center, and a third concert performed in a school setting.
Saint Paul Poetry Slam $10,000.00
http://nps2010.com/
Funding for the 21st annual National Poetry Slam, a five-day spoken word performance, poetry competition and festival. The Slam will be held at numerous venues around downtown St. Paul in August 2010.
Speaking in Tongues $10,000.00
http://www.chinesepipa.com/jazz.html
Funding for a collaborative concert with Chinese percussion ensemble Ba Da Chui. The concert will take place at O'Shaughnessy Auditorium at St. Catherine University in November 2010.
Suburban Hennepin County
Angelica Cantanti Youth Choirs $5,130.00
http://www.angelicacantanti.org
Funding for the commission, rehearsal, and public performance of a new choral work by Malcolm Dalglish. Performances will take place at St. Michael's Lutheran Church in Bloomington in May 2011.
Apollo Male Chorus $10,000.00
http://www.apollomalechorus.com
Funding for a choral festival featuring five high school male choruses from the seven county metro area. The festival will take place in April 2011 at a location to be determined.
Partnership Resources, Inc. $7,322.50
http://www.partnershipresources.org
Funding for The Portrait Studio Sessions, a series of art classes including off-site classes at a local artist's studio and a field trip to the Minneapolis Institute of Arts or Walker Art Center. The activities will take place between September 2010 and January 2011 and culminate in a public exhibition.
Plymouth Concert Band $2,500.00
http://www.plymouthconcertband.org
Funding to form, prepare, and present six to ten small wind ensembles. The ensembles will perform 15 to 20 times in Plymouth neighborhoods between July 2010 and June 2011.
Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council $6,935.00
http://www.jewishminnesota.org/page.aspx?id=190850
Funding for a four event Artist Salon Series, featuring Jewish artists in dialogue with locally based artists and audiences. The series will take place between November 2010 and May 2011 at various venues around the Twin Cities.
Theater Or $9,000.00
http://www.theatreormpls.org
Funding for the second annual Minneapolis Jewish Humor Festival, which will take place for three weeks in January 2011 at the Sabes Jewish Community Center in Minneapolis.
Twin Cities Jewish Chorale $8,500.00
http://www.choralnet.org/view/245969
Funding for their 2010-2011 Season of concerts, rehearsals, and outreach. Performances will take place at Sabes Jewish Community Center in Minneapolis.
Twin Cities Polish Festival $10,000.00
http://www.tcpolishfestival.org/
Funding for the Twin Cities Polish Festival, a celebration of Minnesota's Polish heritage, traditions, and culture. The festival will take place along Riverplace and St. Anthony Main in Northeast Minneapolis in August 2011.
Yellow Tree Theatre $10,000.00
http://www.yellowtreetheatre.com
Funding for fifteen performances of [title of show], a musical comedy by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell. Performances will take place at Yellow Tree Theatre in spring 2011.
Suburban Ramsey County
Minhua Chorus $9,500.00
http://minhuachorus.org
Funding for Songs of the Yangtze River, a collaborative choral and dance concert between Minhua Chorus and CAAM Chinese Dance Theater. Performances will take place at O'Shaughnessy Auditorium at St. Catherine University in December 2010.
Washington County
ArtReach St. Croix $10,000.00
http://www.artreachalliance.org
Funding for the 2010-2011 St. Croix Jazz Orchestra season of free and ticketed concerts including a collaboration with Valley Chamber Chorale. The events will take place in the St. Croix Valley in Washington County from July 2010 through April 2011.
Wildwood Artist Series $6,150.00
http://www.wildwoodartistseries.com/
Funding for the 2008-2009 Wildwood Artist Series featuring The Vienna Boys Choir, John McCutcheon, and Katie McMahon. The performances will be held at the Chautauqua Fine Arts Center in Mahtomedi.
FY 2010 Creative Intersections Grant Awards - Round 2
In May, 2010, MRAC awarded $44,434 in the second round of the Creative Intersections grant program. The Creative Intersections grant program provides up to $10,000 for projects that will build bridges among community sectors and that have the benefit of building momentum toward strengthening the community as a whole through a quality arts development project. The five Creative Intersections grants will help fund innovative partnerships that integrate arts and culture into plans for community development and enrichment. All applications went through a competitive peer review panel process. The MRAC board made the final decisions on all grant panel recommendations. Below is a list of the awarded groups by county of activity. Web addresses are included as a way to get more information about the organizations and awarded projects.
Dakota County
City of Eagan Parks and Recreation $8,000
www.cityofeagan.com/live/page.asp?menu=13502
Funding for Art...Be A Part, a two-year community-wide project intended to gather information to create a comprehensive three to five year strategic plan for the arts.
Hennepin County
ArtiCulture $9,500
www.articulture.org
Funding for the Wayfinding Project, a pilot project designed to create a comprehensive arts plan and community-based structure for arts development in the Seward community of Minneapolis. The project will include training local leaders, encouraging civic engagement through the arts, and planning for an organized effort to create an "arts community".
Works Progress $6,934
worksprogress.org
Funding for We Work Here, a series of three creative works about art, economics, and community in the Twin Cities. The project will begin in June 2010.
Suburban Hennepin County
Friends of the Hopkins Center for the Arts $10,000
www.hopkinsmn.com/_hca/
Funding for Hopkins Artstreet, a collaborative effort to bring public art to downtown Hopkins, and to create a new cultural and economic asset for the community and venue for local area artists.
Washington County
ArtReach St. Croix $10,000
www.artreachalliance.org
Funding for the Jump In Project, phase two of a region-wide visibility campaign for the arts. The project will create a shared identity, messaging, and website for St. Croix Valley communities
FY 2010 Arts Learning Grant Awards
In April 2010, MRAC awarded $433,556 to 51 organizations/projects in the Arts Learning grant program. The Arts Learning grant program is made possible as a direct result of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Minnesota Legacy Amendment. The grants will help fund extended arts learning experiences in a variety of disciplines to a variety of ages and communities. The organizations receiving grants demonstrated the ability to provide high-quality, age-appropriate arts education that will help develop knowledge, skills, and understanding of the arts. All applications go through a competitive peer review panel process. The MRAC board makes the final decisions on all grant panel recommendations.
The following is a list of this round’s grant recipients sorted by the county of affiliation. Each entry includes a short description of the project and the amount of the award. The grant recipient's web address (when available) is also included as a way to access more information about a specific arts organization and project.
Dakota County
Allegro Choral Academy $4,864
http://www.allegroca.org/
Funding to expand Prima Voce West, a choral program for students in grades 4 through 6, to the community of Savage from the existing program in Rosemount. Classes will be held one evening per week from September to May.
Lifeworks Services, Inc. $10,000
http://www.lifeworks.org
Funding to create a performance band of local professional musicians collaborating with people with disabilities, with performances in Eagan and White Bear Lake in summer 2010.
Vecchione/Erdahl Duo $7,816
http://www.oboebass.com/
Funding for a series of lecture/recital education programs on a variety of musical topics at metro area senior residences from May 2010 to May 2011.
Hennepin County
ARENA Dances, Inc. $10,000
http://www.arena-dances.org
Funding for the ARENA Dance Residency, a program to bring youth into the process of what it is to be a professional dance maker, dancer, and audience member. The residencies will occur during 2010-11 at Great River Montessori High School, Rosemount High School, and Field Community School.
Copper Street Brass Quintet $9,200
http://www.copperstreetbrass.com/home.html
Funding for the Academy Mentorship Program, a partnership with Edison High School and Northeast Middle School in Minneapolis to provide free music lessons and performance experiences from September through December 2010.
Franklin Art Works $7,750
http://www.franklinartworks.org
Funding for a free eight-week photography instruction program in summer 2010 for students from several Twin Cities high schools and students residing within Hope Community.
Indonesian Performing Arts Association of Minnesota $8,000
http://www.sumunar.org
Funding for a three-week residency at L’Etoile du Nord French Immersion School in fall 2010 that will teach Indonesian music and dance to K-6 students. A public performance will conclude the residency.
Junior Composers $10,000
http://www.juniorcomposers.org/
Funding for The Workshop, two series of 11 intensive three-hour sessions integrating the components of music-making for 16 student composers ages 14 to 19. Terms will begin in September 2010 and February 2011.
Kairos Dance Theatre $10,000
http://www.kairosdance.org
Funding for the Dancing Heart Parkinson’s Project, which will bring the arts learning and health benefits of Kairos Dancing Heart to a unique population of elders living with Parkinson’s disease in collaboration with Struthers Parkinson’s Center.
Struthers Parkinson’s Center.
Kaleidoscope Place $10,000
http://www.kaleidoscope-kids.org/
Funding for Young Artist Expressions – A Creative Journey Through The Eyes Of Children, a series of arts education workshops in conjunction with community-based arts exhibitions for elementary school students in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis during 2010-11.
Les Jolies Petites School of Dance $9550
Funding for the Summer Dance Workshop in the summer of 2010 to introduce or further young girls’ dance knowledge and ability.
Live Action Set $8,500
http://www.liveactionset.org
Funding for twice-weekly professional training at discounted prices for theater artists over the course of a year from May 2010 to April 2011 at Intermedia Arts.
Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association $8,163
http://www.mplspops.org
Funding to expand the Orchestra’s Kids Play program, a free music mentoring program for Minneapolis South High School orchestra students, to a year-round outreach program.
Northstar Storytelling League $10,000
http://www.northstarstorytelling.org
Funding for a six-week course on Storytelling and the Teaching Artist for storytellers who work in K-12 schools. The course will run from January through March of 2011.
Old Arizona Collaborative, Inc. $10,000
http://www.oldarizona.com
Funding for Getting Our Act Together, a 12-week performing arts workshop for 20 under-served youth in the Whittier neighborhood of Minneapolis during the summer of 2010.
OverExposure $10,000
http://www.overexposuremedia.org
Funding for a five-week photography course in June and July 2010 that will partner five advanced photography students with 15 teens through Centro, a social service agency serving Latino and Chicano communities.
Plymouth Christian Youth Center $10,000
http://pcyc-mpls.org
Funding for an after-school theater program at the PYC Arts and Technology High School and culminating in performances at the Capri Theater in North Minneapolis. The program will offer twice-weekly workshops in four quarters during the 2010-11 school year.
Red Eye Collaboration $3,600
http://www.redeyetheater.org
Funding for Red Eye Tableau Strategy, the second phase of an artist teaching artist program to develop eight lesson plans that would become part of a package of resources provided to classroom teachers and teaching artists.
She Rock She Rock $10,000
http://www.girlsrocknrollretreat.com/fr_index.cfm
Funding for Women’s Rock Camp for women ages 18 – 99 to learn or improve their musical ability using electric instruments. The Camp will run for eight weeks beginning in May 2010 in St. Louis Park.
Stuart Pimsler Dance and Theater $10,000
http://www.stuartpimsler.com
Funding for the Family Matters Project for 5th grade students in collaboration with the 11 school districts of West Metro Education Program during the 2010-11 school year.
Twin Cities Jazz Workshops $10,000
http://www.tcjazzworkshop.com
Funding for the Twin Cities Jazz Workshop, a summer day program that brings together high school age musicians to study improvisation with professional musicians. The workshop will be held at Blake School’s Minneapolis campus and conclude with a performance at the Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis.
Walking Shadow Theatre Company $2,577
http://www.walkingshadowcompany.org
Funding for the Early Professionals Program to give theater students from middle school to college-age individualized, hands-on, real-world experience in their chosen field during the 2010-11 season.
Weaver’s Guild of Minnesota $10,000
http://www.weaversguildmn.org
Funding for classroom activities in weaving, spinning, and dyeing for all age groups during fall 2010 at the Textile Center in Minneapolis.
West Bank School of Music $8,915
http://www.westbankmusic.org
Funding for a series of five workshops for Twin Cities music students, teen to adult, in various musical styles and culminating in performances. The workshops will take place at five locations in Minneapolis.
Young Dance, Inc. $10,000
http://www.youngdance.org
Funding for All Abilities Dancing, a program designed to give youth with physical disabilities a quality dance experience that emphasizes ability and redefines dance, from July 2010 to February 2011.
Ramsey County
ArtStart $10,000
http://www.artstart.org
Funding for River EcoJourneys, an arts and environmentally-themed residency program at four Twin Cities area schools in which students in grades 3 through 6 will create Chinese shadow puppets, pole puppets, and a Chinese water dragon to showcase at ArtStart’s Children’s EcoArts Festival.
Deborah Elias Danza Espanola $3,116
Funding for residencies and community celebrations in flamenco dance, music, and culture at Linwood Monroe Arts Plus, Adams Spanish Immersion, and Mississippi Creative Arts Magnet elementary schools in St. Paul in May 2010.
East Side Arts Council $10,000
http://www.eastsideartscouncil.org
Funding for a dynamic arts learning residency program for underserved urban students at Phalen Lake, John A. Johnson, and Nokomis elementary schools on the East Side of St. Paul during the 2010-11 school year.
Flying Forms $10,000
http://www.flyingforms.org/
Funding for expert education in Baroque music at Humboldt, Edina, and Henry Sibley high schools and the Saint Paul Conservatory of Music through lectures, workshops, access to instruments, and a performance opportunity at House of Hope Church. Activities will begin in July 2010 and extend to June 2011.
Grace Minnesota $7,472
http://www.graceminnesota.org/
Funding for Don’t you feel it too?, a series of 12 indoor experimental public dance sessions at various locations.
Lex-Ham Community Arts $1,200
http://www.lexhamarts.org
Funding for a series of seven master classes for members of the Lex-Ham Community Band and other area musicians from September 2010 through May 2011.
Minnesota Chinese Dance Theater $10,000
Funding to provide Chinese ethnic dance lessons for 20 to 40 public school students from May through September 2010.
Nautilus Music-Theater $8,800
http://www.nautilusmusictheater.org/
Funding for expansion and refinement of the Artist Development Program with a focus on classes for singer-actors. Classes will begin in summer 2010 and be completed by late spring 2011.
Pan Asian Artists’ Alliance $10,000
Funding for the Pan-Asian Dance Learning Project, a yearlong series of Asian dance classes for underserved Asian American and Pacific Islander girls ages 9 to 18, and including a year-end performance.
Saint Paul Almanac $10,000
http://www.saintpaulalmanac.com
Funding for the Community Editor Apprenticeship Project in which 17 community editors from St. Paul will undergo a 20-week apprenticeship in literary arts from January to June of 2011.
Saint Paul Jaycee Foundation $10,000
http://www.stpauljaycees.org/
Funding for the Jaycee’s Ballroom Dance Initiative classes for students in grades 9 through 12 at three middle schools and three high schools in St. Paul during the 2010-11 school year.
Sounds of Hope, Ltd. $4,300
http://www.soundsofhope.org
Funding for a percussion workshop led by local participants ages 13 to 18 in the Songs of Hope summer 2010 project. Workshops will be offered in advance of Songs of Hope concerts at Norwood-Young America, Eagan, Burnsville, St. Paul, and Maple Grove.
Walker West Music Academy $6,158
http://www.walkerwestmusicacademy.org
Funding for the 2010 Summer Jazz Workshop Series in August consisting of a level one workshop for beginners and a level two workshop for advanced students with special guest performer Wessell “Warmdaddy” Anderson.
Zeitgeist $10,000
http://www.zeitgeistnewmusic.org
Funding for Making Music Outside the Lines, a series of residency activities at Chanhassen High School during 2010-11 to engage students in the creation, realization, and appreciation of non-traditional musical elements.
Scott County
Jordan Community Education $10,000
Funding for One Earth, a weeklong, multicultural, integrative, age-appropriate artistic experience for students in grades 3 through 8 from August 2 through 6, 2010.
New Prague Schools Community Education $9,830
http://www.np.k12.mn.us/commed/index.shtml
Funding for a community mural produced by preschool and school-age youth, adults, and seniors under the guidance of teaching artist Greg Preslicka during the summer of 2010.
Savage Arts Council $4,720
http://www.savageartscouncil.org
Funding to provide four sets of free art classes with classically trained art instructors to residents of Savage in summer 2010.
Suburban Hennepin County
Continental Ballet Company $7,860
http://www.continentalballet.com
Funding for weeklong residencies and a performance of Peter and the Wolf at elementary schools in Bloomington and Edina in April and May of 2011.
Harmony Theatre Company and School $9,175
http://www.centerharmony.org
Funding for performing arts classes for children, with a special focus on children from Russian-speaking immigrant families facing social and/or economic hardship. The classes will begin in September 2010 and culminate in performances in May and June 2011.
Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network $10,000
Funding for a ten-week class for older adults celebrating and teaching the art of storytelling and the performing arts at the Episcopal Homes of Minnesota, and culminating in a group performance in the St. Paul Midway area. The project will occur between July and November 2010.
Partnership Resources, Inc. $9,490
http://www.partnershipresources.org
Funding for an eight-month project from May through December 2010 to provide artists with developmental disabilities the opportunity to gain skills necessary to pursue their art more intensively as a vocation.
The Depot Coffee House $4,500
http://www.thedepotcoffeehouse.com
Funding for a residency for area youth with professional puppet artists at In The Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre to create and perform puppets in the Hopkins Raspberry Parade on July 18, 2010.
Suburban Ramsey County
Ashland Productions $10,000
http://www.ashlandproductions.com
Funding for up to five Summer Theatre Camp sessions in which students ages 6 to 13 produce musical theater and learn stagecraft, acting, vocal technique, and choreography during summer 2010 at the Maplewood Community Center.
Lakeshore Players, Inc. $10,000
http://www.lakeshoreplayers.com
Funding for the 20th Annual Summer Youth Project, a three-week long opportunity for up to 40 youth to participate in producing an original theatrical production during July of 2011.
White Bear Center for the Arts $10,000
http://www.whitebeararts.org
Funding for Imagine Arts, a nine-week arts learning initiative for youth ages 6 to 12 that will provide hands-on, community-based, progressive art classes and experiences from mid-June through mid-August 2010.
Washington County
FamilyMeans $8,000
http://www.familymeans.org
Funding for Cimarron Youth Arts, a program of free multidisciplinary art experiences for school-age youth living in the Cimarron mobile home community in Lake Elmo. Activities will occur between August 2010 and April 2011.
FY 2010 Community Arts Grant Awards - Round 2
In March, 2010, MRAC awarded $293,780 to 65 organizations/projects in the second round of its 2009/2010 Community Arts grant program. The arts projects will reach approximately 100,000 people and involve more than 3,400 artists. The awards represent a 27% increase in the number of funded groups and an 106% increase in the amount of funding over the same grant round in FY09 as a result of the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Minnesota Legacy Amendment. The grants will help fund art festivals, summer music in the parks, theater classes and performances, cultural dance performances, visual arts exhibitions, a variety of arts related workshops and classes, and more. The organizations receiving grants demonstrate strong artistic quality and response to articulated community needs. All applications go through a competitive peer review panel process. The MRAC board makes the final decisions on all grant panel recommendations.
The following is a list of this round’s grant recipients sorted by the county of activity. Each entry includes a short description of the project and the amount of the award. The grant recipient's web address (when available) is also included as a way to access more information about a specific arts organization and project.
The Community Arts grant program is funded by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature and the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. MRAC also receives a generous grant from The McKnight Foundation.
Anoka County
Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts $3,500
www.banfill-locke.org
Funding for Art at Rice Creek, a free arts festival on the banks of Rice Creek and the Mississippi River in Anoka County. The daylong festival features visual, literary, and performance art experiences and will take place in September 2010.
Blaine Parks and Recreation $3,000
www.blaineparks.com
Funding for the third annual Blaine World Fest celebration, a public event exploring the cultural arts and ethnicities that currently exist in the city. The event will take place in September 2010.
Fridley Community Theatre $5,000
www.fridleycommunitytheatre.org
Funding to stage and perform The Music Man as the organization's first production. The inaugural show will be held at the Fridley High School Auditorium in summer 2010.
Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health and Well Being $4,798
www.ccffr.org
Funding for The Source of Light, a series of free visual art classes and studio time for adults living with mental illness. The series will culminate in a traveling exhibit, which will be displayed at locations throughout Anoka County.
Carver County
Centre Stage Theatre and Arts $5,000
Funding to stage and perform The Music Man with teens and adults from Cologne, Hamburg, Norwood Young America, and surrounding communities. The performances will take place at Central High School in Norwood Young America in July and August 2010.
ISD 108 Community Education $5,000
Funding for a Music in the Park series of eight performances on Thursday evenings in Norwood Young America during summer 2010.
Nordic Heritage Club $1,930
www.nordicheritagecenter.org/
Funding for the second annual Nordic Music Festival modeled after a traditional Nordic fiddler's festival. The event will take place at Lake Waconia Regional Park in September 2010.
Watertown Area Fine Arts Council $5,000
Funding for the 12th annual concert series of five performances in various locations in the Watertown community. Activities will take place between April and November 2010.
Watertown-Mayer Community Education $5,000
www.wmcommunityed.com
Funding for a six- to eight-week Youth Summer Theater program featuring an original script and musical score. The program will take place at the Watertown-Mayer Primary School auditorium and will culminate with three public performances in August 2010.
Dakota County
Chameleon Theatre Circle $5,000
www.chameleontheatre.org
Funding for the 11th annual New Play Festival featuring a fully staged production of last year's winner, Blonde Giovanni by Rick Raasch. The performances will take place at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center in September 2010.
Dakota County Sheriff's Office $4,560
www.dakotacounty.us
Funding for Art Behind Bars, a first-time initiative providing 45 incarcerated adult males with the opportunity to acquire technical skills in four visual art media during an eight-week course. Activities will take place between June 2010 and February 2011.
DanceWorks Repertory Ensemble $5,000
www.danceworksmn.com
Funding for a Summer Dance Showcase consisting of eight five-hour class sessions focusing on techniques, styles, and poise in ballet, jazz and contemporary dance at DanceWorks Performing Arts Center and culminating in a public performance at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center in August 2010.
Eagan Parks and Recreation $5,000
www.cityofeagan.com/eaganarthouse
Funding for Art... Be A Part!, an arts program for all ages featuring weekly, hands-on art activities at the Eagan Market Fest, two art activity tents at the 15th annual Eagan Art Festival, and smaller workshops for teens and intergenerational audiences. The activities will take place during summer 2010.
Hastings Area Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau $5,000
www.hastingsmn.org
Funding for the Rivertown Days Arts and Crafts Fair, a three-day event held in conjunction with the larger Rivertown Days community festival. The event will take place at Levee Park in Hastings in July 2010.
Minnesota Brass, Inc. $5,000
www.mnbrassinc.org
Funding for Sounds of Minnesota, a drum and bugle competition featuring seven drum corps from throughout the Midwest. The event will take place at South St. Paul High School in August 2010.
Hennepin County
Aldrich Arts Collaborative $2,910
www.aldricharts.org
Funding for two sessions of art classes, which will provide opportunities for students to work with local, professional artists in South Minneapolis. Each session will culminate in a gallery exhibition featuring the works of both students and teachers at Aldrich Avenue Presbyterian Church.
Brazen Theatre Company $5,000
www.brazentheatre.org
Funding for the production of Shanghai Moon and The Lady in Question, two plays by Tony-nominated playwright Charles Busch. Performances will take place at Minnehaha/Spirit of the Lakes Church in Minneapolis in summer and fall 2010.
Carnaval Brasileiro $5,000
www.rkeverest.net
Funding for Carnaval Brasileiro, an evening celebration of Brazilian music, dance, and culture featuring artists from the Twin Cities as well as Brazilian singers and dancers from San Francisco and Chicago. The event will take place at the Fine Line Music Café in Minneapolis in February 2011.
Civic Orchestra of Minneapolis $5,000
www.civicorchestrampls.org
Funding for three orchestral concerts featuring music by living Minnesota composers. Symphonic Safari, a concert for families, will take place in Edina in April, Syttende Mai, a concert featuring Norwegian music, will take place in Wayzata in May, and Orchestral Highlights by the Lake, will take place at the Lake Harriet Bandshell in July 2010.
Copper Street Brass Quintet $2,500
www.copperstreetbrass.com/home.html
Funding for two brass quintet concerts featuring popular rock and jazz music arranged by the ensemble. Performances will be held at the MacPhail Center for Music and The Capri Theater in Minneapolis in May 2010.
Eclectic Ensemble $1,545
www.mnartists.org/tim_donahue
Funding for Music of the Sun, a solar and bicycle-powered performance of improvisational ambient music. Performances will take place in metro area parks and along bicycle and pedestrian trails between May and October 2010.
Flower Shop Project $5,000
www.theflowershopproject.com
Funding to produce and stage its second season of three new plays: Mint, River of Passion, and a collaborative work inspired by Project 515. The performances will take place at the Bryant-Lake Bowl and Patrick's Cabaret in Minneapolis in 2010.
Hauser Dance $5,000
www.mnartists.org/hauser_dance2
Funding for a month-long intergenerational dance residency as part of Jefferson School's community education programming. The project will take place in Minneapolis and culminate in two community performances in November 2010.
Hope Community, Inc. $4,000
Funding for The Power of Vision, two neighborhood mural projects that will engage approximately 50 youth. The project will take place during summer 2010 and culminate in a community unveiling ceremony.
I'm Telling Productions $5,000
Funding for four performances of I'm Telling, an original play that explores the personal and political significance of mothering in American culture. The performances will take place at two churches and two Early Childhood Family Education sites during summer 2010.
Northside Arts Collective $5,000
www.nacarts.org
Funding for the 2010 Spring Art Party, an annual multicultural festival featuring fine arts and arts activities in North Minneapolis.
Obsidian Arts $5,000
www.obsidianarts.org
Funding to present Great Moments in Black History, a photography booth containing large printed images as backgrounds and props to recreate important historical moments. Participants will have the opportunity to be photographed in the booth at three Minneapolis festivals during summer 2010.
Peace Day Lantern Ceremony $5,000
Funding for the Peace Day Lantern Ceremony, a ceremony calling for peace through beauty and commemorating the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. The event will take place in Powderhorn Park on August 5, 2010.
Rainbow Rumpus $5,000
www.rainbowrumpus.org
Funding to create and launch an online literary response project to coincide with the organization's current online programming. The project will culminate in a live literary celebration to take place in September 2010.
Redeemer Center for Life $4,722
www.redeemercenter.org
Funding for the Bright Corner Mural Project, which will pair youth in the organization's after-school programming with elderly residents at North Oaks Assisted Living Facility in North Minneapolis to create murals at the North Oaks facility and the Redeemer Center's Peace Palace for Urban Arts during summer 2010.
Refuge $4,000
Funding for a retreat for inner city youth focused on teaching clothing design, fashion, and entrepreneurial skills. The retreat will culminate in a fashion show in summer 2010.
Screenwriters' Workshop $3,000
www.screenwritersworkshop.org
Funding for the Script Night Program, five public readings of screenplays written by Minnesota screenwriters and read by professional actors. Readings will take place between May 2010 and March 2011.
Strange Capers $5,000
http://thestrangecapers.wordpress.com/about/
Funding for free outdoor performances of A Midsummer Night's Dream at a Minneapolis park in summer 2010.
Urban Spectrum Theatre $3,550
Funding for multidisciplinary workshops for youth and a community production of Alice in Wonderland. Workshops will be conducted in partnerships with The City, Inc. and Wilder Community School in spring 2010. The production of Alice in Wonderland will be held at the Parkway Theater in May 2010.
Weaver's Guild of Minnesota $5,000
www.weaversguildmn.org
Funding for two workshops that will introduce and integrate a state-of-the-art AVL Compu-Dobby loom into the organization's current programming. The workshops will take place at the Textile Center in Minneapolis in Spring 2010.
West Bank School of Music $3,500
www.westbankmusic.org
Funding to present Balkanicus, a lecture and concert featuring contemporary Balkan chamber music, including new music composed and conducted by renowned Albanian composer Thomas Simaku. The concert will be performed at the Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall on the University of Minnesota's West Bank campus in spring 2010.
Ramsey County
Center for Irish Music $5,000
www.centerforirishmusic.org
Funding for the fourth annual Young Irish Musicians' Weekend, a series of workshops, master classes, and public performances featuring world-renown Irish musicians. Workshops will be held in St. Paul in June 2010.
Hmong Cultural Center, Inc $5,000
Funding for the Dance Instruction Program, a free dance program for youth 7 to 17 at the Hmong Cultural Center during summer and Fall 2010.
Lidia Productions $5,000
www.lidiaproductions.org
Funding for The Age of Crossover a multicultural music concert featuring the Minnesota Chinese Music Ensemble and 24 to 26 professional western musicians. The concert will take place at Highland Park High School in May 2010.
Maggie Bergeron and Company $5,000
www.maggiebdance.org
Funding for Leaver's Ball, a dance and music collaboration examining the high school prom as a rite of passage. Performances will take place at the Oxford Community Center in St. Paul in August 2010.
New Native Theatre $4,000
www.newnativetheatre.org
Funding for The Dreaming Bundle, an original play to be created through workshops that will bring together Native American artists and other community members. The play will feature new music by a Native American artist and run for two weeks in the fall of 2010.
North Star Chorus $5,000
www.northstarchorus.org
Funding for six to seven free concerts at Como Lakeside Pavilion and senior housing facilities in June, July, and August 2010, and their annual themed fall production at a location to be determined.
People, Inc $5,000
www.peopleincorporated.org
Funding for Artability at Apollo, an annual community arts project featuring free workshops for artists with mental illness. The workshops will provide instruction and skill development in drawing, watercolor, matting, and framing and will culminate with an art exhibit in October 2010.
Sample Night Live! $5,000
www.samplenightlive.com
Funding for three months of Sample Night Live!, a monthly evening of performances previewing upcoming and ongoing Twin Cities arts events. Performances will take place at History Theatre in downtown St. Paul from June through August 2010.
StoryBlend $5,000
www.storyblend.com
Funding for its annual two-week workshop pairing deaf and hard-of-hearing individuals with sign language interpreters to explore deaf culture through the creation of bilingual performance art. The project will take place on the St. Catherine University campus and culminate in a public performance in summer 2010.
The Minnesota Feis, Inc $4,540
www.theminnesotafeis.com
Funding for the Ninth Annual Minnesota Feis (pronounced fesh), a daylong event focusing on competition in traditional Irish dance, music, and art. The event will take place at the Saint Paul RiverCentre in September 2010.
Walker West Music Academy $5,000
www.walkerwestmusicacademy.org
Funding for the Summer Music Enrichment Camp, a three-week summer day camp for students ages 5 to 12. The camp will take place at Walker West Music Academy in July and August 2010.
West Side Theater Project $5,000
http://westsidetheaterproject.blogspot.com
Funding to create the second community-based theater work with members of the West Side neighborhood in St. Paul. Performances will take place on the West Side in September 2010.
Women's Initiative for Self-Empowerment $5,000
www.womenofwise.org
Funding for the GGAL Summer Arts Program, a visual arts summer program offering professional instruction, artist clinics, and field trips to high school-aged immigrant youth. The program will take place at Higher Ground Academy in St. Paul in June 2010.
Young Artists Initiative $4,500
www.youngartistsmn.org
Funding for the 2009 Summer Theatre Experience, an eight-week arts enrichment program culminating in four public performances of Willy Wonka, Junior. Performances will take place at the Neighborhood House Theater in St. Paul in August 2010.
Scott County
Hymnus, Incorporated $5,000
www.hymnus.us
Funding for two concerts in the 2010 season. The first concert titled Hymnus A Cappella, a Celebration of the Human Voice will take place in May 2010. A second community concert featuring the New Prague Community Band will take place in December 2010.
Savage Arts Council $4,000
www.savageartcouncil.com
Funding for the fourth annual Juried Art Competition and Show, a visual arts exhibition for adults. Artwork will be displayed throughout the community of Savage in June and July 2010.
Suburban Hennepin County
4 Community Theatre $5,000
Funding for seven performances of the family musical Honk at Delano Middle School Auditorium in June 2010.
Discovery Arts Council $2,725
Funding for the fifth annual Orono International Festival celebrating the diversity and culture that exists within the six communities of the Orono School District. The festival will take place in October 2010.
Les Jolies Petites School of Dance $5,000
Funding for the 2010 spring performance showcasing completed work developed by Les Jolies students. Performances will take place at Cooper High School and are open to the public.
Minnesota Sunshine Dance $5,000
Funding for a Pan-Asian Dance Festival including dance classes held twice a week and culminating in a public performance. The performance will take place at St. Louis Park High School Auditorium in May or June 2010.
Westonka Community Education and Services $3,000
www.westonka.k12.mn.us
Funding for the Music in the Park Series of five to six free concerts on Thursday evenings in summer 2010.
Suburban Ramsey County
Rosetown Playhouse $5,000
www.rosetownplayhouse.org
Funding for their 2010 youth programming including five one-week theatre camps and a teen improv group. Activities will take place at Roseville area middle schools and Roseville Central Park during summer 2010.
Washington County
Forest Lake Park Board $5,000
www.ci.forest-lake.mn.us
Funding for Arts in the Park, a series of free weekly summertime performances and exhibits at Lakeside Park and Gazebo in Forest Lake.
Masquers Theatre Company $5,000
www.masquerstheatre.org
Funding for 16 performances of The Wizard of OZ at Forest Lake High School Auditorium in July 2010.
Music Saint Croix $5,000
www.musicsaintcroix.com
Funding for the 2010-2011 chamber music series featuring music written by Minnesota composers and lesser-known works by well-known composers. Performances will take place at the Historic Courthouse in Washington County in November 2010 and March 2011.
St Croix Valley Chamber Chorale $5,000
www.valleychamberchorale.org
Funding for a Bach Festival featuring a mix of Bach classics performed by the Valley Chamber Chorale, a string orchestra, and Laura Edman on organ. The concert will take place at Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater in April 2011.
Stillwater Area Public Schools Community Education $5,000
http://ce.stillwater.k12.mn.us
Funding to stage and perform the musical Annie as their fifth annual summer community theater production. Performances will take place at Stillwater Area High School in July 2010.
Washington County 4-H Federation $5,000
www.extension.umn.edu/county/washington
Funding for County Arts-In, a four-day intensive performing arts camp for youth ages 13 to 19. The camp will take place at the Washington County Fairgrounds in July and culminate with performances at the Washington County Fair and the Minnesota State Fair in August 2010.
Washington County Agricultural Society $3,500
www.washingtoncountyfair.com
Funding for six performances of a 45-minute vaudevillian show featuring music, ventriloquism, comedy, and theatrical skits at the Washington County Fair in August 2010.
FY 2010 Organizational Development Grant Awards
In January, 2010, MRAC awarded $190,405 to 21 organizations in our FY2010 Organizational Development grant program. The following is a complete list of grantees sorted by county that includes award amounts and organization web addresses when available. The Organizational Development grant program offers grants of up to $10,000 for projects designed to strengthen the management or administration of small and mid-sized nonprofit arts groups located in the seven-county metropolitan area.
Hennepin County
Art Shanty Projects $10,000
www.artshantyprojects.org
Frank Theatre $10,000
www.franktheatre.org
Fresh Air, Inc. $10,000
www.kfai.org
JazzMn, Inc. $3,840
www.jazzmn.org
Kulture Klub Collaborative $9,640
www.kultureklub.org
Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association $6,480
www.mplspops.org
Morris Park Players $10,000
www.morrisparkplayers.org
Off-Leash Area $5,000
www.offleasharea.org
Open Eye Figure Theatre $10,000
www.openeyetheatre.org
Plymouth Christian Youth Center $10,000
http://pcyc-mpls.org
Rainbow Rumpus $6,225
www.rainbowrumpus.org
Stuart Pimsler Dance and Theater $10,000
www.stuartpimsler.com
West Bank School of Music $10,000
www.westbankmusic.org
Ramsey County
Nautilus Music-Theater $10,000
www.wesleybalk.org/nautilus.html
Sample Night Live! $10,000
www.samplenightlive.com
Skylark Opera $9,220
www.skylarkopera.org
TU Dance $10,000
www.tudance.org
Zeitgeist $10,000
www.zeitgeistnewmusic.org
Suburban Hennepin County
Katha Dance Theatre $10,000
www.kathadance.org
Suburban Ramsey County
Rosetown Playhouse $10,000
www.rosetownplayhouse.org
Washington County
ArtReach Alliance $10,000
www.artreachalliance.org
FY 2010 Capital Grant Awards
In January, 2010, MRAC awarded $190,139 to 24 organizations in its FY2010 Capital grant program. The following is a complete list of grantees sorted by county that includes award amounts and organization web addressses when available. The Capital grant program offers grants of up to $6,000 to small and mid-sized nonprofit arts organizations to purchase equipment and related supplies and service, or to make capital improvements.
Carver County
Chaska Valley Family Theater $3,312
www.cvft.org
Dakota County
Caponi Art Park $10,000
www.caponiartpark.org
Dakota Valley Symphony $8,480
www.dakotavalleysymphony.org
Hennepin County
Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center $10,000
www.cafac.org
Hollywood Studio of Dance $7,738
www.hollywoodstudioofdance.org
Kairos Dance Theatre $8,916
www.kairosdance.org
Minnesota Freedom Band $9,038
www.mnfreedomband.org
Old Arizona Collaborative, Inc. $8,120
www.oldarizona.com
Rain Taxi, Inc. $8,000
www.raintaxi.com
Red Eye Collaboration $8,700
www.redeyetheater.org
Walking Shadow Theatre Company $6,813
www.walkingshadowcompany.org
Ramsey County
ArtStart $8,700
www.artstart.org
East Side Arts Council $6,080
www.eastsideartscouncil.org
Minnesota Brass, Inc. $10,000
www.mnbrassinc.org
Sounds of Hope, Ltd. $6,125
www.soundsofhope.org
Irish Music and Dance Association $10,000
www.irishmusicanddanceassociation.org
Scott County
River Valley Theatre Company $8,500
www.rivervalleytheatrecompany.com
Suburban Hennepin County
Continental Ballet Company $4,697
www.continentalballet.com
Discovery Arts Council $7,552
Theater Or $9,750
www.theatreormpls.org
Suburban Ramsey County
Ashland Productions $10,000
www.ashlandproductions.com
Lakeshore Players, Inc. $9,550
www.lakeshoreplayers.com
Washington County
Masquers Theatre Company $8,905
www.masquerstheatre.org
Music Saint Croix $1,163
www.musicsaintcroix.com
FY 2010 Community Arts Grant Awards - Round 1
In December, 2009, MRAC awarded $265,265 to 62 organizations/projects in the first round of its 2009/2010 Community Arts grant program. The following is a list of this round’s grant recipients sorted by the county of activity. Each entry includes a short description of the project and the amount of the award. The grant recipients’ web addresses (when available) are also included as a way to access more information about a specific arts organization and project.
The Community Arts grant program is funded by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature and the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund. MRAC also receives a generous grant from The McKnight Foundation. Groups indicated with an asterisk have received a portion of The McKnight Foundation grant.
Anoka County
Mississippi Valley Orchestra $4,000
www.missvalleyorch.com
Funding for American Stories, a collaborative concert with Chorus Polaris, writer Carol Lacey, visual artist Tom Wilder, and residents of Parkview Villa in Columbia Heights. The concert will take place at First Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights in June 2010.
North Artists' Studio Crawl $3,500*
www.nascrawl.org
Funding for the 10th annual North Artists' Studio Crawl, an annual spring tour of artist studios in the north suburban communities of East Bethel, Ham Lake, Blaine, Coon Rapids, Ramsey, Andover, and Anoka.
Northern Symphony Orchestra $5,000
www.northernsymphonyorchestra.org
Funding for three concerts to include a performance of The Planets, by Gustav Holst, a second concert themed Symphony of Sorrowful Songs, and a third concert of Spanish and French compositions. The concerts will take place at Anoka County venues beginning in February 2010.
Carver County
ISD 112 Community Education $4,600
www.ce4all.org
Funding for the 2010 Hooked on Books program featuring author Amy Krouse Rosenthal. The event will take place at Chaska High School in February 2010.
River City Theatre Company $5,000*
www.watertownrctc.com
Funding for Romeo and Winifred: a Tragical Comedy in Two and a Half Acts. Performances will take place at the Watertown Mayer Performing Arts Center in February and March 2010.
Watertown Film Festival $5,000
Funding for the 2010 Watertown Film Festival featuring live musical showcases, artist panels, and film showcases. The festival will be held at the Watertown Mayer Performing Arts Center in March 2010.
Dakota County
Burnsville Visual Art Society $2,278
www.bvasmn.com
Funding for Art Fete, a juried visual arts exhibition featuring a free opening reception and awards ceremony. The exhibition will be shown at the Burnsville Performing Art Center Gallery from March through May 2010.
Chamber Music Lakeville $5,000
Funding for three Coffee Concert Recitals featuring the Ancia Saxophone Quartet, Vecchione/Erdahl Duo, and the Lanzelotte/Galhano Duo. The concerts will take place at the Lakeville Area Arts Center from February through May 2010.
City of South St. Paul $5,000
www.southstpaul.org
Funding for Music in the Park, a series of music and dance performances highlighting the different cultures in South St. Paul. Performances will run for six Wednesday evenings at the Central Square Community Center Amphitheater beginning in June 2010.
Dakota County Public Health $5,000*
www.co.dakota.mn.us
Funding for the Cultural Art Program, which engages new immigrant and high-risk youth in fine art activities that explore their stories and histories. The activities will take place at four sites in Dakota County beginning in January 2010.
Dakota Valley Symphony $5,000
www.dakotavalleysymphony.org
Funding for the Four Choirs Festival featuring high school choirs from Burnsville, Lakeville North, and Shakopee. The concert will take place at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center in February 2010.
International Festival of Burnsville $5,000
www.burnsville.org
Funding for the International Festival of Burnsville featuring cultural displays of art, traditional dress, ethnic foods, and music and dance performances. The festival will be held at Nicollet Commons Park and the Burnsville Performing Arts Center in June 2010.
South Metro Chorale $5,000*
www.southmetrochorale.org
Funding for performances of Hymn of Praise by Felix Mendelssohn and other chorale selections presented in collaboration with the Minnesota Mormon Chorale. Performances will take place at All Saints Church in Lakeville and St. Mark's Church in Shakopee in May 2010.
The Play's the Thing Productions $5,000
Funding for Summer Musical Drama Camp, a three-week camp for youth ages 6 to 17 that will culminate in four performances of Annie Jr. Classes and performances will take place at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center in July and August 2010.
Velvet Tones $4,430*
www.velvettones.org
Funding for 9 vocal performances to be presented to groups with limited arts access. Performances will take place throughout the greater metropolitan area between January and June 2010.
Hennepin County
Diverse Emerging Music Organization $4,624
www.demomn.org
Funding to produce and present weekly showcases featuring local area musicians at the Eagles Club in St. Paul and the Acadia Café in Minneapolis.
Eclectic Edge Ensemble $5,000
www.eclecticedgeensemble.com
Funding for For Sports Sake - and Beyond, an evening of dance with new choreography by Zoe Sealy. Performances will take place at the Ritz Theater in Northeast Minneapolis in July 2010.
Grassroots Culture $4,315
Funding to create and produce 16 show segments for a weekly bluegrass music radio show featuring Phil Nusbaum, Lyle Lofgren, and Adam Granger. Segments will be aired on the Bluegrass Review program on KBEM radio in July and August 2010.
HUGE Theater $5,000
www.hugetheater.com
Funding for Overheard in Minneapolis, a new improvisational theater work inspired by the website overheardinminneapolis.com. Performances will take place in March 2010.
Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota $5,000
www.laocenter.org
Funding for the Refugee Nation Theater Project, a month-long community residency pairing professional artists with community residents to create cultural awareness through performance art. The project will begin in January 2010.
Lao Women Association $5,000
www.laocenter.org
Funding to offer free traditional Lao music and dance instruction beginning in January 2010. The project will include multiple performance opportunities for participating students.
Lao Writers Summit $5,000
Funding to host the first national literature summit for Lao American refugees in 35 years. The 2-day summit will take place in August 2010.
Minneapolis Southside Singers $5,000
www.mplscommunityed.com
Funding to present 20 free concerts to under-served audiences across the seven-county metropolitan area during the 2010 calendar year.
Nimbus Theatre $5,000
www.nimbustheatre.com
Funding to produce and stage Strike-Slip by playwright Naomi Iizuka. Performances will take place at the Minneapolis Theatre Garage in March 2010.
Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association $5,000
www.nemaa.org
Funding to present Art-A-Whirl, an open-studio gallery tour of Northeast Minneapolis. Art-A-Whirl will take place in spring 2010.
Puppet Farm Art $2,500
www.puppetfarm.org
Funding for Get Yer Animal On!, a series of puppetry and instrument workshops presented in partnership with the Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association. The project will culminate in a community showcase of created work.
Southside Family Nurturing Center $5,000
www.ssfnc.org
Funding for Arts in Action, a free community-based arts program offered to Center families in partnership with In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre. The project will begin in January 2010.
Twin Cities Jazz Workshops $5,000
www.tcjazzworkshop.com
Funding for the Twin Cities Jazz Workshop, a summer experience offering professional jazz music instruction to local students. Each instruction series will culminate in a local performance opportunity for participating students. The project will begin in summer 2010.
Works Progress $4,945
www.solutionstwincities.org
Funding for Give & Take, a ten-month performance/lecture series intended to inspire creative dialogue about life, art, and creativity in the Twin Cities. The series will begin in January 2010.
Ramsey County
Bridge Productions $5,000
www.bridgeproductions.info
Funding for the world-premier of The Darkest Room in the House, a new full-length play by Raymond Luczak. Performances will take place at the Lowry Lab Theater in March 2010.
Lex-Ham Community Arts $920
www.lexhamarts.org
Funding for the 2010 Lex-Ham Music Festival, a one-day music festival featuring school-based musical ensembles, adult jazz groups, and the Lex-Ham Community Band. The festival will take place in January 2010.
Magic Lantern Puppet Theater $3,800
Funding to produce and stage Children and Other Optical Illusions, a multimedia shadow show exploring the theme of fertility. Performances will take place at Dreamland Arts in summer 2010.
Metropolitan Symphony Orchestral Association $2,500
www.msoa.net
Funding for a free family concert in collaboration with Neighborhood House. The concert will take place in January 2010 and showcase music, photography, and spoken word performances by Neighborhood House students and members of the Metropolitan Symphony Orchestra.
Minnesota Freedom Band $2,500
www.mnfreedomband.org
Funding to present, Minnesota Hail To Thee, a spring concert in recognition of the diversity of Minnesota's heritage and history. The concert will take place at the Minnesota History Center.
Minnesota State Band $4,910
www.minnesotastateband.org
Funding for a series of ten concerts, consisting of three ceremonial and seven formal concerts. Concerts will be held at a variety of metro locations from January through December 2010.
Music in the Park Series $5,000
www.musicintheparkseries.org
Funding for the 2010 Family Concert Series, featuring Ross Sutter, Joan Griffith and Ruth MacKenzie, and the Cavani String Quartet. Performances will take place at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church in St. Anthony Park from February through April 2010.
Saint Paul Almanac $5,000
www.saintpaulalmanac.com
Funding for the 2011 St. Paul Almanac, an annual publishing of amateur and professional literary artists. The 2011 St. Paul Almanac will be released in September 2010.
Savage Umbrella $2,868
savageumbrella.com
Funding to work in collaboration with 3AM Productions to produce and stage The Awakening by Kate Chopin. Performances will take place at the Gremlin Theatre in spring 2010.
Twin Cities Housing Development Corporation, Liberty Plaza $4,500
www.tchdc.org
Funding for a two-week summer arts program for youth living at the Liberty Plaza affordable housing development in St. Paul. The program will feature artists from Barebones Productions and culminate in a community event in August 2010.
Vietnamese Community of Minnesota $2,800
www.vietnam-minnesota.org
Funding for the Summer Festival, a one-day festival celebrating Vietnamese heritage through cultural performances, demonstrations, and traditional and contemporary music and dance. The festival will take place in summer 2010.
What About Us $2,100
Funding for All in the Mix, six months of weekly live dance performances and competitions for at-risk Asian American and Pacific Islander youth. The performances and competitions will also be aired on the St. Paul Neighborhood Network.
Women's Drum Center $5,000
www.womensdrumcenter.org
Funding for the 20th Anniversary Celebration featuring a weekend of drumming workshops and an evening Drumheart concert. The concert will take place at Hamline University Sundin Music Hall in June 2010.
Scott County
Jordan Art Festival $5,000*
jordanartfestival.com
Funding for the Seventh Annual Jordan Art Festival, a two-day juried art show featuring displays and demonstrations of visual arts. The festival will take place in downtown Jordan in June 2010.
River Valley Theatre Company $5,000
www.rivervalleytheatrecompany.com
Funding for eleven performances of Anything Goes by Cole Porter. Performances will take place at Shakopee High School Auditorium in March and April 2010.
Suburban Hennepin County
Allegro Orchestral Association $5,000*
www.allegronotes.org
Funding for Healing Vibrations in Music and Nature, a free concert featuring the music of Brahms. The concert will take place at Wayzata Community Church in April 2010.
Continental Ballet Company $5,000
www.continentalballet.com
Funding for Ballet Bouquet, an evening of excerpts form several classical ballets. Performances will take place at the Schneider Theater in the Bloomington Center for the Arts in March 2010.
Cross Community Players $5,000
www.crossplayers.org
Funding for eight performances of the musical Beauty and the Beast to be presented at Osseo Senior High School in July 2010.
Music Association of Minnetonka $4,985*
www.musicassociation.org
Funding for four young people's concerts focused on building children's familiarity with instruments in the orchestra. The concerts will be presented at Arts on 7 and Minnetonka United Methodist Church in February and at Minnetonka City Hall in October 2010.
Orono Community Education $2,525
www.orono.k12.mn.us
Funding for the Orono Community Arts Festival featuring hands-on activities, demonstrations, and performance art. The festival will take place at the Discovery Center in Maple Plain in February 2010.
Thursday Musical $4,000
www.thursdaymusical.com
Funding for eight concerts in the Thursday Morning Artist Series featuring solo artists every other Thursday from January through April 2010 at the Schneider Theater in the Bloomington Center for the Arts.
Twin Cities Youth Chorale $1,900*
www.tcyouthchorale.org
Funding for What a Goodly Thing, a free choral concert featuring the Robbinsdale 5th Grade All-District Choir, The Minneapolis Youth Chorus, and the Twin Cities Youth Choir. The concert will take place at Lord of Life Church in Maple Grove in February 2010.
Suburban Ramsey County
Community Partners with Youth $4,285*
www.cpymn.org
Funding for an introduction to the performing and visual arts featuring Homeward Bound Theatre Company, handcrafted art, music, dance, and a mural project. Weekly activities will take place in New Brighton from January through May 2010.
Encore Wind Ensemble $2,000
www.encorewind.com
Funding for two free concerts, with one concert featuring local high school-aged musicians. Concerts will take place at Tartan High School in February and Wayzata Community Church in May 2010.
Heritage Theatre Company $5,000*
www.heritagetc.com
Funding for a two-act version of Alice in Wonderland. Performances will take place at the Tara Event Hall in Little Canada in May 2010.
Honeywell Concert Band $3,000
Funding for 12 concerts presented at care centers, assisted living centers, senior citizens' housing complexes, and public parks. Performances will take place between February and December 2010.
Lakeshore Players, Inc. $5,000
www.lakeshoreplayers.com
Funding for Summer Youth Project, Jr., a ten-day hands-on theater arts experience for youth grades 2 through 5. Programs will take place at the Lakeshore Players Theatre in White Bear Lake in June 2010.
North Suburban Chorus $3,000
Funding for 40 choral performances presented at nursing, healthcare, and retirement centers in the north suburban area from January through December 2010.
Twin Cities Housing Development Corporation, Calibre Ridge $4,000
www.tchdc.org
Funding for a two-week summer arts program for youth living at the Calibre Ridge Townhomes affordable housing development in Roseville. The program will feature artists from Barebones Productions and culminate in a community event in June 2010.
Washington County
FamilyMeans - Cimarron Youth Development Initiative $5,000*
www.familymeans.org
Funding for the Arts Exploration Project, free weekly art experiences in visual, drama, and dance arts for youth ages 5 to 18 in a mobile home community in Lake Elmo. Art experiences will take place at the Cimarron Community Room from January through July 2010.
FamilyMeans - Landfall Youth Development Initiative $4,880
www.familymeans.org
Funding for the Arts Exploration Workshop, free weekly art experiences in visual, literary, and cultural arts for youth ages 5 to 18 in the mobile home community of Landfall. Art experiences will take place at the Teen Center from January through November 2010.
Summer Tuesdays $3,600
www.summertuesdays.com
Funding for Summer Tuesdays 2010, a series of community outdoor music and movie events on seven consecutive Tuesday evenings. The project will take place at Stillwater's North Lowell Park in July and August 2010.
White Pine Festival $5,000
www.whitepinefestival.org
Funding for the fourth annual White Pine Festival, an interdisciplinary fine arts festival with daytime workshops and evening concerts featuring nationally known musicians, writers, and other artists. The festival will take place in the St. Croix Valley in June 2010.
FY 2010 Creative Intersection Grant Awards - Round 1
In November 2009, MRAC awarded five grants to build community and art partnerships through its Creative Intersections grant program. The Creative Intersections program is designed to foster cross-sector partnerships among public, private nonprofit, and commercial sectors for enhancing arts and culture in communities. The following is a complete list of grantees sorted by county that includes award amounts, project summaries, and links to the grantee's website.
Dakota County
Rosemount Area Arts Council $7,300
www.rosemountaac.org
Partners: City of Rosemount, Leprechaun Days Committee, Rosemount Saw and Tool, Schwartz Property Solutions, Inc.
Funding for the Rosemont Bluegrass/Americana Festival, a three-evening celebration of American string band, square dance, and gospel music recognizing the social/celebratory heritage of the Rosemount community. The free festival and art fair will take place during the community's annual Leprechaun Days celebration.
Ramsey County
East Side Arts Council $10,000
www.eastsideartscouncil.org
Partners: City of St. Paul, Polly's Coffee Cove
Funding for KidVenture, spring and summer, out-of-school day camps for at-risk youth ages 5-11. Camps will culminate in the creation of a rotating youth art exhibit by students. Exhibits will be displayed at Polly's Coffee Cove in April and July 2010.
Saint Paul Almanac $10,000
www.saintpaulalmanac.com
Partners: St. Paul Public Library, Black Dog Cafe
Funding for ten Lowertown Reading Jams to support and celebrate the work of St. Paul's literary community. Each monthly reading will be curated by a St. Paul writer and will include a sign language interpreter and an artist creating calligraphy brush drawings.
Scott County
New Prague Arts Council $8,000
www.newprague.com/arts-in-new-prague
Partners: New Prague Community Education, New Prague Chamber of Commerce
Funding for phase two of a public arts project connecting New Prague's Czech and German heritage with the changing demographics of the current community. The project includes the creation of 11 bas-relief bronze plaques for one side of the "Towering to Our Future" community marker and two folk-art paintings for the "Seasons of Traditions" series.
Suburban Hennepin County
St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts $10,000
www.slpfriendsofthearts.org
Partners: City of St. Louis Park, St. Louis Park Community Education, Harvest Moon Coffeehouse, Webb Lake Software
Funding for Our Town 2010 Verses and Voices, a yearlong arts program focused on poetry. The project will build on the Our Town 2008 Faces and Places photography project and include the selection of a community Poet Laureate, a favorite poem project, poetry workshops, a poetry jam, and the performance of a Renga, a Japanese community poem.
FY 2010 Arts Activities Support Grant Awards - Round 1
In September 2009, MRAC awarded $506,710 to 53 organizations/projects in the first round of its 2009/2010 Arts Activity Support grants. This fiscal year’s first round of Arts Activity Support grants will fund projects that will reach approximately 342,000 people in a range of communities that include ethnic populations, age groups such as youth or seniors, suburban communities, and inner city neighborhoods. The organizations and projects chosen demonstrate both strong artistic quality and a connection to a community need. The following is a complete list of grantees sorted by county that includes award amounts, project summaries, and links to the grantee's website.
Dakota County
Caponi Art Park $10,000
www.caponiartpark.org
Funding for the 2010 Summer Performance Series, featuring Poets in the Park, Minnesota Sinfonia, a Shakespeare Festival, the Dakota Valley Summer Pops Orchestra and Chorale, Twin Cities Community Gospel Choir, Cyril Paul and the Calypso Monarchs, and CAAM Chinese Dance Theater. The performance series is free and will be held at Caponi Art Park from May through August 2010.
International Friendship Through the Performing Arts $10,000
Funding for "Lutes Around the World," a music concert featuring Gao Hong on pipa, Ismail Isik on Turkish baglama, Sharon Isbin on guitar and Bela Fleck on banjo. The concert will take place at Ted Mann Concert Hall in October 2010.
Hennepin County
3-Minute Egg $8,600
www.3minuteegg.org
Funding to produce 20, three-to-four minute videos highlighting the work and creative processes of Twin Cities visual artists.
Ananya Dance Theatre $10,000
www.ananyadancetheatre.org
Funding to produce and stage "Kshoy! Decay," a dance theatre piece exploring women's stories of violence, trauma, and survival in global communities of color. Performances will take place at the Southern Theater in fall 2010.
ARENA Dances, Inc. $10,000
www.arena-dances.org
Funding to produce and stage a fall concert including two world premieres, one Twin Cities premiere, and two works from recent repertory. Performances will take place at The Lab Theater in downtown Minneapolis in fall 2009.
Art Shanty Projects $10,000
www.artshantyprojects.org
Funding to curate and present a free, five-week interactive exhibit of performance and visual art on frozen Medicine Lake in Plymouth. The exhibit will be on view in winter 2010.
ArtiCulture $5,950
www.articulture.org
Funding to provide arts experiences and education through early childhood family education classes serving children ages 1-6. The project will begin in fall 2009.
Ascension Place $4,000
www.ascensionplace.org
Funding for visual and performing arts residencies serving women struggling with mental illness and chemical dependency. The project will culminate in an art show with a spoken word performance and the unveiling of art created for Ascension Place.
BodyCartography Project $10,000
www.bodycartography.org
Funding to present "Life", a performance and visual art production exploring the themes of destruction, waste, and survival amidst a world of physics, data, and control. Events will take place at the Southern Theater and Art of This Gallery in January and February 2010.
Camden Music School, Dave DeGennaro and Circus Minimus Puppetry $10,000
Funding to offer a six-week series of puppetry and performance art workshops for students ages 8-11 from Camden Music School in North Minneapolis. The workshops will culminate in public performances at The Warren: An Artist's Habitat in North Minneapolis.
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