 The following is a list of recent grants awarded to local organizations through MRAC funding:
Current Fiscal Year (July 1, 2011 - June 30, 2012)
FY 2011 (July 1, 2009 - June 30, 2010)
FY 2012 Arts Learning Grant Awards - Round 1 (top of page)
In January 2012, MRAC awarded $209,003 to 23 organizations in the first round of its FY 2012 Arts Learning grant program. The Arts Learning projects chosen will provide high-quality, age-appropriate arts education for Minnesotans of all ages to develop knowledge, skills, and understanding of the arts. MRAC's goals for the Arts Learning grant program are to cultivate creativity and deepen knowledge of and/or through the arts for children, youth, and adults by engaging people in extended arts experiences and activities with clearly articulated learning objectives. The Arts Learning grant program is a direct result of the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Legacy Amendment. All applications go through a competitive peer review panel process. The MRAC board makes the final decisions on all panel recommendations.
The following is a list of awarded projects sorted by the county of affiliation. Organization websites are included when available as a way to get more information about the groups and awarded projects.
Anoka County
Musikgarten of Anoka $10,000
www.musikgarten.org/anoka
Funding for the 2012 summer and fall sessions of classes in music and movement for children and families in Anoka County.
Dakota County
Vecchione/Erdahl Duo $10,000
www.oboebass.com
Funding for a series of five one-hour programs exploring music and music literature for audiences at nine senior centers from February through June of 2012.
Hennepin County
Indonesian Performing Arts Association of MN d.b.a. Sumunar $3,850
www.sumunar.org
Funding for a ten-day residency in Indonesian music, dance and culture at Prairie Seeds Academy school in Brooklyn Park in April of 2012.
Kulture Klub Collaborative $10,000
www.kultureklub.org
Funding for a ceramic arts instruction program for youth experiencing homelessness. The project is a partnership with Northern Clay Center and will take place from March through May of 2012.
Magic Lantern Puppet Theater $8,760
Funding for color shadow puppet residencies at three Ramsey County schools: Harambee Elementary, Oakhill Montessori, and Parkview Center School in the spring and fall of 2012.
Marcy Puppet Dragons Residency $7,760
Funding for a puppetry residency for third and fourth grade students at Marcy Open School in Minneapolis for four weeks beginning immediately after the Chinese New Year in late January, 2012.
Off-Leash Area $10,000
www.offleasharea.org
Funding for Off-Leash Area Romps to teach signature Off-Leash Area creation and performance techniques to local experienced adult performing artists. The classes and related performances will be held between February and December of 2012.
Plymouth Christian Youth Center $10,000
pcyc-mpls.org
Funding for spoken word and beat box/music production residencies at the PYC Arts and Tech High School in Minneapolis during the 2012-13 school year.
St. Paul’s Evangelical Lutheran Church $10,000
stpaulschurchmpls.org
Funding for a mosaic arts program for adults and youth, guiding participants to create public art in the Phillips neighborhood of Minneapolis. Workshops, classes and installations will be held from March through September of 2012.
Studio 206 $10,000
ivystudio206.com
Funding for Train at 206 Summer Intensive, a physical theatre training session that will run from June 11 through 29, 2012 at Studio 206 in the Ivy Building for the Arts in Minneapolis.
Threads Dance Project $10,000
www.threadsdance.org
Funding for the WISE Charter School Dance Intensive, a ballet and modern dance instruction program for students in grades six through eight from mid-March to early June at the WISE Charter School in North Minneapolis.
Walking Shadow Theatre Company $4,288
www.walkingshadowcompany.org
Funding for Walking Shadow’s Early Professionals program providing immersive hands-on experience with mentors for theatre students in middle school through college during the 2011-12 and 2012-13 seasons.
Ramsey County
Deborah Elias Danza Espanola $10,000
Funding for a series of residencies in flamenco dance, music and culture in seven elementary schools from February through October of 2012. Each residency will culminate in a community celebration.
Flying Forms $10,000
www.flyingforms.org
Funding to support a residency with Minnesota Youth Symphonies in the summer of 2012 and during the 2012-13 season, including a summer camp, performance with students, and family education.
Keane Sense of Rhythm $10,000
www.tapcompany.org
Funding for tap dance training for students at five inner city schools between February and June of 2012.
Lyra Baroque Orchestra $10,000
www.lyrabaroque.org
Funding for an outreach program at Capitol Hill and Edgewood Middle Schools, Irondale High School, and two Young People’s concerts. Program activities will occur in the spring and fall of 2012.
Sounds of Hope, Ltd. $10,000
www.soundsofhope.org
Funding for a project with Partnership Resources, an agency serving adults with developmental disabilities, to prepare, rehearse and perform a play in the winter and spring of 2012.
TU Dance $10,000
www.tudance.org
Funding for beginning level dance education for diverse local middle and high school students through collaborations with four metro area schools, and classes at the new TU Dance Center in St. Paul. Activities will occur in the spring and summer of 2012.
Young Artists Initiative $9,500
www.youngartistsmn.org
Funding for the 2012 Winter Theater Experience, a seven-week arts education experience including the production of Narnia: the Musical. The program is directed toward youth on Saint Paul’s East Side and open to other youth as well, and will be held during February and March of 2012.
Suburban Hennepin County
Eclectic Edge Ensemble $10,000
www.eclecticedgeensemble.com
Funding for an outreach program at East Side Neighborhood Services, Main Street School of Performing Arts, four local dance studios, and a Jazz Week Intensive at Zenon Dance. The program will occur between February and October of 2012.
Inverted Arts $4,845
www.invertedarts.org
Funding for a seven-week Friday Art Exploration Program for middle school students at Sojourner Truth Academy charter school in North Minneapolis beginning in late January of 2012.
Mentoring Peace Through Art $10,000
www.mentoringpeace.org
Funding for the creation of a complex project of ten murals in Brooklyn Center schools for K-12 students incorporating the distinct skills of the students at their different age levels, beginning in February of 2012.
Washington County
ArtReach St. Croix $10,000
www.artreachstcroix.org
Funding for a literary arts program consisting of classes, workshops, author events and other elements to support St. Croix Valley writers of all experiences and skill levels during 2012.
FY 2012 Community Arts Grant Awards - Round 1 (top of page)
In December 2011, MRAC awarded $303,079 to 64 organizations/projects in the first round of its FY 2012 Community Arts grant program. The organizations and projects chosen demonstrate both strong artistic quality and a connection to a community. This round's funded projects include: studio crawls; concert series; summer festivals; Hmong storytelling; visual art exhibitions, theater; dance; art classes; and more.
The Community Arts grant program utilizes a block grant system to ensure funds are distributed throughout the seven counties in MRAC's service area. The following is a list of this round's grant recipients sorted by the county of activity that includes award amounts, project summaries, and links to the grantee's website. Please note that we separate the core cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul from the surrounding suburban Hennepin and suburban Ramsey counties. The Community Arts grant program is funded by an appropriation from the Minnesota State Legislature and the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.
Anoka County
Fridley City Band $2,740
www.fridleycityband.org
Funding for seven free concerts for senior citizens in the Anoka County area. The concert series will take place at multiple senior housing facilities in 2012.
Musikgarten of Anoka $5,000
www.musikgarten.org/anoka
Funding for winter and spring sessions of early childhood music classes in the northwestern suburbs for children birth to eight-years-old and their families.
North Artists' Studio Crawl $2,295
www.nascrawl.org
Funding for the 12th 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.
Carver County
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 2012.
ISD 112 Community Education $5,000
www.ce4all.org
Funding for Hooked on Books... and the Arts, too!, a one-day literary and performing arts event featuring author Mary Casanova. The event will take place at Chaska High School in February 2012.
Dakota County
Art And All That Jazz, Inc. $5,000
burnsvilleartjazz.com
Funding for the ninth annual Art and All That Jazz Festival, a free outdoor Jazz festival held at Nicollet Commons Park in Burnsville in August 2012.
Burnsville Visual Arts Society $5,000
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 April 2012.
City of South St. Paul $5,000
www.southstpaul.org
Funding for The Sounds of South St. Paul, a six-week music concert series celebrating the City's 125th birthday. Concerts will take place at the South St. Paul Central Square Community Center Amphitheater in July and August 2012.
Eagan Men's Chorus $2,600
www.eaganmenschorus.org
Funding for 13 concerts at assisted living facilities, senior housing, and Associated Male Chorus of America events in Dakota County from March through June 2012.
Exultate $5,000
www.exultate.org
Funding for three performances of The Messiah by George Frederick Handel featuring 50 additional musicians to the chamber choir and orchestra. The concerts will take place at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Plymouth, Woodbury Lutheran Church and Benson Hall at Bethel College in March 2011.
International Festival of Burnsville $4,620
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 2012.
IZUN/MIZAN: A Film and Dialogue Series $5,000
Funding for IZUN/MIZAN: A Film and Dialogue Series. The series will take place February through April 2012.
Mississippi Valley Orchestra $5,000
www.mississippivalleyorchestra.com
Funding for Fairytales Come True, a free children's concert featuring excerpts from Sleeping Beauty, the Mother Goose Suite, Hansel and Gretel and a special presentation of Peter and the Wolf with MPR's Mindy Ratner as narrator. The Performance will take place at Augustana Lutheran Church in February 2012.
Rosemount Area Arts Council $5,000
www.rosemountaac.org
Funding for the Rosemount Bluegrass and Americana Festival, a three-day event held in Rosemount's Central Park in July 2012.
Velvet Tones $5,000
www.velvettones.org
Funding for nine vocal performances for groups with limited arts access. Performances will take place in the greater metropolitan area between February and June 2012.
Hennepin County
Breanna's Gift $5,000
breannasgift.org
Funding for the 2012 Arts Program, providing arts classes for children with cancer and other serious illnesses. Classes will be held at the Ronald McDonald House and metro area children's hospitals and clinics.
Carlyle Brown and Company $5,000
www.carlylebrownandcompany.org
Funding to produce and stage ARE YOU NOW OR HAVE YOU EVER BEEN..., a theatrical account of Langston Hughes and the McCarthy trials, to be performed at the Guthrie Dowling Studio in May 2012.
Christopher Watson Dance Company $3,040
christopherwatsondance.com
Funding for the 11th annual Dances at the Lakes, a free dance concert featuring original works by 12 local companies and choreographers. Performances will take place at the Lake Harriet Rose Garden in Summer 2012.
Cities' Classical Dance Ensemble $5,000
www.citiesclassicaldanceensemble.com
Funding for L'affaire de Ballet, a full-length dance concert featuring Twin Cities' choreographers and dancers. Performances will take place at the Ritz Theater in May 2012.
Eclectic Edge Ensemble $5,000
www.eclecticedgeensemble.com
Funding for A Grimm Tale - and other dances, a collaborative dance production with Mad Munchkin Productions in their 2012 season that will take place at the Ritz Theater in Minneapolis in 2012.
Global Site Performance $4,780
www.globalsiteperformance.org
Funding to produce and stage the 16th annual Solstice River event, a free outdoor art performance celebrating the Mississippi River. The performance will take place in June 2012.
Midtown Global Jazz Festival $5,000
www.midtownglobalmarket.org
Funding for the second annual Midtown Global Jazz Festival, featuring a lineup of global Jazz genres, art vendors, ethnic food, and an educational stage. The festival will take place in July 2012 at the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis.
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 2012 calendar year.
Morris Park Players $5,000
www.morrisparkplayers.org
Funding to produce and stage The Wizard of Oz at Minneapolis Thomas Edison High School in April 2012.
The Moving Company $5,000
www.themovingco.org
Funding to develop and stage All's Fair, an original theatrical production built out of improvisation, movement, music and text, to be performed at the Southern Theater in spring 2012.
Nimbus $5,000
www.nimbustheatre.com
Funding to produce and stage Babel, a new work written and directed by company co-Artistic Director Josh Cragun. Performances will take place at nimbus theater in Minneapolis in March 2012.
Off-Leash Area $5,000
www.offleasharea.org
Funding for Romp!, an evening of short theatre and dance performances that will take place at the Playwrights' Center in May 2012.
Powderhorn Park Neighborhood Association $5,000
Funding for the Powderhorn Arts Festival, a two-day public event featuring juried local and national artists, performances and art making. The festival will take place in Powderhorn Park in August 2012.
Rosy Simas Dance Projects $5,000
Funding for the Twin Cities/Montréal Choreography Dance Exchange Project, bringing together artistically and ethnically diverse contemporary dance artists for presentations and workshops. The Dance Exchange includes six performances that will be held at the Southern Theater in September 2012.
The Sisters Boil $5,000
Funding for Mrs. Smith Live at Loring!, a send-up of Broadway-style one-woman shows. Performances will take place at The Loring Theater in May 2012.
South Sixteenth High Jinks $5,000
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 2012.
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 February 2012.
TuckUnder Projects $5,000
www.tuckunder.org
Funding for the TuckUnder Project, a series of site-specific visual art exhibitions and community arts programming. Exhibitions will take place at the TuckUnder site in Minneapolis throughout 2012.
Twin Cities Carifest $5,000
carifest.org
Funding for Carifest, a two-day arts extravaganza featuring Caribbean music, storytelling, dance, cuisine, and a Carnival-style parade. The family-friendly event will take place in Minneapolis in July 2012.
YouthCare $5,000
www.youthcaremn.org
Funding for Camp CAMERA, an eight-week photography program pairing high school-aged youth with Macalester College photography students. The program will culminate in an exhibition of student work in Spring 2012.
Ramsey County
Aleph $5,000
Funding to produce and stage The Hebrew Lesson, a theatre piece about Israel, Palestine and people's connections to their ancestral homelands. Performances will take place at Dreamland Arts in St. Paul in March 2012.
Friends of Swede Hollow (FOSH) $5,000
www.swedehollow.org
Funding for the annual Swede Hollow Plein Air Arts Festival, a one-day multidisciplinary outdoor arts festival. The festival will take place in June 2012.
Hot Summer Jazz Festival $5,000
www.twincitiesjazzfestival.com
Funding for the Hot Summer Jazz Festival, a three-day Jazz festival featuring local and world-renowned Jazz artists at Mears Park in downtown St. Paul in June 2012.
Lao Family Community of Minnesota, Inc. $5,000
Funding for The Digital Storytelling Project that will facilitate Hmong elders telling of their own stories using oral and written narrative, visual art, music, video, and other media. The project will culminate by posting the material on the Web in December 2012.
Lidia Productions $5,000
www.lidiaproductions.org
Funding for two concerts of Russian film music. The concerts will be performed in St. Paul and Hopkins in September 2012.
Minnesota State Band $5,000
www.minnesotastateband.org
Funding for one ceremonial and seven formal concerts to be presented at a variety of metro locations from March through November 2012.
The PuppetTellers $4,850
www.thepuppettellers.com
Funding for 20 free performances of two original puppet plays: A Night on Bear Island and The Double Trouble Birthday. Performances will take place at libraries in Dakota, Scott and Carver Counties between February and July 2012.
Selby Avenue JazzFest $5,000
Funding for the 10th annual Selby Avenue Jazz Festival featuring local and national Jazz artists with a wide array of musical styles. The festival will take place at the intersection of Selby and Milton Avenues in St. Paul in September 2012.
Twin Cities Chinese Dance Center, Inc. $3,800
Funding to perform the Xinjiang Uygur (pronounced shin-jiyang we-gur) ethnic dance, a dance performance involving seniors from the Chinese community. The performance will take place in September 2012.
Scott County
Czech Area Concertina Club $4,664
concertinaclub.org
Funding for twelve free community concerts featuring old-time ethnic folk music. Performances will take place throughout the metro area between May and December 2012.
South Metro Chorale $5,000
www.southmetrochorale.org
Funding for All Creation Sings, a choral concert with professional accompaniment. Performances will take place at local churches in April 2012.
Suburban Hennepin County
Bloomington Chorale $5,000
www.bloomingtonchorale.com
Funding for Blue Suede Shoes, a big band/choral concert featuring new arrangements of 1950's popular music. Performances will take place in the Schneider Theater at the Bloomington Center for the Arts in April 2012 with two additional free concerts in the community occurring in June.
Chain Reaction Theatre Project $5,000
www.chainreactiontp.com
Funding for six performances of Seven, a play about the lives of seven women from seven different countries. Performances will take place at six different venues in the metro area in March and April 2012.
Continental Ballet Company $5,000
www.continentalballet.com
Funding to present Swan Lake. Performances will take place in the Schneider Theater at the Bloomington Center for the Arts in March 2012.
Crew 88 Youth Performing Group $3,640
www.crew88.org
Funding for a concert of American music, featuring repertoire from the early 1900's to today's modern music. Four performances will take place between June and August 2012.
Cross Community Players $5,000
www.crossplayers.org
Funding for seven performances of My Son Pinocchio. Performances will take place at Maple Grove Senior High School in July 2012.
Minnesota Symphonic Winds $5,000
www.mswinds.com
Funding to perform, record, produce and air a series of six wind band concerts that will be broadcast on MCN Channel 6 between May and December 2012.
Music Association of Minnetonka $5,000
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 Normandale Community College and Minnetonka United Methodist Churches in February and at Minnetonka City Hall in October 2012.
Plymouth Fine Arts Council $5,000
www.plymouthartscouncil.org
Funding for the 16th annual Primavera event, a public celebration of artists combining visual, performance, literary and theater arts. The event will take place at the Plymouth Creek Center in April 2012.
Rimon: The Minnesota Jewish Arts Council $5,000
www.jewishminnesota.org
Funding for an Artist Salon Series, a three-event series engaging local Jewish artists from many disciplines in dialogue with local audiences. The series will take place at multiple venues in Minneapolis and St. Paul between February and May 2012.
Twin Cities Youth Chorale $5,000
www.tcyouthchorale.org
Funding for The Radiant Light of Music, a children's choir festival featuring four metro-area choirs. The festival will take place at Beautiful Savior Church in Plymouth in February 2012.
Suburban Ramsey County
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 2012.
Lakeshore Players, Inc. $5,000
www.lakeshoreplayers.com
Funding for 16 performances of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying at the Lakeshore Players Theatre in White Bear Lake in April and May 2012.
North Suburban Chorus $5,000
Funding for 40 choral performances presented at nursing, healthcare, and retirement centers in the north suburban area from January through December 2012.
Twin Cities Labor Chorus $3,050
Funding for 9 to 12 choral performances that will take place throughout the metro area between January and August 2012.
Washington County
FamilyMeans $5,000
www.familymeans.org
Funding for the Arts Exploration Workshop, free weekly art experiences in visual 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 2012.
Harmonic Relief $5,000
www.harmonicrelief.com
Funding for This Land is Your Land, a two-hour choral show featuring songs from across America. Performances will take place at the Maplewood Community Center in May 2012.
Paint on the Water: St. Croix Valley Hip Hop Festival $5,000
Funding for Paint on the Water: St. Croix Valley Hip Hop Festival, a one-day Hip-Hop event featuring aerosol art, B-Boy-ing, B-Girl-ing, MC-ing and DJ-ing in Lowell Park in Stillwater in September 2012.
The St. Croix Jazz Orchestra (SCJO) $5,000
Funding for the 2012 St. Croix Jazz Orchestra season featuring free and ticketed concerts and collaboration with Music St. Croix in the St. Croix Valley in Washington County.
FY 2012 Organizational Development Grant Awards (top of page)
In November, 2011, MRAC awarded $214,095 to 25 organizations in the FY 2012 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.
Dakota County
Chameleon Theatre Circle $10,000
www.chameleontheatre.org
Hennepin County
20% Theatre Company Twin Cities $1,694
www.tctwentypercent.org
ARENA Dances, Inc. $10,000
www.arena-dances.org
Fools Productions $10,000
www.theatreoffools.com
Kulture Klub Collaborative $10,000
www.kultureklub.org
Midway Contemporary Art $6,419
www.midwayart.org
Rain Taxi, Inc. $10,000
www.raintaxi.com
Red Eye Collaboration $5,000
www.redeyetheater.org
Stuart Pimsler Dance and Theater $10,000
www.stuartpimsler.com
Tapestry Folkdance Center $10,000
tapestryfolkdance.org
The Moving Company $10,000
www.themovingco.org
Works Progress $9,050
worksprogress.org
Young Dance, Inc. $5,769
www.youngdance.org
Ramsey County
ArtStart $10,000
www.artstart.org
East Side Arts Council $4,000
www.eastsideartscouncil.org
Lyra Baroque Orchestra $10,000
www.lyrabaroque.org
Minnesota Theater Alliance $10,000
http://minnesotatheateralliance.org/
Motionpoems $10,000
Zeitgeist $6,966
www.zeitgeistnewmusic.org
Suburban Hennepin County
Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project $8,580
www.reconciliationproject.org
Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network $10,000
Partnership Resources, Inc. $9,028
www.partnershipresources.org
Suburban Ramsey County
Lakeshore Players, Inc. $10,000
www.lakeshoreplayers.com
Rosetown Playhouse $7,589
www.rosetownplayhouse.org
White Bear Center for the Arts $10,000
www.whitebeararts.org
FY 2012 Capital Grant Awards (top of page)
In November, 2011, MRAC awarded $151909 to 19 organizations in its FY 2012 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 $10,000 to small and mid-sized nonprofit arts organizations located in the seven-county metropolitan area to purchase equipment and related supplies and services, or to make capital improvements.
Hennepin County
Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center $10,000
www.cafac.org
Copper Street Brass Quintet $10,000
www.copperstreetbrass.com/home.html
Minneapolis Guitar Quartet Association $4,438
www.minneapolisguitarquartet.com
Plymouth Christian Youth Center $9,033
http://pcyc-mpls.org
She Rock She Rock $10,000
www.girlsrocknrollretreat.com/fr_index.cfm
West Bank School of Music $9,655
www.westbankmusic.org
Ramsey County
Minnesota Chinese Dance Theater $9,227
http://minhuachorus.org
Sample Night Live! $10,000
www.samplenightlive.com
Sounds of Hope, Ltd. $4,650
www.soundsofhope.org
Walker West Music Academy $1,421
www.walkerwestmusicacademy.org
Suburban Hennepin County
4 Community Theatre $8,076
www.4communitytheatre.org/
Cross Community Players $6,034
www.crossplayers.org
Great Northern Union Chorus $10,000
Katha Dance Theatre $8,451
www.kathadance.org
The Depot Coffee House $6,000
www.thedepotcoffeehouse.com
Twin Cities Youth Chorale $5,188
www.tcyouthchorale.org
Yellow Tree Theatre $10,000
www.yellowtreetheatre.com
Suburban Ramsey County
Ashland Productions $10,000
www.ashlandproductions.com
Irondale Band Boosters $9,736
www.irondalemarchingknights.org
FY 2012 Arts Activities Support Grant Awards- Round 1 (top of page)
In September 2011, MRAC awarded $515,707 to 56 organizations/projects in the first round of its 2011 – 2012 Arts Activities Support grant program. The organizations and projects chosen demonstrate both strong artistic quality and a connection to a community need. This round's funded projects include photography workshops, puppetry, choral, orchestral, and jazz music, theater performances, film festivals, ethnic dance, outdoor concerts and more.
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
Chamber Music Lakeville $7,310
Funding for four Coffee Concert Recitals featuring The WolfGang, the Vecchione/Erdahl Duo, Orkestar Bez Ime, and Adam Kuenzel. The concerts will take place at the Lakeville Area Arts Center between February and May 2012.
Dakota Valley Symphony $10,000
http://www.dakotavalleysymphony.org
Funding for five concerts in their 26th season. The concerts will take place at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center between December 2011 and May 2012.
Hennepin County
Al-Bahira Middle Eastern Dance Theater $10,000
http://www.albahira.org/
Funding to produce and perform Ifrita Helwa, an original dance-play based on traditional Egyptian and American stories and inspired by the 1947 Egyptian film, Afrita Hanem. The show will premiere at the Ritz Theater in June 2012.
Ananya Dance Theatre $10,000
http://www.ananyadancetheatre.org
Funding to create and produce Moreechika, season of mirage, an evening length dance theater piece exploring women’s stories of violence, trauma, and survival in global communities of color. The production will premiere at the Southern Theater in September 2012.
Angel Foundation $5,561
http://www.mnangel.org/
Funding for 10 to 15 teens who have a parent with cancer to participate in a photography workshop under the direction of photographer Scott Streble. The workshop will begin in January 2012.
Ascension Place $8,000
http://www.ascensionplace.org
Funding for a multidisciplinary arts program for residents of Ascension Place—a transitional housing program serving women struggling with mental illness and chemical dependency. The 2011 – 2012 program will include creative writing, sewing, and soul art groups, in addition to hosting six artists-in-residence.
Centro Cultural Chicano, Inc. $9,250
http://www.centromn.org/
Funding for El Pueblo de Nuestros Espiritus/The Town of Our Spirits, an original multi-disciplinary arts exhibit that evokes the Latino Day of the Dead celebration. The exhibit will be held at Centro’s Minneapolis location in October 2011.
Cleveland Neighborhood Association $7,325
http://clevelandneighborhood.org/
Funding for Live On the Drive, a free concert series held on Victory Memorial Drive in North Minneapolis celebrating the diverse talents of the community. The series will consist of three concerts held on the second Thursday of June, July, and August 2012.
Ethnic Dance Theatre $10,000
http://www.ethnicdancetheatre.com
Funding for Reflections on the Danube, a presentation of traditional ethnic dance and music from nine cultures that lie between the river’s source in the Black Forest of Germany and its outlet in the Black Sea in Romania. Performances will take place at the Ritz Theater in March 2012.
Hinterhands Puppet Company $10,000
Funding to develop, produce, and stage Nature Boy, a puppetry-poetry performance exploring connections between biodiversity and imagination. Performances will take place at In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre in June 2012.
JazzMn, Inc. $10,000
http://www.jazzmn.org
Funding for two concerts as part of the organization’s 13th season of presenting classical and contemporary big band jazz. The concerts will feature The Caswell Sisters and Terell Stafford at the Performing Arts Center at Hopkins High School in March and April 2012.
Kairos Dance Theatre $10,000
http://www.kairosdance.org
Funding for If Not Now, When?, a project exploring experience and meaning in dance, music, story, theater, and mythology with mature artistic collaborators. The project will culminate in metro area performances in May and June 2012.
Les Jolies Petites School of Dance $10,000
http://www.lesjoliespetites.org/
Funding for the 2011 Winter Showcase, a presentation of completed work developed by Les Jolies students. Performances will take place at Cooper High School in December 2011 and are open to the public.
Magic Lantern Puppet Theater $6,100
Funding to create and perform a color shadow puppet show titled, Nala and the Pink Tiger. Performances will take place at Hennepin County libraries and In the Heart of the Beast Puppet and Mask Theatre in March and April 2012.
Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association $10,000
http://www.mplspops.org
Funding to perform five free community concerts for seniors. The concerts will take place at two Minneapolis park sites during July 2012.
Minnesota Guitar Society $10,000
http://www.mnguitar.org
Funding for eight concerts featuring guitar virtuosos and free workshops and master classes with the artists. The concerts will be held between October 2011 and May 2012 in the Sundin Music Hall at Hamline University.
Mixed Precipitation $10,000
http://www.mixedprecipitation.org/
Funding to produce and stage the annual Picnic Operetta, a site-specific musical performance in community gardens combining dining and storytelling. The project will take place in summer 2012.
Open Eye Figure Theatre $10,000
http://www.openeyetheatre.org
Funding to present the 10th annual Driveway Tour, which will offer original, professional puppet theater to more than 100 communities in the Twin Cities area during summer 2012.
Patrick’s Cabaret $7,500
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 2011.
Plymouth Christian Youth Center $10,000
http://pcyc-mpls.org
Funding for the Capri Summer Theater Arts Institute offering youth an intensive five-week experience in developing and staging theatre. The project will take place in summer 2012.
Red Eye Collaboration $10,000
http://www.redeyetheater.org
Funding for NEW WORKS 4 WEEKS 2012, a multidisciplinary performance festival that serves as the culmination of Red Eye’s artist development programs that provide space and technical support for the creation of new work. The project will begin in winter 2011.
Tapestry Folkdance Center $7,400
http://tapestryfolkdance.org/
Funding for a youth outreach project to keep folk dance traditions growing and thriving in the Twin Cities. The project will include six dances on or near several local college campuses beginning in fall 2011.
The Singers - Minnesota Choral Artists $10,000
http://www.singersmca.org
Funding to present New Landscapes: Lang, Muhly and O’Regan, a concert of works by three composers who have influenced contemporary American choral music. The organization will partner with Artaria String Quartet for two performances in April 2012.
The Unseen Ghost Brigade $10,000
Funding for Twilight of the Mississippi, a feature-length documentary film following a performance troupe as they raft down the Mississippi River. The film highlights the diverse peoples whose lives are heavily influenced by the River and will be screened at several Twin Cities locations in spring 2012.
Theatre Novi Most $10,000
http://theatrenovimost.org
Funding to produce and present Crossings, a new performance that combines two plays: Picnic on the Battlefield and Enchanted Night. Performances will take place at the Southern Theater in March 2012.
Theatre Unbound $10,000
http://www.theatreunbound.com
Funding to present twelve performances of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, directed by Carin Bratlie and featuring an all-female cast. Performances will take place at the Lowry Lab in spring 2012.
Twin Cities Jazz Workshops $10,000
http://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 2012.
Urban Arts Academy $10,000
http://www.urbanartsacademy.org
Funding to provide free, bilingual Arts Expression classes after school during the 2012 academic year for up to 100 youth in grades K to 8. Classes will take place at the organization’s South Minneapolis location.
Urban Spectrum Theatre $8,200
http://www.urbanspectrumtheatre.com
Funding to engage teens and young adults in arts classes and workshops that will culminate in a community production of John Sayles’ Honeydripper. Performances will take place at Old Arizona in May 2012.
Walking Shadow Theatre Company $10,000
http://www.walkingshadowcompany.org
Funding to produce and stage Oscar Wilde’s, An Ideal Husband, a play about responsibility in love and government, with a special focus on exploring the script’s provocative views on gender relations. Performances will take place at the Red Eye Theater in February 2012.
Weaver’s Guild of Minnesota $10,000
http://www.weaversguildmn.org
Funding to support and broaden the organization’s education program by collaborating with community partners and developing satellite locations. The program will run from November 2011 though May 2012.
Ramsey County
Amherst H. Wilder Foundation $10,000
http://www.wilder.org
Funding to provide two ten-week sessions of The Dancing Heart program led by Kairos Dance Theatre from October 2011 through February 2012.
Artsy Aging Project $5,266
Funding for six months of arts programming for seniors. Programming will take place at senior homes in the 7-county metro area.
Bach Society of Minnesota $10,000
http://www.bachsocietymn.org
Funding for two concerts in their 2011 – 2012 season, one featuring a performance of Bach’s St. John Passion and the other highlighting two of Bach’s rarely heard solo cantatas. Performances will take place at St. Mary’s Chapel on the campus of the St. Paul Seminary and at Sundin Music Hall at Hamline University.
East Side Arts Council $10,000
http://www.eastsideartscouncil.org
Funding for Artmobile, 7 weeks of free drop-in art classes featuring musicians from McNally Smith College of Music at public spaces around the east side of St. Paul in the summer of 2012.
Gremlin Theatre $10,000
http://www.gremlin-theatre.org
Funding for After Miss Julie, a new adaptation of the play Miss Julie by August Strindberg. Performances will take place at the James J. Hill House in St. Paul in November 2011.
Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health $10,000
http://www.macmh.org
Funding for Beyond Fidgety Fairy Tales: The Fourth Mental Health Musical, a 40-minute performance using familiar fairy tales to illustrate symptoms of children's common mental health disorders. Twelve performances will take place throughout the metro area in April 2012.
Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company $10,000
http://www.mnjewishtheatre.org
Funding for the regional premiere of Our Class. Performances will take place at the Hillcrest Recreation Center in October and November 2011.
Oratorio Society of Minnesota $10,000
http://www.oratorio.org
Funding for winter and spring concerts in their 2011 – 2012 season. Esther by Handel will be presented at Sundin Music Hall at Hamline University in March 2012 and the spring concert will take place at St. Olaf Catholic Church in downtown Minneapolis in May 2012.
Skylark Opera $6,040
http://www.skylarkopera.org
Funding for two free public concerts, the first featuring the music of George Gershwin and the second featuring music by Noel Coward in a one-man biographical show. Performances will take place at the Landmark Center in downtown St. Paul.
Teatro del Pueblo $10,000
http://www.teatrodelpueblo.org
Funding to present The House on Mango Street, a collaborative theater performance with Pangea World Theater. Performances will take place in April 2012.
Thursday Musical $10,000
http://www.thursdaymusical.com
Funding for twelve concerts in the Thursday Morning Artist Series featuring solo artists every other Thursday from October 2011 through April 2012 at the Schneider Theater in the Bloomington Center for the Arts.
TU Dance $10,000
http://www.tudance.org
Funding for two performances in their 2011 – 2012 season featuring world premier dances and guest performers. Performances will take place at O’Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul in November 2011 and the Cowles Center for Dance and the Performing Arts in May 2012.
Twin Cities Women's Choir $10,000
http://www.twincitieswomenschoir.org
Funding for Surround Sound: The Fifteenth Anniversary Concert featuring guest artists Bruce Henry and his band. The concert will take place at Central Presbyterian Church in St. Paul in February 2012.
Veterans in the Arts $9,510
http://www.veteransinthearts.org/
Funding for six introductory art classes for military veterans from September 2011 through June 2012. Classes will take place at the Veteran’s Resource Center in New Brighton and travel to six partnering arts centers.
Scott County
New Prague Arts Council $8,000
Funding for Towering to Our Future, a public art project engaging local seniors in the creation of bronze bas plaques that will be incorporated into a larger sculpture. The resulting tower sculpture will be permanently installed in Philipp’s Park in New Prague.
Suburban Hennepin County
Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project $9,950
http://www.reconciliationproject.org
Funding for a curated visual arts exhibition featuring the art of five contemporary Iraqi women artists. The exhibition will take place at Intermedia Arts in February and March 2012.
Katha Dance Theatre $10,000
http://www.kathadance.org
Funding for In Retrospect, an evening length performance celebrating their 25th anniversary and featuring past collaborators along with new material. The performance will take place at the O’Shaughnessy Auditorium in St. Paul in April 2012.
Minneapolis Jewish Film Festival $10,000
http://sabesjcc.org/arts_film_festival.htm
Funding for the Minneapolis Jewish Film Festival, an annual event presenting feature films, documentaries, and shorts from around the world on themes of Jewish culture and identity. The festival will take place at Sabes Jewish Community Center in April 2012.
Partnership Resources, Inc. $8,295
http://www.partnershipresources.org
Funding for Subject: Impressionism, a series of art classes introducing the works of Impressionist and Post-Impressionist artists to adults with developmental disabilities. The activities will take place between October 2011 and February 2012 and culminate in a public exhibition of student work.
Reach for Resources, Inc. $2,000
http://www.reachforresources.org/
Funding for Art Abilities, a four-part workshop introducing teens and adults with developmental disabilities to a variety of fine art forms. Workshops will take place at the Brooklyn Center Community Center in October and November 2011 and culminate in an art exhibition at the Minnetonka Community Center in December.
Yellow Tree Theatre $10,000
http://www.yellowtreetheatre.com
Funding to present Still Life with Iris by Steven Dietz. Performances will take place at Yellow Tree Theatre in Osseo in February 2012.
Suburban Ramsey County
Minhua Chorus $10,000
http://minhuachorus.org
Funding for Twenty Years of Music, an anniversary concert reflecting on Chinese Minnesotans’ cultural heritage, acculturation, and integration in American society. The concert will take place at O’Shaughnessy Auditorium in December 2011.
White Bear Center for the Arts $10,000
http://www.whitebeararts.org
Funding for Arts Are for Everyone, providing up to 75 art classes in diverse art forms over a 12-week period. Classes will be held at the White Bear Center for the Arts beginning in December 2011.
Washington County
East Metro Symphony Orchestra $10,000
Funding for four concerts in the 2011 – 2012 season featuring barbershop choral works, a performance with 8th to 12th grade musicians, a concert celebrating different world cultures, and musicians in solo and small group performances. Concerts will take place between January and May 2012.
Square Lake Film and Music Festival $10,000
http://www.squarelakefestival.com
Funding for the 2012 Square Lake Film and Music Festival, an annual outdoor film and music event featuring a juried film festival of film shorts and animation, a commissioned film score performance, and live local music. The festival will take place in August 2012.
FY 2011 Management Consulting Fund Grant Awards (top of page)
In Fiscal Year 2011, the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Awarded $40,380 to 28 Arts Organizations in the Management Consulting Fund program. The Management Consulting Fund program offers grants of up to $1,500 to provide consultants for groups to complete small projects to strengthen the management or administration of the group. The following is a complete list of grantees sorted by county that includes award amounts and links to the grantee's website (when available).
Carver County
Arts Consortium of Carver County $1250
http://www.artsofcarvercounty.org
Dakota County
Caponi Art Park $1500
http://www.caponiartpark.org
Dakota County Regional Arts Collaboration $1500
Hastings/Prescott Area Arts Council $1430
Rosemount Area Arts Council $1400
http://www.rosemountaac.org
Hennepin County
20% Theatre Company Twin Cities $1200
http://www.tctwentypercent.org
ARENA Dances, Inc. $1500
http://www.arena-dances.org
Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center $1500
http://www.cafac.org
Contemporary Dance Arts $1500
http://www.shapiroandsmithdance.org
Diverse Emerging Music Organization (DEMO) $1500
http://www.demomn.org
Junior Composers $1500
http://www.juniorcomposers.org
Kulture Klub Collaborative $1400
http://www.kultureklub.org
Minnesota Productions, Inc. $1000
http://www.minnesotaproductions.com/index.htm
Rainbow Rumpus $1500
http://www.rainbowrumpus.org
Red Eye Collaboration $1500
http://www.redeyetheater.org
Walking Shadow Theatre Company $1200
http://www.walkingshadowcompany.org
Weaver’s Guild of Minnesota $1500
http://www.weaversguildmn.org
Ramsey County
Consortium Carissimi $1500
http://www.consortiumcarissimi.org
Lex-Ham Community Arts $1500
http://www.lexhamarts.org
Motionpoems $1500
One Voice Mixed Chorus $1500
http://www.ovmc.org
Oratorio Society of Minnesota $1500
http://www.oratorio.org
Suburban Hennepin County
Allegro Orchestral Association $1500
http://www.allegronotes.org
Bloomington Fine Arts Council $1500
http://bloomingtonfinearts.com
City of Eden Prairie - Eden Prairie Players $1500
http://www.edenprairie.org/vCurrent/live/article.asp?r=6114
Mentoring Peace Through Art $1500
http://www.mentoringpeace.org/Mentoring_Peace_Through_Art/Welcome.html
Yellow Tree Theatre $1500
http://www.yellowtreetheatre.com
Suburban Ramsey County
White Bear Center for the Arts $1500
http://www.whitebeararts.org
FY 2011 Management Training Fund Grant Awards - Round 2 (top of page)
In Fiscal Year 2011, the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Awarded $9362 in grants to 27 Arts Organizations in the Management Training Fund program. The Management Training Fund program offers grants of up to $600 annually to provide training funds for the staff and volunteers of nonprofit arts groups to attend management workshops, seminars, or conferences. The following is a complete list of grantees sorted by county with the award amounts and links to the grantee's website (when available).
Dakota
Burnsville Visual Arts Society $390
http://www.bvasmn.com
Caponi Art Park $235
http://www.caponiartpark.org
City of Lakes Chorus $600
Hennepin
Altered Esthetics $95
http://www.alteredesthetics.org
Givens Foundation for African American Literature $225
http://www.givens.org
Live Action Set $95
http://www.liveactionset.org
Minnesota Spoken Word Association $400
Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association $65
http://www.nemaa.org
Rainbow Rumpus $165
http://www.rainbowrumpus.org
She Rock She Rock $600
http://www.girlsrocknrollretreat.com/fr_index.cfm
Weaver’s Guild of Minnesota $600
http://www.weaversguildmn.org
Ramsey
East Side Arts Council $90
http://www.eastsideartscouncil.org
Nautilus Music-Theater $550
http://www.nautilusmusictheater.org/
North Star Chorus $595
http://www.northstarchorus.org
One Voice Mixed Chorus $60
http://www.ovmc.org
Rhythmically Speaking $338
Saint Paul Almanac $225
http://www.saintpaulalmanac.com
Saint Paul Festival Association $475
Sounds of Hope, Ltd. $299
http://www.soundsofhope.org
Walker West Music Academy $600
http://www.walkerwestmusicacademy.org
Suburban Hennepin
Crossroads Panorama $600
Minnesota Creative Arts and Aging Network $75
St. Louis Park Friends of the Arts $502
http://www.slpfriendsofthearts.org
Twin Cities Youth Chorale $380
http://www.tcyouthchorale.org.
Suburban Ramsey
Great Northern Union Chorus $600
Lakeshore Players, Inc. $348
http://www.lakeshoreplayers.com
White Bear Center for the Arts $135
http://www.whitebeararts.org
2011 Arts Activities Support Grant Awards (top of page)
In June 2011, the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council Awarded $535,419 in Grants for Arts Activities Support to 57 Arts Organizations in the seven-county metropolitan area. The organizations and projects chosen demonstrate both strong artistic quality and a connection to a community need. This round's funded projects include visiting artisit series, outdoor art festivals, concerts, theater performances, visual art exhibitions, puppetry, dance, spoken word, film festivals, and more.
The following is a complete list of grantees sorted by county of affiliation that includes award amounts, project summaries, and links to the grantees' websites.
Dakota County
Black Dirt Theater $10,000
Funding for an original theatrical work and visual art experience based on stories gathered from the community. Performances will take place at Hastings Middle School Auditorium in November 2011.
Dakota Center for the Arts $10,000
Funding for the 18th annual Eagan Art Festival, a free two-day outdoor festival featuring a broad range of entertainment and arts activities for all ages. The festival will take place at the Eagan Community Center in June 2012.
Hastings Concert Association $2,400
Funding for four free music concerts as part of their summer concert series. The concerts will take place at the LeDuc Historic Estate in Hastings in August 2011.
Hennepin County
20% Theatre Company Twin Cities $9,500
http://www.tctwentypercent.org
Funding to produce and stage the regional premiere of Lisa Meyers’ The Birth of Venus. Performances will take place at the Cedar Riverside People’s Center in October 2011.
Alan Berks & Company $10,000
Funding to present a revised and more fully realized artistic production of How to Cheat, a comedy about morality. Performances will take place at the Southern Theater in November 2011.
Ananya Dance Theatre $10,000
http://www.ananyadancetheatre.org
Funding to create and produce Tushaanal/fires of dry grass, an original, evening-length dance theater piece exploring women’s stories of violence, trauma, and survival in global communities of color. Performances will take place at the Southern Theater in September 2011.
Art Shanty Projects $10,000
http://www.artshantyprojects.org
Funding to curate and present a free four-week interactive exhibit of performance and visual art on frozen Medicine Lake in Plymouth. The exhibit will be on view in winter 2012.
Barebones Productions $10,000
http://www.barebonespuppets.org/
Funding to stage the 18th 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 2011.
Beyond Ballroom Dance Company $10,000
http://www.beyondballroom.org
Funding to create and present a new dance work incorporating film footage and an ensemble of professional ballroom dancers. Performances will take place as part of the inaugural season of the Cowles Center in Minneapolis in February 2012.
BodyCartography Project $10,000
http://www.bodycartography.org
Funding to develop and present Super Nature, an interdisciplinary contemporary work investigating human nature in a way that invites empathy and causes viewers to ask questions about themselves, their behavior and society. Performances will take place as part of the Walker Art Center’s Performing Arts season in April 2012.
Brazen Theatre Company $10,000
http://www.brazentheatre.org
Funding to produce and stage The Boys in the Band, and The Property Known As Garland, which explore issues of bullying and suicide in the GLBT community. Performances will take place at The Lowry Lab Theater.
Contemporary Dance Arts $10,000
http://www.shapiroandsmithdance.org
Funding for the 25th Anniversary Concert, featuring two new works by Joanie Smith and one from the Shapiro & Smith repertory. Performances will take place as part of the inaugural year of the Goodale Theater in the Cowles Center, in April 2012.
Fool’s Productions $10,000
http://www.theatreoffools.com
Funding for the 3rd annual Fools Holiday Series consisting of a Halloween themed show entitled A Spirit of Halloween, a winter show entitled A Life of Serious Nonsense, and a spring show entitled Cirque de la Loon. Performances will take place at the Jewel Theatre in downtown St. Paul.
Four Humors Theater $9,800
http://www.fourhumorstheater.com
Funding to present the original comedy How to Supervise Your Man, an adaptation of a depression-era insurance manual into a look at American economic values. Performances will take place at the Loring Theater in September 2011.
Franklin Art Works $10,000
http://www.franklinartworks.org
Funding to present an exhibition by Brooklyn-based artist Shawn Cheng premiering a series of screen prints that explore the history, mythology, legend, and folktales of the artist’s native Taiwan.
Indian Music Society of Minnesota $10,000
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.
Jazz at Studio Z $10,000
Funding for Jazz at Studio Z, a yearlong series of monthly jazz workshops and concerts featuring local musicians. Workshops and performances will take place at Studio Z in downtown St. Paul between September 2011 and June 2012.
Kaotic Good Productions $10,000
http://kaoticgood.com/
Funding to produce and present Diabetes of Democracy, a multidisciplinary performance project that uses culturally-specific cuisine and storytelling to raise awareness of Type 2 Diabetes. Performances will take place at Intermedia Arts in October 2011.
Kulture Klub Collaborative $10,000
http://www.kultureklub.org
Funding to create, record, and distribute an album of spoken word and music written by youth experiencing homelessness.
Lao Assistance Center of Minnesota $10,000
http://www.laocenter.org
Funding for a six-month arts intensive training program, partnering Lao youth and emerging artists with an Oscar-nominated Lao director, award-winning writers, performers, and visual artists. Activities will take place in North Minneapolis between July and December 2011.
Live Action Set $10,000
http://www.liveactionset.org
Funding to create and produce a world premier play based on Edward Gorey’s children’s book, Fletcher and Zenobia Save the Circus. Performances will take place during the Minnesota Fringe Festival at the Mill City Museum in August 2011.
Lyndale Neighborhood Association $10,000
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 and Painter Park in Minneapolis.
Minneapolis Guitar Quartet Association $10,000
http://www.minneapolisguitarquartet.com
Funding to present the world premieres of two newly commissioned works for the quartet. Gao Hong’s Impressions of Dong Minority People for Pipa and Guitar Quartet, and Van Stiefel’s Cinema Castaneda, will be performed at Twin Cities locations in March 2012.
Minneapolis Musical Theatre $10,000
http://www.aboutmmt.org
Funding to produce and stage The Story of My Life, a musical that tells the story of two childhood friends, and how that friendship profoundly defined their lives. Performances will take place at the Illusion Theater in March 2012.
Minneapolis Thanksgiving Celebration Pow-Wow Committee $10,000
Funding for the 2011 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 2011 Thanksgiving weekend.
Minneapolis Urban League $10,000
http://www.mul.org
Funding for a six-week ceramics project and the African American Culture Camp, an annual six-day art immersion camp for youth. The project will begin in August 2011.
Minnesota Philharmonic Orchestra $10,000
http://www.mnphil.org
Funding for the organization’s fall concert, featuring internationally renowned violin soloist Andrew Sords. Performances will take place at Sundin Hall in November 2011.
Mizna $10,000
http://www.mizna.org
Funding for the 7th annual Arab Film Festival. The four-day festival will feature 20 films by Arab and Arab-American emerging, independent, and established filmmakers. The event will take place at The Heights Theatre in November 2011.
Rain Taxi, Inc. $10,000
http://www.raintaxi.com
Funding for the 11th annual Twin Cities Book Festival, a free one-day public literary event featuring readings, panel discussions, book signings, writing workshops, book art demonstrations, storytelling, and other activities for all ages. The festival will take place at the Minneapolis Community and Technical College in October 2011.
St. Stephen’s Human Services $10,000
http://www.zamyatheater.org
Funding for the 2011 Roadshow, an original interactive performance work developed in collaboration with both housed and homeless people. Performances will run during National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week at several venues throughout the Twin Cities in fall 2011.
Theatre Pro Rata $10,000
http://www.theatreprorata.org/
Funding to stage and produce Jon Klein’s T Bone N Weasel, and William Mastrosimone’s Cat’s Paw. Performances will take place at Gremlin Theater in September 2011 and March 2012, respectively.
Upstream Arts, Inc. $10,000
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.
We Win Institute, Inc. $10,000
http://www.we-win.org
Funding for the Kwanzaa program, a series of classes for youth on African dance, storytelling, spoken word, hip-hop, and R&B. The classes will culminate in a Kwanzaa celebration at the Sabathani Community Center in December 2011.
Where Condor Meets Eagle Planning Committee $10,000
Funding for a three-day international film festival featuring 12 works by Indigenous filmmakers of Bolivia, Canada, and Minnesota. The festival will include audience discussions with directors and additional films produced by local youth. The festival will take place at the Parkway Theater in March 2012.
Young Dance, Inc. $10,000
http://www.youngdance.org
Funding for Young Dance At-Large, a season of site-specific work created with guest artists and performed by the company at different locations in Minneapolis. The season will culminate in a performance at the Barbara Barker Center for Dance in May 2012.
Ramsey County
Arcata Press dba Saint Paul Almanac $10,000
http://www.saintpaulalmanac.com
Funding for the 2013 St. Paul Almanac, an annual publishing of amateur and professional literary artists. The 2013 St. Paul Almanac will be released in September 2012.
Calliope Women’s Chorus $1,910
http://www.calliopewomenschorus.org
Funding for Calliope’s Song, a program to increase members’ repertoire of songs that includes workshops, rehearsals, and community outreach performances. Activities will take place between October 2011 and May 2012.
Center for Irish Music $10,000
http://www.centerforirishmusic.org
Funding for the 2011 – 2012 Visiting Artist Series comprised of the Visiting Master Artists’ Weekend in October 2011 and the Minnesota Irish Musicians’ Weekend in June 2012. Events will be held at Celtic Junction in St. Paul.
Consortium Carissimi $8,250
http://www.consortiumcarissimi.org/
Funding for the 2011 – 2012 Concert Season, a series of four concerts of Italian Baroque music of the 16th and 17th centuries. Concerts will take place at The Chapel of St. Mary at the St. Paul Seminary between September 2011 and April 2012.
In Progress $10,000
http://inprogresshome.blogspot.com
Funding for The Critical Eye, a digital arts mentorship program for youth ages 10 to 20. Activities will take place from July 2011 through May 2012.
Kantorei, Inc. $10,000
http://www.kantorei.net
Funding for Singing for a Lifetime, the 2011 – 2012 subscription season featuring six full concerts divided into three series. Concerts will take place between November 2011 and May 2012.
Lyra Baroque Orchestra $10,000
http://www.lyrabaroque.org
Funding for the 2011 – 2012 Season featuring five Baroque concerts and a master class series. Performances will take place at Sundin Hall at Hamline University in St. Paul between October 2011 and May 2012.
Minnesota Sunshine Dance $10,000
Funding for Longing for the Qeej, an original Hmong dance drama. Performances will be presented at the Minnesota Fringe Festival and other community celebrations between August 2011 and January 2012.
Nautilus Music-Theater $10,000
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.
People Incorporated $9,000
http://www.peopleincorporated.org
Funding for the Artability Show and Sale, a three-day event for artists with mental illness to exhibit and sell their artwork.
Remembering With Dignity $10,000
http://www.selfadvocacy.com/programs/rwd
Funding for Remembering with Dignity, a visual arts project involving artists with developmental disabilities and featuring studio sessions and field trips. The project will culminate in an exhibition at Newell Park in St. Paul in May 2012.
Rhythmically Speaking $10,000
Funding for the annual Choreographers Showcase featuring five to nine emerging and established local choreographers. The showcase will take place in August 2012.
Saint Paul Civic Symphony $10,000
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.
Scott County
River Valley Theatre Company $4,179
http://www.rivervalleytheatrecompany.com
Funding for eight performances of Lend Me a Tenor, a theatrical comedy. Performances will take place at Shakopee Junior High in November 2011.
Suburban Hennepin County
Cambodian-American Women Artists $10,000
Funding for interactive visual arts workshops for Cambodian-American women artists that will culminate in an exhibition. The exhibition will take place in Minneapolis in late 2011 to early 2012.
Great Northern Union Chorus $10,000
Funding for the Summer Youth Chorus, providing education, coaching, and performance opportunities for young men of high school and college age. Activities will take place between February and July 2012.
Mama Mosaic Theater $10,000
http://www.myspace.com/mamamosaictheater
Funding for Mama Mosaic’s Conservatory, a two-week intensive theater-training program for young women of color. The summer 2011 program will culminate in a public performance to be held at Pillsbury House Theatre in Minneapolis.
Mentoring Peace Through Art $10,000
http://www.mentoringpeace.org/Mentoring_Peace_Through_Art/Welcome.html
Funding for a 12,000 square foot, anti-gang graffiti mural to be created by community members lead by artist Jimmy Langoria. The mural will be painted on a retaining wall between August and October 2011.
Twin Cities Jewish Chorale $8,000
http://www.choralnet.org/view/245969
Funding for the 2011-2012 Season of concerts, rehearsals, and outreach. Performances will take place at Sabes Jewish Community Center in Minneapolis.
Suburban Ramsey County
Contempo-Physical Dance Project $10,000
Funding for a new full-length dance performance featuring a hybrid form of Afro-Brazilian contemporary dance and capoeira. Performances will be held at the Ritz Theater in Minneapolis in winter 2012.
Washington County
ArtReach St. Croix $10,000
http://www.artreachstcroix.org
Funding for youth visual arts programming consisting of the annual Art on the Lawn community event and a series of three to five week visual art classes. Programming will take place at ArtReach St. Croix in Stillwater between August 2011 and February 2012.
Newport’s Mosaic Mural Project $2,380
Funding for the Newport Mosaic Mural Project consisting of mosaic workshops for youth and adults living in the Newport area and culminating with an installation of a community mosaic mural overlooking the Mississippi River in August 2011.
FY 2011 Next Step Fund Grant Awards (top of page)
The Metropolitan Regional Arts Council’s (MRAC) Next Step Fund will provide 34 individual artists with the means to make significant advances in their artistic careers. The Next Step Fund, funded by The McKnight Foundation, is designed to help artists in the 7-county metropolitan region with a history of public presentation or community contribution to complete a project that will help them rise to their next level regardless of whether they are emerging artists or artists well established in their disciplines. The program was the result of The McKnight Foundation's emphasis on support for individual artists and a shared MRAC/McKnight Foundation vision to support an environment in which artists are valued leaders in our community with access to the resources and opportunities they need to succeed. More than 370 artists applied for the 34 grants given. Fifty finalists were asked to submit work samples as background information and support for their Next Step project. Artists could work in any discipline but must have a community connection and demonstrated achievement in their artistic field.
The following are this round’s award recipients with short project descriptions.
Berit Ahlgren $5,000
Dance - modern
Funding to expand this artist’s dance training by exploring the Gaga movement style developed by Ohad Narin, director of Batsheva Dance Company in Tel Aviv, Israel, by attending a two-week workshop with the originating dance company. The project will expand the artist's dance ability and enhance the diversity of the dance community in the Twin Cities.
J. Allen $5,000
Music - new/experimental/electronic
Funding for the artist to build on his success with the Spark Festival and recent composition commissions and performances by developing a professional studio recording.
E.G. Bailey $5,000
Multidisciplinary
Funding for the research and development for a spoken word and theatre stage adaptation of Amiri Baraka's Wise Why's Y's. The project includes study with Baraka to better understand the work, workshop development with dancers, performers, and musicians, and a work-in-progress showcase.
Kaitin Kelly Benedict $3,100
Dance - general
Funding to attend the Complexions Professional Dance Workshop in New York. This workshop will provide classes to improve dance techniques and the opportunity to learn from and network with 40 other advanced professional dancers.
Mary Ann Bradley $3,804
Dance - modern
Funding to attend the Pantheatre Singing and Choreographic Theater Workshop in France. This workshop will allow the artist to incorporate voice performance into dance choreography. The learning will also enhance the artist’s own teaching.
Joan Bren $4,980
Dance - ethnic/jazz/folk-inspired
Funding for the creation of professionally-produced video presentations of Flamenco dance in studio and site-specific settings. The video documentation will build artist name recognition, be used in submissions for grants, fellowships, commissions, auditions, and fundraising, and be submitted to the Cinema Revolution Society Dance Film Project.
Tim Donahue $5,000
Music - new/experimental/electronic
Funding to purchase high quality equipment that will allow the artist to undertake new higher-profile opportunities. The new equipment will increase the sonic quality of the music and increase the caliber of projects he can fulfill.
Deborah Elias $5,000
Dance - ethnic/jazz/folk-inspired
Funding to develop marketing materials. The marketing materials will allow the artist to brand herself in order to increase opportunities as an individual artist.
James Everest $5,000
Music - new/experimental/electronic
Funding to mix, master and release a CD with music recorded at several live improvised music concerts. The project will help build audience and a national reputation and lead to increased opportunities and artistic growth.
Greg Ganeles $5,000
Visual Arts - painting
Funding to relocate to a new painting studio with more space and ventilation that can accommodate large scale paintings and the use of spray paint and to purchase studio equipment to document work and increase Web presence.
Miriam Gerberg $5,000
Music - general
Funding to produce CD masters of the artist’s original compositions. The project will allow the artist to collect and reflect on her current body of work, to professionally record her stronger pieces, and to release the music as a way to build new audiences.
Sara Hanson $5,000
Visual Arts - sculpture
Funding for the installation of a metal furnace and supplies for new cast metal artworks. This installation will provide the ability for the artist to complete works for a solo gallery show.
Ryan Hill $5,000
Theater - general
Funding for a training and mentoring experience at Theatre of Yugen in San Francisco. This experience will provide rigorous training in the Japanese art form of Noh, the further development of ensemble leadership skills, opportunities to advance playwriting skills, and has the potential to expand artist exchanges and touring opportunities for Minnesota theatres.
Alison Hiltner $5,000
Visual Arts - sculpture
Funding to purchase a 3D printer to enhance artistic construction. The printer would provide the artist with new and more efficient ways to create the structure integral to her work.
Wilt Hodges $5,000
Literature - poetry
Funding to enroll in a Loft Literary Center course and for a retreat to develop new material. This project will provide instruction in literary craft and the time needed to create a poetry chapbook and pursue publication in literary journals that will then serve as admission materials for the Givens Foundation for African American Literature program.
Linda Kachelmeier $5,000
Music - choral
Funding to expand the artist’s body of work by creating and recording a composition of 5 art songs for solo tenor voice and piano based on the poems of Arthur Upson. The need for only two musicians will allow for more performance opportunities and the recording will help promote the artist as a new composer of art songs.
Wendy Knox $5,000
Theater - general
Funding to attend the annual La Mama International Symposium for Directors in Spoleto, Italy. This symposium of international directors, choreographers, and theatre artists who represent a variety of theatrical perspectives will provide a chance to learn, stimulate creativity, build bridges with other artists, and grow as a director.
Malichansouk Kouanchao $5,000
Visual Arts - general
Funding for a Lao visual arts audience development project culminating in the artist’s first solo visual art show. The project will provide arts coaching, marketing materials, professional editing and Lao translation for the literary components of the show, time to refine the creative work and time to expand art networks for touring and presentations.
Marc Levine $5,000
Music - chamber
Funding to study Baroque violin in Europe with a master teacher. The master lessons will provide the opportunity to learn new Baroque music techniques and will increase the artist’s level of musicianship, which will be brought back to the Twin Cities Baroque music scene.
Douglas Little $5,000
Music - general
Funding to organize and digitize original sheet music, and to create a new website to sell music online. This project will provide a new revenue stream for the artist and has the potential to help other composers of new music.
Lee Love $5,000
Crafts - clay
Funding to install a gas line and 220v electric capacity for kilns and heat. This installation will allow the artist to spend more time creating work and allow him to open his studio to guest artists and students as well as for neighborhood art crawls to increase engagement in the creation of his Japanese-inspired ceramics.
Kelly Marshall $5,000
Crafts - fiber
Funding to document artistic work in fiber arts through the publication of a book on the artistic process of combining fiber with color and pattern and on bringing weaving from functional textile to an art piece. The project will include the editing, layout, and printing of the book and will increase the artist name recognition as a weaver and instructor.
Marcia McEachron $5,000
Visual Arts - sculpture
Funding for the artist to transition from metalworking to painting as a primary artistic focus. This project will provide materials, exhibition costs, participation in an independent artist critique group, and website development as she returns to her artistic roots.
Tamara Nadel $5,000
Dance - ethnic/jazz/folk-inspired
Funding to engage in intensive study of Carnatic music, the classical music of South India. The project will include weekly intensive private lessons and the time necessary to develop a deeper, more advanced understanding of the music form.
Margaret Pezalla-Granlund $5,000
Visual Arts - experimental
Funding to support the artist’s first exhibition in a commercial gallery. This funding will ensure everything produced for the exhibition is well-crafted and professionally presented and that the work is professionally documented. The exhibition will also include an artist’s book that will have source information, research, sketches, and a professionally-written short essay.
Toni Pierce-Sands $5,000
Dance - modern
Funding to advance the artist’s dance technique by participating in the Lester Horton Pedagogy workshop at the Ailey School. The workshop will provide opportunities to review Horton modern dance techniques, discuss teaching methods, trouble areas, and ideas for putting this technique into practice, and to observe rehearsals at the American Alvin Ailey Dance Theater to see how the Horton technique is applied by different choreographers.
Annie Rollins $5,000
Theater - puppetry
Funding for the creation and performance of a Chinese-shadow puppet show. The project will combine the artist’s knowledge of design with traditional Chinese puppetry forms in order to launch her career as a puppet artist.
Alonso Sierralta $4,050
Visual Arts - sculpture
Funding for the artist to create his first public sculpture at Silverwood Park in St. Anthony. This project will provide experience in creating outdoor public art, exposure to more than 200,000 park visitors each year, and an opportunity to work with new artistic materials and processes.
Megan Smith $5,000
Music - ethnic/folk-inspired
Funding to compose a body of work reflecting Japanese Taiko drum training and personal creativity, establish a national workshop circuit, increase local student base, purchase drums and performance equipment and to create opportunities to perform as a solo artist.
Timothy Takach $5,000
Music - chamber
Funding for this choral composer to write his first instrumental solo as a way to expand audience, develop diversity in his work, and increase his artistic experimentation with forms. The project will include a premier performance of the work and a recording.
Emily Taylor $5,000
Theater - puppetry
Funding for the artist’s first large-scale original puppet art production. The project will provide the artist with a chance to challenge herself artistically, to explore new forms in a familiar context, and the opportunity to direct. The project includes the rental of performance and rehearsal space.
Tara Tieso $5,000
Visual Arts - painting
Funding for a studio upgrade that includes improvements to the ventilation system that would allow the artist to work safely for longer periods of time, supplies and tools for the art form, framing equipment, storage space, and website development to support the artist’s professionalization and to increase visibility.
Dale Vandenhouten $5,000
Funding to purchase an etching press. This purchase will provide the ability to produce art year round and to create artworks in larger dimensions, ultimately allowing for more gallery shows.
Jantje Visscher $5,000
Visual Arts - sculpture
Funding to make the artist’s light sculptures more archival by upgrading from plastic materials to glass and from halogen lights to the more environmental LED bulbs. This project will provide the ability to bring the artist’s light sculptures into public spaces and to reduce the artist’s carbon footprint.
FY 2011 Arts Learning Grant Awards - Round 2 (top of page)
The second round of MRAC's FY2011 Arts Learning grants will fund 30 Arts Learning projects that will provide high-quality, age-appropriate arts education for Minnesotans of all ages to develop knowledge, skills, and understanding of the arts. MRAC's goals for the Arts Learning grant program are to cultivate creativity and deepen knowledge of and/or through the arts for children, youth, and adults by engaging people in extended arts experiences and activities with clearly articulated learning objectives. The Arts Learning grant program is a direct result of the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Legacy Amendment. 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 awarded projects sorted by the county of affiliation. Organization websites are included when available as a way to get more information about the groups and awarded projects.
Dakota County
Allegro Choral Academy $8,425
http://www.allegroca.org/
Funding for the new "Vivace West" music education and performance program for students in grades two to eight in Rosemount and Savage. The project will run from September 2011 through April 2012.
Hennepin County
ArtiCulture $10,000
http://www.articulture.org
Funding to implement a stipend-based intern program to train and cultivate future arts educators in ArtiCulture's 2011 summer camp program.
Creatives for Causes/Art Buddies $10,000
http://www.artbuddies.org/
Funding for the Art Buddies program pairing 80 creative mentors one-on-one with 80 low-income students ages eight to eleven in the Community Education After-School program at Whittier International Elementary School in Minneapolis during the 2011-12 school year.
Flying Foot Forum $10,000
http://www.flyingfootforum.com
Funding for Percussive "Dance That Makes Music" Residencies in three Twin Cities area high schools that will provide youth with an opportunity to work with professional percussive dancers and choreographers over the course of two to four weeks.
Franklin Art Works $10,000
http://www.franklinartworks.org
Funding for a free eight-week summer program of advanced photography instruction for 50 Twin Cities area youth ages fifteen to seventeen in June and July of 2011.
Indonesian Performing Arts Association of MN d.b.a Sumunar $8,000
http://www.sumunar.org
Funding for an Indonesian performing arts residency at Lake Country Montessori School in Minneapolis involving students in grades four to six in gamelan music, traditional dance, and shadow puppetry. The residency will occur in 2012.
Inverted Arts $10,000
Funding for an Art Camp during which students in grades six to nine will be trained by professional artists in music, video, visual art, or theater and dance. The project is in partnership with Hope Academy in South Minneapolis and will take place for two weeks in June and July of 2011.
Les Jolies Petites School of Dance $10,000
http://www.lesjoliespetites.org/
Funding for the 2011 summer workshops focusing on modern dance at the School's North Minneapolis studio.
Medieval Minnesota $10,000
http://web.augsburg.edu/~adamo/medieval/medieval_minnesota2.html
Funding for the sixth annual immersive residential summer history camp for students ages fourteen to eighteen on the Augsburg College campus in July 2011.
Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association $10,000
Funding to expand the Orchestra's "Kids Play" free music mentoring program for high school orchestra students during the 2011-12 school year.
OverExposure $10,000
http://www.overexposuremedia.org
Funding for a four-week black and white photography workshop that will partner teens from Centro, a social service organization serving Latino and Chicano communities, with Augsburg College photography students in July and August of 2011.
Park Avenue Youth and Family Services $7,500
http://www.payfs.org/
Funding for "All About Me," a three-week digital media project for 40youth from Central and surrounding South Minneapolis neighborhoods in the summer of 2011.
Plymouth Christian Youth Center $10,000
http://pcyc-mpls.org
Funding for spoken word and music production residencies for up to twenty students at the PYC Arts & Tech High School. The residencies will take place in nine-week classes during the 2011-12 school year.
TVbyGirls $4,000
http://www.tvbygirls.tv
Funding for a film production project for teenage girls that explores diverse perspectives of love. Fifteen girls will work with five adult artist mentors over six months beginning in May 2011.
Young Dance, Inc. $10,000
http://www.youngdance.org
Funding for "All Abilities Dancing," a program designed to give youth with disabilities a quality dance experience that emphasizes ability, from June 2011 to May 2012.
Ramsey County
ArtStart $10,000
http://www.artstart.org
Funding for "River EcoJourneys," a series of three, one-week school residencies featuring storytelling, drumming, dance, and the creation of puppets and masks for students in grades three to six at three schools in St. Paul and Minneapolis.
Deborah Elias Danza Espanola $9,970
Funding to work with seven collaborating partners to conduct residencies in flamenco dance, music and culture with approximately 350 children and youth at seven Twin Cities schools from May through December 2011.
Hamline Midway Coalition $10,000
http://www.hamlinemidway.org/
Funding for the Canvas Public Art Enhancement Project, a youth-driven collaborative project that will increase the visibility and use of the grounds and facilities at the Canvas Teen Art Center over eight weeks in the summer of 2011.
Hmong Arts Connection $10,000
Funding for a pilot project in performance art for eight emerging Hmong artists and theater technicians. The project will run from June 2011 through April 2012.
In Progress $10,000
http://inprogresshome.blogspot.com/
Funding for "Digital Me," a comprehensive after-school arts learning program for students in grades five to eight at Farnsworth Aerospace Elementary Magnet School and The Community School of Excellence.The twice-weekly course sessions will run from October 2011 to April 2012.
Minnesota Chinese Dance Theater $10,000
http://www.minghuadancetheater.org/
Funding to provide Chinese Folk Dance and Classical Dance lessons for adults and children taught by instructors from China from May until mid- September 2011.
Nautilus Music-Theater $10,000
http://www.nautilusmusictheater.org/
Funding to support the expansion and refinement of the Artist Development Program with a focus on directing scholarships, performing power classes, the mentor initiative, and basic musical skills classes for actors during the 2011-12 season.
Pan Asian Artists' Alliance $10,000
http://www.panasianartsalliance.org/
Funding for the Pan-Asian Dance Learning Project, a yearlong training program for disadvantaged Asian American and Pacific Islander girls ages nine to eighteen.
Walker West Music Academy $7,611
http://www.walkerwestmusicacademy.org
Funding for the 2011 Summer Music Enrichment Program, a three-week day camp for students ages five to twelve on instruments including African drum, piano, woodwind, and guitar, and culminating in a performance showcase.
Young Fiddlers Association of MN $8,750
http://www.youngfiddlers.com/
Funding for monthly workshops during the 2011-12 school year and a 2012 summer camp for young fiddlers ages eight to eighteen to learn fiddle music from many traditions and to meet other students and teachers.
Scott County
Pulse Productions $9,940
Funding for "The Masterwork Invitational," an opportunity for students in four Twin Cities area high school choirs to study, prepare, and perform Haydn's Lord Nelson Mass with local professional musicians as clinicians and concert soloists, in November 2011.
Suburban Hennepin County
Mentoring Peace Through Art $10,000
http://www.mentoringpeace.org/Mentoring_Peace_Through_Art/Welcome.html
Funding for the creation of murals and related documentation and archiving by students at Northport Elementary School in Brooklyn Center in September and October of 2011.
Partnership Resources, Inc. $9,000
http://www.partnershipresources.org
Funding for "Challenging Perceptions: PRI Artists Focus on the Walker Art Center," a 25-week program beginning in May 2011 for twenty adults with developmental disabilities to learn drawing and painting through exposure to the Walker's permanent collection.
Suburban Ramsey County
ISD 623 Roseville Community Education $10,000
http://www.isd623.org/
Funding to enable students in grades five to eight from diverse backgrounds to collaborate on all aspects of a live choral show production during two-week, three-week, and five-week camps in June and July of 2011.
Washington County
FamilyMeans $10,000
http://www.familymeans.org
Funding for the Cimarron Youth Arts program of free multidisciplinary art experiences for five- to eighteen-year-old youth living in the Cimarron mobile home community in Lake Elmo. The program will run for a year beginning in May 2011.
FY 2011 Community Arts Grant Awards - Round 2 (top of page)
The second round of MRAC's FY2011 Community Arts grants will fund 68 arts activities/projects that will reach more than 168,000 people in the 7-county metropolitan area. The awarded organizations demonstrated both strong artistic quality and a response to their community's needs. All applications go through a competitive peer review panel process. The MRAC board makes the final decisions on all grant panel recommendations.
The Community Arts grant program utilizes a block grant system to distribute funds to the seven counties in MRAC's service area. The following is a list of this round's grant recipients sorted by the county of activity: Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, Suburban Hennepin, Suburban Ramsey, and Washington counties. Each entry includes a short description of the project and the amount of the award. The grant recipients' 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.
Anoka County
Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts $5,000
http://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 will feature visual, literary, and performance art experiences and will take place in September 2011.
Blaine Parks and Recreation $3,000
http://www.blaineparks.com
Funding for the fourth 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 2011.
Fridley Community Theatre $5,000
www.fridleycommunitytheatre.org
Funding to produce and stage the organization's second summer musical. Performances will take place in summer 2011 at the Fridley High School auditorium.
Lee Carlson Center for Mental Health and Well Being $5,000
http://www.ccffr.org
Funding for Movement, Source of Light II, and Perspective, a series of free visual art classes and studio time for adults living with mental illness. The series will culminate in a traveling exhibit displayed at locations throughout Anoka County.
Carver County
Barn Quilts of Carver County $5,000
Funding for Barn Quilts of Carver County, a visual arts project featuring ten 8'x8' replicas of quilt blocks installed on barns around Carver County. The project will take place from April through August 2011.
Centre Stage Theatre and Arts $5,000
Funding to stage and perform Winnie the Pooh with youth grades 2 to 8 from Cologne, Hamburg, Norwood Young America, and surrounding communities. The performances will take in Norwood Young America in June and July 2011.
Nordic Heritage Club $4,000
http://www.nordicheritagecenter.org/
Funding for the third annual Nordic Music Festival modeled after a traditional Nordic fiddler's festival. The event will take place at Lake Waconia Regional Park in September 2011.
River City Theatre Company $5,000
http://www.watertownrctc.com
Funding for five performances of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz. Performances will take place at the Watertown Mayer Performing Arts Center in September 2011.
Watertown Film Festival $5,000
http://www.watertownfilmfestival.com/
Funding for the 2011 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 June 2011.
Watertown-Mayer Community Education $5,000
http://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 2011.
Dakota County
Chameleon Theatre Circle $5,000
http://www.chameleontheatre.org
Funding for the first half of the 2011 - 2012 season, which includes the 12th annual New Play Festival, The Woman in Black, We Gather Together, and The Putnam County Spelling Bee. The performances will take place at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center in September through December 2011.
City of South St. Paul $5,000
http://www.southstpaul.org
Funding for Step into Summer, a series of dance clinics that will run for four weeks on Wednesday evenings in July. Clinics will take place at the South St. Paul Central Square Community Center Amphitheater and will culminate in a community dance for the city's 125th birthday celebration.
Dakota County Public Health $5,000
http://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 April 2011.
Dragonfly $2,200
Funding for a free two-hour afternoon performance of traditional and new folk music written by local poet/songwriter David Brunet. The performance will take place at the Lakeville Area Arts Center in September 2011.
Eagan Parks and Recreation $5,000
http://www.cityofeagan.com/eaganarthouse
Funding for Art... Be A Part!, an arts program for all ages featuring weekly hands-on art activities at Dakota Woodlands Women's Shelter, two art activity tents at the annual Eagan Art Festival, and smaller workshops for teens and intergenerational audiences. The activities will take place during summer 2011.
Minnesota Brass, Inc. $5,000
http://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 2011.
Rosemount Area Arts Council $5,000
http://www.rosemountaac.org
Funding for the Rosemount Bluegrass and Americana Festival, a three-day free festival in conjunction with the city's Leprechaun Days celebration. The festival will take place at Rosemount's Central Park in July 2011.
Hennepin County
2011 Midtown Global Jazz Festival $5,000
Funding for the first annual Midtown Global Jazz Festival, featuring a lineup of global Jazz genres, art vendors, ethnic food, and an educational stage. The festival will take place in July 2011 outside the Midtown Global Market in Minneapolis.
2011 National APIA Spoken Word Summit $5,000
http://apiaword.com/
Funding for the 2011 National Asian/Pacific Islander American Spoken Word Summit. The four-day event will bring together local and national APIA artists to perform and participate in workshops and panel discussions. The summit will take place at The Loft Literary Center in August 2011.
Aldrich Arts Collaborative $4,000
http://www.aldricharts.org
Funding for two sessions of art classes that 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.
Altered Esthetics $5,000
http://www.alteredesthetics.org
Funding for Just Add Ink: A Comic Cookbook, a collaborative project to develop a cookbook illustrated and written by local comic artists. The project will include workshops for artists on the art of cartooning and will culminate in an exhibition featuring the original works chosen for the publication. The exhibition will take place at the Altered Esthetics gallery in Minneapolis in August 2011.
Balkanicus Ensemble $3,975
www.musicofthebalkans.weebly.com
Funding for Balkanicus, a free public concert featuring contemporary Balkan chamber music. The concert will take place at the University of Minnesota Lloyd Ultan Recital Hall in April 2011.
Carnaval Brasileiro $5,000
http://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 2012.
Classical Actors Ensemble $5,000
http://www.classicalactorsensemble.org/
Funding to produce and stage Shakespeare's All's Well That Ends Well. Performances will take place in May 2011 at Walker Community Church in Minneapolis.
Copper Street Brass Quintet $5,000
http://www.copperstreetbrass.com/home.html
Funding for Evolutions in Concert 2011, a brass quintet performance featuring original compositions and arrangements of Classical, Popular, Rock and Jazz music. Performances will take place at Hennepin Avenue Methodist Church and the MacPhail Center for Music's Antonello Hall in May and June 2011.
Eclectic Ensemble $3,562
http://theeclecticensemble.com/
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 2011.
Flower Shop Project $5,000
http://www.theflowershopproject.com
Funding to produce its third season of plays by local playwrights. River of Passion: The Saga Continues and Medea and Jason: Rubicon Waltz will be staged in May and October 2011 respectively at Minneapolis' Bryant-Lake Bowl.
Freedom Jazz Festival, Inc. $5,000
http://www.freedomjazzfestival.org
Funding for the annual Freedom Jazz Festival, featuring a diversity of musical styles including traditional Jazz, R&B Soul, Blues, Gospel and World Beat. The daylong festival will take place in August 2011 at Minnehaha Falls Park in Minneapolis.
Heritage Park Neighborhood Association $5,000
Funding to host bi-weekly open mic nights and monthly spoken word workshops for residents of North Minneapolis' Heritage Park Neighborhood. The open mic nights and workshops will take place between April and December 2011.
Hope Community, Inc. $5,000
Funding for The Power of Vision, two neighborhood mural projects that will engage approximately 50 youth. The project will take place during summer 2011 and culminate in a community unveiling ceremony.
Kinetic Evolutions Dance Company $5,000
http://www.mnartists.org/sarah_larose
Funding to stage the world premier of a new evening length dance at Old Arizona in Minneapolis. Performances will take place in November 2011.
Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association $5,000
http://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 2011.
Serrand/Epp $5,000
http://www.serrandepp.org/
Funding to produce and stage Come Hell and High Water, a theatrical event featuring dance, vocals, drama, and narrative to be performed at the Southern Theater in May 2011.
Stevens Square Community Organization $4,500
http://www.sscoweb.org
Funding for the seventh annual Cinema and Civics, a series of community arts events that will consist of a musical performance, a short film created by a local filmmaker, and the presentation of a feature-length film. The series will take place at Stevens Square Park in Minneapolis in summer 2011.
Strange Capers $5,000
http://www.thestrangecapers.com/
Funding for free outdoor performances of Shakespeare's Twelfth Night at Minneapolis Powderhorn Park in summer 2011.
Twin Cities World Refugee Day $4,750
http://tcworldrefugeeday.org/
Funding for Twin Cities Refugee Day, a cultural festival featuring more than 50 local organizations serving refugees. The festival will take place in June 2011 at Minnehaha Falls Park in Minneapolis.
Two Chairs Telling $1,700
Funding for Two Chairs Telling, a series of three performances pairing national storytellers with other narrative artists across generations, race, sexual orientation, experience, and spoken word styles. The series will be held at Open Eye Figure Theatre between September and November 2011.
Ventura Village $2,200
http://www.venturavillage.org
Funding to create and perform a community-based celebration of water to mark the rehabilitation of the Phillips Community Center's swimming pool. The celebration will incorporate puppetry and a Native American drum group and take place in spring 2011.
Walking Boxes Productions $5,000
http://www.walkingboxes.com/
Funding to produce and stage Chickens on the Freeway, Film at 11, an original two-act musical inspired by Betty Wolden, the first local female television news reporter. Performances will take place at Minneapolis Theatre Garage in November 2011.
Ramsey County
DA Dance $5,000
Funding for The Three Bonnies, an evening-length dance and multi-media performance based on the music of Bonnie Raitt. The performances will be presented at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center in August 2011.
Grassroots Culture $5,000
Funding to create and produce 16 show segments for a weekly bluegrass music radio program featuring Phil Nusbaum, Lyle Lofgren, and Adam Granger. Segments will be aired on eight Bluegrass Review shows in July and August 2011.
Hamline Midway Coalition $5,000
http://www.hamlinemidway.org/
Funding for the Hamline Midway Spring Festival, a free all-day event featuring local bands, theater performances, visual arts, food vendors, civic engagement opportunities, and resources for residents. The festival will take place at Newell Park in St. Paul in summer 2011.
Hmong Arts Connection $5,000
http://www.hmongartsconnection.org
Funding for the literary journal Paj Ntaub Voice including writing workshops for Hmong American writers. Workshops will take place June through October and the journal will be published in December 2011.
North Star Chorus $5,000
www.northstarchorus.org
Funding for five to seven free choral performances. Performances will take place at Como Pavilion in St. Paul and senior housing facilities between April and October 2011.
Pan Asian Artists' Alliance $5,000
http://www.panasianartsalliance.org/
Funding for the Pan-Asian Dance Festival - Fenmo Project, a free family event featuring the Jinan Acrobatic Troupe. The festival will take place at the Fitzgerald Theater in May 2011.
Public Art for the Digital Divide $676
http://www.daytonsbluff.org/
Funding for an e-waste sculpting event for youth from the Dayton's Bluff neighborhood and the Minnesota Children's Museum's Youth Squad. The event will take place at Minnesota Children's Museum in May 2011.
Two Rivers Chorale $4,763
http://www.tworiverschorale.org
Funding for Transfiguration, an evening-length choral program featuring Requiem, Opus 9 by Maurice Durufle' and the premier of two newly commissioned works. The performance will take place at Benson Great Hall at Bethel University in November 2011.
Umunne Cultural Association $5,000
http://www.umunne.org
Funding for Igbofest, an annual festival featuring traditional Igbo dances, folk music, storytelling, and textile design to be held at the University of St. Thomas campus in August 2011.
Young Artists Initiative $4,500
http://www.youngartistsmn.org
Funding for the 2011 Summer Theatre Experience, a six-week arts enrichment program culminating in five public performances of Once on this Island, Junior. Performances will take place at the Neighborhood House Theater in St. Paul in August 2011.
Youngfiddlers Association of MN $5,000
http://www.youngfiddlers.com/
Funding for the 9th annual July Fiddle Camp, a multidisciplinary camp for youth ages 8 to 18 combining folk music, dance and visual art. The camp will take place at Roseville Covenant in July 2011.
Scott County
Hymnus, Incorporated $5,000
http://www.hymnus.us
Funding for a choral concert of music from prominent Czech composers featuring a festival choir and full orchestra. The concert will take place at Saint Wenceslaus Church in New Prague in May 2011.
Suburban Hennepin County
4 Community Theatre $4,834
http://www.4communitytheatre.org/
Funding for six performances of the musical Oklahoma at Delano Middle School Auditorium in June and July 2011.
Discovery Arts Council $2,835
Funding for the sixth 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 2011.
ISD 271 Community Education $5,000
Funding for two variety shows featuring adults with developmental disabilities. Performances will take place at Edina's Edinborough Park indoor amphitheater in December 2011 and May 2012.
Music Mentoring Program $5,000
http://musicmentoringprogram.com/News.html
Funding for a one-week music camp consisting of five days of music lessons, playing in a band, art classes, and song writing workshops. The camp will take place at Valley View Middle School in Bloomington in July 2011.
Osseo Band Boosters-Marching Festival $5,000
http://www.osseobandfestival.org/home/index.html
Funding for the fifth annual Osseo Marching Band Festival and competition featuring 14 to 16 marching bands from across Minnesota and Wisconsin. The festival will take place in downtown Osseo in June 2011.
Theatre Or $4,000
http://www.theatreormpls.org
Funding for the theatrical production of OY! By Richard Orloff. Performances will take place at the Sabes Jewish Community Center in May 2011.
Wayzata Symphony Orchestra $5,000
http://www.thewso.org/
Funding for Music of Difference, featuring the world premier of Concerto 2 for Catherine by composer Robert Bradshaw. The concert will take place at Wayzata Community Church in November 2011.
Westonka Community Education and Services $3,000
http://www.westonka.k12.mn.us
Funding for a Music in the Park Series of five to six free concerts on Thursday evenings in summer 2011.
Suburban Ramsey County
Encore Wind Ensemble $2,733
http://www.encorewind.com
Funding for four free concerts, including one concert featuring local high school-aged musicians from Monticello High School. Concerts will take place at various metro locations between May and December 2011.
Rosetown Playhouse $5,000
http://www.rosetownplayhouse.org
Funding for six performances of The Ultimate Santa, an original musical play featuring a cast of over 125. The play will take place at the Roseville Area Middle School in December 2011.
Roseville Parks and Recreation $5,000
http://www.cityofroseville.com/parks
Funding for Performances in the Park, a variety of family-friendly performances that will take place three evenings per week and feature "signature events" based on a monthly theme. The performances will be held at Central Park in Roseville from June through August 2011.
Washington County
Forest Lake Park Board $5,000
http://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.
HOPE Adoption and Family Services $5,000
http://www.hopeadoptionservices.org/
Funding for The Graphic Memoirs Project, a visual arts project for youth in the foster care system in Minnesota using watercolor and ink with captions. The project will take place at Children's Home Society and Family Services in St. Paul between April and December 2011.
Masquers Theatre Company $5,000
http://www.masquerstheatre.org
Funding for 14 performances and a free preview performance of The Music Man at Forest Lake High School Auditorium in July 2011.
Music Saint Croix $5,000
http://www.musicsaintcroix.com
Funding for the 2011 - 2012 concert series featuring three chamber music concerts to be presented at the Washington County Historic Courthouse and Trinity Lutheran Church in Stillwater.
Stillwater Area Public Schools Community Education $5,000
http://ce.stillwater.k12.mn.us
Funding to stage and perform the musical Oliver! as their sixth annual summer community theater production. Performances will take place at Stillwater Area High School in July 2011.
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 2011.
FY 2011 Creative Intersections Grant Awards (top of page)
MRAC's FY2011 Creative Intersections grants will fund nine projects that will build and enrich communities through an engagement in the arts. MRAC's goals for the Creative Intersections program are to support innovative partnership projects that address a community challenge or leverage an opportunity within community for growth and enrichment. The Creative Intersections grant program is funded through the legislative appropriation for the arts and the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Legacy Amendment. All applications go through a competitive peer review panel process. The MRAC board makes the final decisions on all grant panel recommendations. Below is the list of awarded projects.
City of Vadnais Heights $12,395
http://www.cityvadnaisheights.com/
Funding for a community-created public art piece for the City of Vadnais Heights. Project partners include: S&T Office Products, Merrick, Inc.
COLLAGE $15,000
http://www.emwc.org
Funding to produce and stage two performances of an original play on the subject of homelessness. The project will include related activities intended to raise community awareness of the issue. Project partners include: Century College, Lakeshore Players Theatre, East Metro Women's Council, White Bear Center for the Arts.
Corcoran Neighborhood Organization $14,767
http://www.corcoranneighborhood.org
Funding for Slow Down and Enjoy the Public Art, a project engaging youth and
families in ten public art activities in the Corcoran Neighborhood. Project partners include: Susan Hensel Gallery, Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board - Corcoran Park.
Discovery Arts Council $10,000
Funding for a mini-grant, re-granting program to expand arts opportunities in the City of Maple Plain. Project partners include: City of Maple Plain & the Maple Plain Design Team Committee, the West Hennepin Chamber of Commerce.
Domestic Violence Council of Anoka County $13,550
Funding for a community initiative to raise awareness about relationship violence. Project partners include: Alexandra House; Spring Lake Park High School; Northwest Passage High School; Columbia Heights High School; Community Health Improvement, Mercy & Unity Hospitals, Allina Health System.
Kaleidoscope Place $10,000
http://www.kaleidoscope-kids.org
Funding to expand their Arts Learning Program, which provides artists residencies to 250 students each year. Project partners include: Lutheran Social Service, COMPAS.
Mentoring Peace Through Art $15,000
http://www.mentoringpeace.org
Funding to work with the juvenile detention system to create anti-gang graffiti murals in the City of Minneapolis. Project partners include: Hennepin County Juvenile Detention Alternative Initiative, City of Minneapolis STEP-UP Summer Jobs Program.
Minneapolis Community Education $15,000
Funding for a summer hip-hop camp for students of Laney Middle School. Project partners include: Minneapolis Public Schools, Redeemer Center for Life, University of Minnesota Urban 4-H.
Youth Farm and Market Project $15,000
http://www.youthfarm.net
Funding for functional public art creations in communities around Saint Paul's West Side. Project partners include: Riverview Economic Development Association, City of St. Paul Department of Public Works.
FY 2011 Arts Learning Grant Awards (top of page) The first round of MRAC's FY2011 Arts Learning grants will fund 32 arts learning projects that will provide high-quality, age-appropriate arts education for Minnesotans of all ages to develop knowledge, skills, and understanding of the arts. MRAC's goals for the Arts Learning grant program are to cultivate creativity and deepen knowledge of and/or through the arts for children, youth, and adults by engaging people in extended arts experiences and activities with clearly articulated learning objectives. The Arts Learning grant program is a direct result of the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Legacy Amendment. All applications go through a competitive peer review panel process. The MRAC board makes the final decisions on all grant panel recommendations.
Anoka County
Banfill-Locke Center for the Arts $4,424
http://www.banfill-locke.org
Funding for Discover the Art, a project offering new learning activities to expand and enrich three selected 2011 Banfill-Locke Gallery exhibitions between February and the end of September 2011.
Musikgarten of Anoka $10,000
http://www.musikgarten.org/anoka
Funding for the 2011 summer/fall sessions of classes aimed at transforming children’s lives through music and movement activities, in the northwestern suburbs of Anoka County.
Dakota County
Caponi Art Park $10,000
http://www.caponiartpark.org
Funding for 2011 Family Fun Tuesdays, a program of 13 weekly interactive performances and workshops for pre-school and school-age children, parents, grandparents and caregivers at the Art Park during summer 2011.
Hennepin County
African Roots Music Residency $8,000
http://www.weebopmusic.com/
Funding for the African Roots Music, a 16-week residency for first and second grade students at Marcy Open School in southeast Minneapolis from February through May of 2011.
Brazen Theatre Company $8,750
http://www.brazentheatre.org
Funding to develop and present a program of short plays written and performed by students focusing on issues of bullying and suicide, and the impact on LBGTA youth. The program will run from February through May of 2011 and targeted to schools including Southwest and South high schools in Minneapolis, and St. Paul Central High School.
Community Celebration of Place $8,812
http://www.communitycelebration.com
Funding for an Elders’ Wisdom, Children’s Song residency with 7th grade students at Sanford Middle School in Minneapolis from late January to mid June 2011.
Copper Street Brass Quintet $9,360
http://www.copperstreetbrass.com
Funding for the Academy Mentorship Program providing individual lessons, ensemble master classes and joint performances with inner-city band programs during the 2011 spring semester at Edison High School and Northeast Middle School in Minneapolis.
Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts $8,425
http://www.minnesotaglassart.org
Funding for a 3-day glassbowing workshop on traditional Italian techniques for intermediate to advanced students with glass artist Tony Cray in late May 2011.
Frank Theatre $10,000
http://www.franktheatre.org
Funding to provide high school youth access to an intimate, in-depth and high quality professional theatre experience, stimulate critical thinking, and cultivate a sense of arts appreciation with at-risk youth at alternative high schools in the Twin Cities during the 2011-2012 school year.
Green T Productions $8,905
http://www.greentproductions.org/
Funding to re-establish training programs for actors focusing on traditional Asian theater techniques. The program will have one component for introductory students and one for developing the skills of Green T core company members, and will run from February to November, 2011.
Kulture Klub Collaborative $10,000
http://www.kultureklub.org
Funding for an arts learning opportunity for youth experiencing homelessness with puppet artist Bart Buch, who will conduct weekly puppet workshops at YouthLink in March and April, and culminating in performance during In the Heart of the Beast’s May Day parade on May 1, 2011.
Link Vostok $10,000
http://www.linkvostok.org
Funding for workshops, classes and performance for professional dance artists, choreographers and performers with artist and educator Julyen Hamilton at the Mississippi/Ebro Dance Festival from October 27 to November 13, 2011 in Minneapolis.
Minnesota Spoken Word Association $10,000
http://mnspokenword.wordpress.com/
Funding for the Spoken Word and Literacy Institute, an outreach literacy program for local high school students and teachers. The Institute will be held over two weekends in May 2011.
Sandbox Theatre $10,000
http://www.sandboxtheatreonline.com
Funding for LAB, a low-cost continuing education opportunity for performing artists of any genre. Twenty eight LAB sessions led by Sandbox Ensemble Members will run from March through the summer of 2011 at the FallOut Arts Studio in south Minneapolis.
StoryBlend $10,000
Funding for a 2-week arts and sign language immersion program for Deaf people and sign language interpreters, to create a bilingual play based on participants’ experiences. The project will run from August 1 through 12 at Frey Theater at St. Catherine University.
Studio 206 $10,000
http://ivystudio206.com/
Funding for Train at 206 Summer Intensive, a physical theatre training intensive that will run from June 13 to July 1, 2011 at 206 in the Ivy Building for the Arts in the Seward neighborhood of Minneapolis.
Upstream Arts, Inc. $10,000
http://www.upstreamarts.org
Funding for residencies in 20 Minneapolis Public Schools Special Education classrooms during the 2011-2012 school year. The program of 12-week residencies at each school will include music, dance, visual arts, poetry and theatre.
Ramsey County
DA Dance $9,600
Funding for the In Residence dance program, a collaboration between DA Dance and the Women of Nations domestic violence shelter. The project includes two 2-week residencies consisting of workshops and performances.
Dakota Foundation for Jazz Education $7,924
Funding for master classes, clinics, workshops and school assemblies at 12 metro area high schools and middle schools in 2011 and 2012 featuring local and national jazz artists.
East Side Arts Council $10,000
http://www.eastsideartscouncil.org
Funding for three artist residencies at Highwood Hills Elementary School and Academia Cesar Chavez charter school on the East Side of St. Paul in May, June, November and December of 2011.
Lyra Baroque Orchestra $5,910
http://www.lyrabaroque.org
Funding for baroque instrument presentations at Capitol Hill Magnet, Ramsey Junior High, and Murray Junior High schools in February, March and April of 2011, and the presentation of a Young People’s Concert in collaboration with the Schubert Club at the Landmark Center.
Riverview Economic Development Association $10,000
http://www.districtdelsol.com
Funding for Multicultural Community Tables engaging a group of 12 youth representing three communities of color in a 15-week arts based workshop series examining race and racism. The project will result in the creation of new public art installations in the West Side neighborhood of St. Paul.
Sounds of Hope, Ltd. $10,000
http://www.soundsofhope.org
Funding for a project with senior residents at Sholom Homes assisted living facility in St. Paul to rehearse and perform a play in the “story theatre” format. After a four-month rehearsal period beginning in August 2011, the project will culminate in two performances.
TU Dance $7,700
http://www.tudance.org
Funding for a collaboration with the Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists to work with 15-20 of the arts high school’s students in all four grades to rehearse for and participate in TU Dance’s debut performances at the Ordway Center in May 2011.
Women’s Initiative for Self-Empowerment $9,509
http://www.womenofwise.org
Funding for the 2011 Girls Getting Ahead in Leadership Summer Arts Program for immigrant and refugee high school girls from throughout the metro area. The program includes 16 two-hour sessions of visual arts instruction at the Canvas Teen Arts Center in St. Paul.
Young Artists Initiative $5,500
http://www.youngartistsmn.org
Funding for the 2011 Winter Theater Experience, an audition-based 7-week arts enrichment experience directed toward the youth of St. Paul’s East Side. The project will begin in late January and culminate in performances of The Wiz over two weekends in March at Neighborhood House in St. Paul.
Scott County
New Prague Schools Community Education $10,000
http://www.np.k12.mn.us/commed/index.shtml
Funding for a Community Read of Willa Cather’s My Antonia March 6-9 in preparation for Illusion Theater’s performance of the play on March 13 at New Prague High School.
Suburban Hennepin County
Eclectic Edge Ensemble $10,000
http://www.eclecticedgeensemble.com
Funding for a new Outreach and Residency Program at Mulberry Junction in northeast Minneapolis, Envisions Academy of the Arts in Burnsville, and dance studios in south Minneapolis, Eden Prairie and White Bear Lake from March through August 2011.
Keane Sense of Rhythm $2,050
http://www.tapcompany.org
Funding for the Student Body of Sound program, a long-term instruction initiative followed by a peer-to-peer dance performance at North End Elementary School in St. Paul and The Burroughs’ Minneapolis Kids program, from late January 2011 through the end of the school year.
Yellow Tree Theatre $10,000
http://www.yellowtreetheatre.com
Funding for Make-a-Play which allows students in ages 12 – 17 to work with professional theatre artists in the creation of an original play. The project will take place in the summer of 2011 at Yellow Tree Theatre.
Suburban Ramsey County
Ashland Productions $10,000
http://www.ashlandproductions.com
Funding for Summer Theater Camp for students aged 6-13, a full-day, 2-week long hands-on learning experience for students to explore theater arts, acting, music and choreography at the Maplewood Performing Arts Theater in Maplewood Community Center during summer 2011.
Washington County
ArtReach St. Croix $10,000
http://www.artreachstcroix.org
Funding to grow the Stillwater area literary arts community through monthly author presentations, quarterly writers’ workshops, promotion of local writers’ work and provision of space for writers to work and network. The project will begin in late January and extend through 2011.
FY 2011 Community Arts Grant Awards (top of page)
In December, 2010, MRAC awarded $290,418 to 63 organizations in the first round of the FY2011 Community Arts grant program. The Community Arts Grant program offers grants of up to $5,000 for community arts activities/projects. The awarded organizations demonstrated both strong artistic quality and a response to their community's needs. The Community Arts grant program utilizes a block grant system to distribute funds to the seven counties in MRAC's service area. 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 and organization web addresses when available.
Anoka County
Mississippi Valley Orchestra $5,000
http://www.missvalleyorch.com
Funding for A Farewell Concert, a free concert celebrating retiring director Edward Schlueter and featuring alumni from the past 35 years. The concert will take place at First Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights on June 5, 2011.
Musikgarten of Anoka $5,000
http://www.musikgarten.org/anoka
Funding for winter and spring sessions of early childhood music classes in the northwestern suburbs for children birth to 8-years-old and their families
North Artists' Studio Crawl $2,750
http://www.nascrawl.org
Funding for the 11th 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.
Northeast Orchestra $3,000
http://www.neorch.org
Funding for a season of three concerts in the Anoka County area in spring 2011.
Northern Symphony Orchestra $3,190
http://www.northernsymphonyorchestra.org
Funding for two concerts at Anoka High School in February and June 2010.
Carver County
ISD 110 Community Education $3,000
http://www.waconiacommunityed.org
Funding for two, weeklong theater workshops for children in grades 2 to 8 in conjunction with Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre Company. The workshops will culminate in two performances each of Aladdin and Peter Pan. The performances will take place at the Waconia High School auditorium in summer 2011.
ISD 112 Community Education $5,000
http://www.ce4all.org
Funding for Hooked on Books… and the Arts, too!, a one-day literary and performing arts event featuring author Steven Layne. The event will take place at Chaska High School in February 2011.
Dakota County
Burnsville Visual Arts Society $5,000
http://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 April 2011.
Dakota Valley Symphony $5,000
http://www.dakotavalleysymphony.org
Funding for three performances at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center: a concert featuring pianist Roberto Plano, a Baroque concert, and the fourth annual Young Artists Competition. Performances will take place between January and May 2011.
International Festival of Burnsville $5,000
http://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 2011.
Minnesota Valley Men’s Chorale $4,949
http://www.mvmcsings.org/
Funding for a daylong choral music workshop for male high school-age music students in Dakota County. The workshop will culminate with an evening performance in April 2011.
Velvet Tones $5,000
http://www.velvettones.org
Funding for nine vocal performances for groups with limited arts access. Performances will take place throughout the greater metropolitan area between February and June 2011.
Hennepin County
ARENA Dances, Inc. $5,000
http://www.arena-dances.org
Funding to develop and produce the world premiere of I Hate Myself, a new dance inspired by the music of The Carpenters. Performances will take place at the Southern Theater in March 2011.
Art of This $5,000
http://www.artofthis.net
Funding for the Tuesday Music Series, ten concerts of new improvised music by established and emerging performers. Performances will take place at Open Eye Figure Theater between February and November 2011.
Box Wine Theatre $5,000
Funding to produce and stage Uptown, the Musical, an original comedic rock musical. Performances will be held in May 2011.
Caribbean Carnival $5,000
http://www.charangatropical.com
Funding for Caribbean Carnival, a cultural celebration featuring live salsa music, Latin dance performance groups, and festive art. The event will take place at the Cedar Cultural Center in March 2011.
Dance Revels $4,202
http://www.dancerevels.com/
Funding for Bottineau Boogie! Untold Tales of Early Minnesota, featuring workshops culminating in a dance production about Pierre Bottineau, the French-Indian founding father of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Performances will take place in March 2011.
Deborah Elias Danza Espanola $5,000
Funding for The Moon’s Desire, a contemporary flamenco theater production exploring the life and poetry of Federico Garcia Lorca. Four performances will take place at Intermedia Arts in April 2011.
Diverse Emerging Music Organization (DEMO) $5,000
http://www.demomn.org
Funding to produce and present showcases featuring local area musicians at the Eagles Club in St. Paul, the Acadia Café in Minneapolis, and other similar venues. The project will provide six to eight showcases per month during January through June 2011.
Ethnic Dance Theatre $5,000
http://www.ethnicdancetheatre.com
Funding for Then and Now, a presentation honoring world cultures through ethnic dance and music. Performances will take place at the Ritz Theater in spring 2011.
Glorious Revolution Baroque $4,992
http://www.gloriousrevolutionbaroque.com/Home.html
Funding for two large-ensemble Baroque chamber music programs, including Tobias Hume, Mercenary Composer, and Monteverdi’s Fifth Book of Madrigals. Each program will be presented at The Baroque Room in Lowertown, St. Paul, and The Rogue Buddha Gallery in Minneapolis. Performances will take place in March and May 2011.
Hardcover Theater $5,000
http://www.hardcovertheater.org
Funding for Steampunk Dreams: Imaginary Technologies of the Victorian Era, consisting of three new plays by Hardcover Theater, Joshua Scrimshaw, and Upright Egg. Performances will be held in repertory at the Southern Theater in June 2011.
Iraqi and American Reconciliation Project $5,000
http://reconciliationproject.org/
Funding for Navigating the Aftermath, a visual art exhibit combining Iraqi and Minnesotan art in dialogue on the effects of the Iraq War. The project will also include community programming, and an online gallery and forum. The exhibit will be held at the University of Minnesota Quarter Gallery at the Regis Center in February and March 2011.
Italian Cultural Center $4,700
http://www.theitalianculturalcenter.org
Funding for the third annual Italian Film Festival, consisting of seven recently produced feature films to be shown at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. The project, which includes discussions with local film critics and historians, will take place in March 2011.
Jon Ferguson Theater/John Heinbuch $5,000
http://jonfergusontheater.com/
Funding for The King is Dead, the world premier of a clown show set in Medieval England featuring British and American performers. Performances will take place at the Southern Theater in summer 2011.
Katha Dance Theatre $5,000
http://www.kathadance.org
Funding for Ekam – The Supreme oneness, a classical Kathak dance performance in collaboration with Gospel singer Robert Robinson. Performances will take place at the Ritz Theater in May 2011.
Les Jolies Petites School of Dance $5,000
http://www.lesjoliespetites.org/
Funding for the 2011 spring performance showcasing completed work developed by Les Jolies students. Performances will take place at Cooper High School and are open to the public.
Minneapolis Southside Singers $5,000
http://www.mplscommunityed.com
Funding to present 20 free concerts to under-served audiences across the seven-county metropolitan area during the 2011 calendar year.
Minnesota Black Music Association $5,000
Funding for the production of C-Sharp Lounge, a televised forum for artists, producers, and leaders in the black arts community to preserve, promote, and educate the community about their craft. The showcase will result in a 30-minute segment to be aired in February during Black History Month on Black Music America Comcast Cable Channel 937.
OverExposure $5,000
http://www.overexposuremedia.org
Funding to develop a web-based exhibition of 820 photographs. The images are from the organization’s What’s New project that has documented the changes and challenges of each Twin Cities Neighborhood.
Southside Family Nurturing Center $5,000
http://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 2011.
The Eagle and Rose Theatre Co. $5,000
Funding for THR3E x THR3E, a modern retelling of The Three Little Pigs, Goldilocks and the Three Bears, and The Three Billy Goats Gruff. Performances will take place in spring 2011 at Open Eye Figure Theatre in Minneapolis.
Voices of Sepharad $5,000
http://voicesofsepharad.com/
Funding for A Night in Persia, a concert celebrating the Persian New Year and the festive Jewish holiday of Purim. Performances will take place at the Illusion Theater in March 2011.
Workhaus Playwrights Collective $5,000
http://www.workhauscollective.org
Funding to produce and present GLYPH, by award winning playwright and collective member Christina Hamm. Performances will take place at the Playwrights’ Center’s Waring Jones Theatre in April 2011.
Youth Dance Ensemble and School $1,700
http://www.ydeschool.com/
Funding for Dances at the Lakes, a free dance concert featuring original choreography by Colleen Tague. Performances will take place at the Lake Harriet Rose Garden in Summer 2011.
Ramsey County
Bach Society of Minnesota $5,000
http://www.bachsocietymn.org
Funding for Bach’s Orchestra, the final concert of the 2010- 2011concert season. The concert will take place at Sundin Music Hall at Hamline University in March 2011.
Friends of Swede Hollow (FOSH) $3,560
http://www.swedehollow.org/
Funding for the annual Swede Hollow Plein Air Arts Festival, a one-day multidisciplinary outdoor arts festival. The festival will take place in May 2011.
Great Northern Irish Pipers’ Club $2,620
http://www.gnipc.org
Funding for the 2011 Tionól (pronounced chu-NOLE), a two-day workshop focused on all aspects of the Irish uilleann (pronounced ILL-en) pipes. Workshops will take place at the Covington Inn in St. Paul in May 2011.
Hot Summer Jazz Festival $5,000
http://www.twincitiesjazzfestival.com
Funding for the Hot Summer Jazz Festival, a three-day jazz festival featuring local and world-renowned jazz artists. The festival will take place at Mears Park in downtown St. Paul in June 2011.
Minnesota State Band $5,000
http://www.minnesotastateband.org
Funding for two ceremonial and six formal concerts to be presented at a variety of metro locations from January through November 2011.
Points of Light Music $5,000
http://pointsoflightmusic.blogspot.com/
Funding for the formation and training of a volunteer hospice choir. Activities include weekly rehearsals and visits to area hospice centers between January and May 2011.
Twin Cities Housing Development Corporation - Liberty Plaza $5,000
http://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 2011.
TU Dance $5,000
http://www.tudance.org
Funding for the company’s debut at the Ordway Center for the Performing Arts featuring original choreography inspired by African-American painter Ernie Barnes. Performances will take place in May 2011.
Twin Cities Labor Chorus $5,000
Funding for 10 to 12 choral performances that will take place throughout the metro area between January and December 2011.
Scott County
City of Savage $4,880
http://www.cityofsavage.com
Funding for the Music in the Park Series, a weekly series of free music concerts at McColl Pond Environmental Learning Center on Wednesday nights in July and August 2011.
Jordan Art Festival $5,000
http://jordanartfestival.com
Funding for the Eighth 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 2011.
Savage Arts Council $4,000
http://www.savageartscouncil.org
Funding for the fifth 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 2011.
Suburban Hennepin County
After 5 $1,905
http://after_5.tripod.com
Funding to provide six concerts presenting a variety of music styles to communities with limited arts access. Performances will take place in the seven-county metro area between January and August 2011.
Chorus Polaris $5,000
http://www.choruspolaris.org
Funding for a multi-media presentation of Mozart’s Requiem, featuring video, music examples and narration and culminating in a full performance with the Golden Valley Orchestra. Performances will take place at Golden Valley Lutheran Church and First Lutheran Church of Columbia Heights in April 2011.
Continental Ballet Company $5,000
http://www.continentalballet.com
Funding for Sleeping Beauty an evening length ballet performance. Performances will take place at the Bloomington Center for the Arts in March 2011.
Cross Community Players $5,000
http://www.crossplayers.org
Funding for seven performances of the musical The King and I. Performances will take place at Osseo Senior High School in June 2011.
Exultate $5,000
http://www.exultate.org
Funding for two performances of the St. Matthew Passion by Johann Sebastian Bach featuring 50 additional musicians to the chamber choir and orchestra. The concerts will take place at Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church in Plymouth in March 2011.
Music Association of Minnetonka $5,000
http://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 Normandale and Minnetonka United Methodist Churches in February and at Minnetonka City Hall in October 2011.
Orono Community Education $3,550
http://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 2011.
Twin Cities Youth Chorale $4,420
http://www.tcyouthchorale.org
Funding for Let Music Surround You, a children’s choir festival featuring four metro-area choirs. The festival will take place at Lord of Life Church in Maple Grove in February 2011.
Women of the West Quilters $5,000
http://www.wowquiltguild.com
Funding for Pieces of Our Lives, the sixth biannual quilt show featuring quilts by the Women of the West Quilters. The show will be held at the Plymouth Creek Center in October 2011.
Suburban Ramsey County
Harmonic Relief $5,000
http://www.harmonicrelief.com
Funding for Hooray for Hollywood, a two-hour choral show featuring songs from Hollywood movies. Performances will take place at the Maplewood Community Center between April 29 and May 1, 2011.
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 2011.
North Suburban Chorus $5,000
Funding for 40 choral performances presented at nursing, healthcare, and retirement centers in the north suburban area from January through December 2011.
Twin Cities Housing Development Corporation - Calibre Ridge $5,000
http://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 2011.
Veterans in the Arts $5,000
Funding for four series of introductory art classes for military veterans from March through June 2011. Classes will take place at the Veteran’s Resource Center in New Brighton and travel to five partnering arts centers.
White Bear Center for the Arts $5,000
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 2011.
Washington County
FamilyMeans $5,000
http://www.familymeans.org
Funding for the Arts Exploration Workshop, free weekly art experiences in visual 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 2011.
FY 2011 Organizational Development Grant Awards (top of page)
In November, 2010, MRAC awarded $225,481 to 25 organizations in the FY2011 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
Ananya Dance Theatre $10,000
http://www.ananyadancetheatre.org
ArtiCulture $10,000
http://www.articulture.org
Green T Productions $10,000
http://www.greentproductions.org
Iraqi and American Reconcilliation Project $10,000
http://reconciliationproject.org/
JazzMn, Inc. $10,000
http://www.jazzmn.org
Leonardo's Basement $10,000
http://www.leonardosbasement.org
Minnesota Guitar Society $10,000
http://www.mnguitar.org
Mizna $10,000
http://www.mizna.org
Soo Visual Arts Center $10,000
http://www.soovac.org
The Singers - Minnesota Choral Artists $9,400
http://www.singersmca.org
Walking Shadow Theatre Company $8,725
http://www.walkingshadowcompany.org
Young Dance, Inc. $5,456
http://www.youngdance.org
Ramsey County
Center for Hmong Arts and Talent $10,000
http://www.aboutchat.org
Consortium Carissimi $4,000
http://www.consortiumcarissimi.org
East Side Arts Council $6,000
http://www.eastsideartscouncil.org
Hmong Arts Connection $5,000
http://www.hmongartsconnection.org
Minnesota Association for Children’s Mental Health $10,000
http://www.macmh.org
Saint Paul Almanac $10,000
http://www.saintpaulalmanac.com
Skylark Opera $10,000
http://www.skylarkopera.org
Women’s Art Registry of Minnesota $6,900
http://www.12apostrophes.net/warm/
Zeitgeist $10,000
http://www.zeitgeistnewmusic.org
Suburban Hennepin
Harmony Theatre Company and School $10,000
http://www.centerharmony.org
Mentoring Peace Through Art $10,000
http://www.mentoringpeace.org
Yellow Tree Theatre $10,000
http://www.yellowtreetheatre.com
Suburban Ramsey
White Bear Center for the Arts $10,000
http://www.whitebeararts.org
FY 2011 Capital Grant Awards (top of page)
In November, 2010, MRAC awarded $240,500 to 32 organizations in its FY2011 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 $10,000 to small and mid-sized nonprofit arts organizations located in the seven-county metropolitan area to purchase equipment and related supplies and services, or to make capital improvements.
Carver County
City of Chaska Park & Recreation $10,000
Dakota County
Eagan Parks and Recreation $3,200
http://www.cityofeagan.com/eaganarthouse
Velvet Tones $3,150
http://www.velvettones.org
Hennepin County
All My Relations Arts of NACDI $10,000
http://www.nacdi.org
Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts $10,000
http://www.minnesotaglassart.org
Frank Theatre $7,632
http://www.franktheatre.org
Kulture Klub Collaborative $10,000
http://www.kultureklub.org
Les Jolies Petites School of Dance $10,000
http://www.lesjoliespetites.org
Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association $7,315
http://www.mplspops.org
Nimbus Theatre $10,000
http://www.nimbustheatre.com
Old Arizona Collaborative, Inc. $6,165
http://www.oldarizona.com
Rain Taxi, Inc. $10,000
http://www.raintaxi.com
Stevens Square Center for the Arts $1,056
http://www.stevensarts.org
Strange Capers $1,600
http://thestrangecapers.wordpress.com
Studio 206 $7,623
http://ivystudio206.com
Weaver’s Guild of Minnesota $9,969
http://www.weaversguildmn.org
Ramsey County
Brian Boru Irish Pipe Band $8,000
http://www.brianborupipeband.com
Hot Summer Jazz Festival $9,152
http://www.twincitiesjazzfestival.com
Minnesota Brass, Inc. $10,000
http://www.mnbrassinc.org
Minnesota Chinese Dance Theater $10,000
http://www.minghuadancetheater.org
Sounds of Hope, Ltd. $8,650
http://www.soundsofhope.org
Teatro del Pueblo $5,134
http://www.teatrodelpueblo.org
TU Dance $10,000
http://www.tudance.org
Walker West Music Academy $6,384
http://www.walkerwestmusicacademy.org
Women’s Drum Center $4,633
http://www.womensdrumcenter.org
Suburban Hennepin
County Cross Community Players $10,000
http://www.crossplayers.org
Edina Chorale $8,508
http://www.edinachorale.org
Keane Sense of Rhythm $4,965
http://www.tapcompany.org
Music Association of Minnetonka $856
http://www.musicassociation.org
Twin Cities Youth Chorale $9,270
http://www.tcyouthchorale.org
Suburban Ramsey County
Lakeshore Players, Inc. $7,238
http://www.lakeshoreplayers.com
Washington County
Minnesota Sunshine Dance $10,000
FY 2011 Arts Activities Support Grant Awards- Round 1 (top of page)
In September 2010, MRAC awarded $555,181 to 61 organizations/projects in the first round of its 2010/2011 Arts Activities Support grant program. This round's funded projects include music concerts, art crawls, studio tours, dance and theater performances, film festivals, workshops 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.
Dakota County
Caponi Art Park $10,000
http://www.caponiartpark.org
Funding for the 2010 Summer Performance Series, featuring Minnesota Sinfonia, a Shakespeare Festival, the Dakota Valley Summer Pops Orchestra and Chorale, Sumunar Indonesian Gamelan and Dance Ensemble, Voice of the Culture Drum and Dance and the Bill Evans New Orleans Jazz Band. The performance series is free and will be held at Caponi Art Park from June through August 2011.
Chamber Music Lakeville $8,180
Funding for four Coffee Concert Recitals featuring the Ouchard Piano Duo, the Vecchione/Erdahl Duo, Maria Jette and Nirmala Rajasekar. Concerts will take place at the Lakeville Area Arts Center from January through May 2011.
Eagan Men's Chorus $4,252
http://www.eaganmenschorus.org/
Funding for 23 concerts during October 2010 through June 2011 to be held at assisted living facilities, senior housing, and Associated Male Chorus of America events in Dakota County.
Twin Cities Ballet of Minnesota $10,000
http://www.twincitiesballet.org/
Funding to present The Nutcracker, an original full-length production by Denise Vogt. Performances will take place at the Burnsville Performing Arts Center in December 2011.
Hennepin County
Angel Foundation $5,250
http://www.mnangel.org/
Funding for 10 to 15 teens, who have a parent with cancer, to design and construct a piece of public art under the direction of glass artist Malcolm Potek. The project will take place at the artist's northeast Minneapolis studio beginning in October 2010.
ArtiCulture $10,000
http://www.articulture.org
Funding to provide arts experiences and education through early childhood family education classes serving children ages 1 to 6. The project will begin in fall 2010.
Ascension Place $8,000
http://www.ascensionplace.org
Funding for a multidisciplinary arts program for residents of Ascension Place, a transitional housing program serving women struggling with mental illness and chemical dependency. The 2010 - 2011 program will include creative writing, sewing, and soul art groups, in addition to hosting five artists-in-residence.
Bakken Trio $10,000
http://www.bakkentrio.org
Funding to commission composer Dan Visconti to write an interactive piece for folk singer Ruth MacKenzie and members of the Bakken Trio. The commissioned work will be premiered as part of the organization's 2011-2012 season at the MacPhail Center for Music.
Breanna's Gift $10,000
http://www.breannasgift.org/
Funding for the 2010-2011 Arts Program, providing arts classes for children with cancer and other serious illnesses. Classes will be held at the Ronald McDonald House and metro area Children's Hospitals and Clinics.
Centro Cultural Chicano, Inc. $10,000
http://www.centromn.org/
Funding for Cruzando, an interactive art exhibit honoring those who have died crossing the border from Mexico to the United States. The event will be held at Centro in Minneapolis, during the organization's Day of the Dead celebration in November.
Foci Minnesota Center for Glass Arts $6,801
http://www.minnesotaglassart.org
Funding for Blow Your Mind, workshops in glass sculpture led by master artists Charles Lowrie and Michael Angelo Menconi. Workshops will held in December 2010 at the Foci Center in Minneapolis.
Frank Theatre $10,000
http://www.franktheatre.org
Funding to produce and stage Kander and Ebb's musical, Cabaret. Performances will be held in spring 2011.
Girl Friday Productions $10,000
http://www.girlfridayproductions.org
Funding to produce and stage Street Scene, the Pulitzer-Prize winning work by Elmer Rice. Performances will take place in July 2011 at the Theatre Garage in Minneapolis.
Green T Productions $10,000
http://www.greentproductions.org/
Funding to develop and remount the play Pinocchio-chan, an original stage adaptation utilizing the stylized Japanese performance techniques of kabuki and ningyo-buri. Performances will take place in winter 2010.
Jazz is NOW!, Inc. $6,000
http://www.jazzisnow.net
Funding for a concert featuring New York-based trumpeter Marcus Printup performing with the Jazz is NOW!'s NOWnet members. The concert will take place at the Minnesota Opera Center in December 2010.
JazzMn, Inc. $10,000
http://www.jazzmn.org
Funding for two concerts featuring the JazzMN Orchestra and special guests Mike Stern, and Sizzling T-bone Entree with Andy Martin. Concerts will be held in March and April 2011, at Hopkins High School's Performing Arts Center.
Junior Composers $10,000
http://www.juniorcomposers.org/
Funding for New Symphonies, a 13-day summer festival of new music by composers ages 14 to 20. Festival activities will take place in July 2011 at the University of Minnesota.
Magic Lantern Puppet Theater $6,000
Funding to stage a re-envisioned production of Children and Other Optical Illusions, a multi-media performance exploring topics related to miscarriage. Performances will be held at Open Eye Figure Theatre in February 2011.
Metropolitan Symphony Orchestral Association $10,000
http://www.msoa.net
Funding for five concerts of live orchestral music from varying eras. Performances will take place in metro area locations between November 2010 and May 2011.
Minneapolis Pops Orchestra Association $10,000
http://www.mplspops.org
Funding to perform four free community concerts for seniors. Concerts will take place at two Minneapolis park sites during summer 2011.
Minnesota Guitar Society $10,000
http://www.mnguitar.org
Funding for six concerts featuring guitar virtuosos and free workshops and master classes with the artists. The concerts and master classes will be held between October 2010 and May 2011, at Sundin Music Hall on the campus of Hamline University.
Mixed Precipitation $9,000
http://mixedprecipitation.wordpress.com/
Funding to produce and stage 16 site-specific performances of Shakespeare's comedy The Merry Wives of Windsor adapted as an operetta. The project will take place in summer 2011.
Nimbus Theatre $10,000
http://www.nimbustheatre.com
Funding to produce and stage Jean Genet's, The Balcony. Performance will be held at the organization's new space in northeast Minneapolis in February 2011.
Off-Leash Area $10,000
http://www.offleasharea.org
Funding for Now Eye See You, Now Eye Don’t, an original dance and theatre production about a visual artist who goes blind. Performances will take place at the Ritz Theatre Studio in Minneapolis in March 2011.
Open Eye Figure Theatre $10,000
http://www.openeyetheatre.org
Funding to present the ninth annual Driveway Tour, offering original professional puppet theater to more than 90 communities in the Twin Cities area during summer 2011.
Red Eye Collaboration $10,000
http://www.redeyetheater.org
Funding for NEW WORKS 4 WEEKS 2011, a multidisciplinary performance festival that serves as the culmination of Red Eye's artist development programs, which provide space and technical support for the creation of new work. The project will begin in winter 2010.
Sandbox Theatre $10,000
Funding to produce and stage a new multidisciplinary performance inspired by the work and lives of Donald and Howard Wandrei, two St. Paul science fiction and horror writers from the 1930s. Performances will take place at The Red Eye Theater in November 2010.
Swandive Theatre $10,000
http://www.swandivetheatre.org
Funding to produce and stage Crumble (Lay Me Down Justin Timberlake), by Sheila Callaghan. Performances will take place in March 2011 at the Cedar Riverside People's Center in Minneapolis.
The Singers - Minnesota Choral Artists $10,000
http://www.singersmca.org
Funding to present the world premier of Amass, a composition by Composer-in-Residence and McKnight Fellow Jocelyn Hagen. The performance will take place at First Lutheran Church in Columbia Heights in February 2011.
The Sisters Boil $7,000
Funding to produce and stage the satire, Mrs. Smith Presents... A Benefit for the Carlyle Foundation Empowerment School for People and Cats with Severe and Persistent Challenges. Performances will be held at the Southern Theater in January 2011.
Theatre Unbound $10,000
http://www.theatreunbound.com
Funding to produce and stage 10 Virgins, by Laura Jacqmin, and Murderess, written by company member Anne Bertram. Performances will take place in November 2010 and March 2011, respectively, at the Lowry Lab in St. Paul.
Walking Shadow Theatre Company $10,000
http://www.walkingshadowcompany.org
Funding to produce and stage the world premiere Drakul, by John Heimbuch, and the regional premiere of the play After the Quake, by Frank Galati. Drakul will be presented in February 2011 at the Red Eye Theater. After the Quake will be presented in May 2011 at the People's Center Theater.
Weaver's Guild of Minnesota $10,000
http://www.weaversguildmn.org
Funding for the Winter/Spring 2011 education program, providing fiber art instruction in weaving, spinning and dyeing for all ages. Classes will be held at the Textile Center in Minneapolis.
Ramsey County
ArtStart $10,000
http://www.artstart.org
Funding for Signatures for Teens, a five-week opportunity for youth ages 13 to 16 to work side-by-side with professional artists and arts educators to explore the world of visual arts through personal art making, arts education, public art, and the business of art. The program will take place at ArtStart venues in summer 2011.
Ballet Minnesota $10,000
http://www.balletminnesota.org
Funding for their 5th Annual Fall Concert featuring original choreography accompanied by Beethoven's 6th Symphony and Handel's Messiah. Performances will take place at the Fitzgerald Theater in October 2010.
CAAM Chinese Dance Theater $10,000
http://www.caam.org
Funding for China the Beautiful (part 1), the 2011 Chinese New Year show showcasing the many styles and uses of Chinese dances. Performances will take place at O'Shaughnessy Auditorium in January 2011.
East Side Arts Council $10,000
http://www.eastsideartscouncil.org
Funding for Artmobile, a mobile art project offering seven weeks of free drop-in art classes. Artmobile will be held at public spaces around the east side of St. Paul in the summer of 2011.
Minnesota Association for Children's Mental Health $10,000
http://www.macmh.org
Funding for Further Fidgety Fairy Tales: The Third Mental Health Musical, a 40-minute performance using familiar fairy tales to illustrate symptoms of common children's mental health disorders. Ten performances will take place around the metro area in March and April 2011.
Minnesota Association of Songwriters $3,310
http://www.mnsongwriters.org/
Funding for three full-day songwriting and one full-day performance workshops that will take place between January and August 2011.
Minnesota Chinese Dance Theater $10,000
http://www.minghuadancetheater.org/
Funding for Passage of Life, the fourteenth installment in the Rainbow Series of Chinese Dances. Dances will include a fusion of Chinese, American hip-hop, and modern dance. Performances will take place at the Brady Education Center of the University of St. Thomas in January 2011.
Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company $10,000
http://www.mnjewishtheatre.org
Funding for the world premiere of The Gospel According to Jerry, a theatrical comedy. Performances will take place at the Hillcrest Recreation Center in April and May 2011.
One Voice Mixed Chorus $10,000
http://www.ovmc.org
Funding for Love Dares Speak its Name, a multi-disciplinary concert in partnership with local theater company The Flower Shop Project. Performances will take place at Central Presbyterian Church in January 2011.
Oratorio Society of Minnesota $10,000
http://www.oratorio.org
Funding for two concerts in their 2010-2011 Season. The fall concert will be in collaboration with the Hopkins High School Chamber Choir and take place at St. Olaf Catholic Church in November 2010. The spring concert will take place at Temple Israel in Uptown in May 2011.
Sample Night Live! $10,000
http://www.samplenightlive.com
Funding for four 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 January through May 2011.
Selby Area Community Development $10,000
http://www.selbyareacdc.org
Funding for the 10th annual Selby Avenue Jazz Festival featuring local and national jazz artists with a wide array of musical styles. The festival will take place at the intersection of Selby and Milton Avenues in St. Paul on the second Saturday of September in 2011.
Skylark Opera $10,000
http://www.skylarkopera.org
Funding for the fourth annual Summer Opera Festival featuring four performances of two American musical theatre works. The festival will take place at E. M. Pearson Theatre at Concordia University in June 2011.
Sounds of Hope, Ltd. $10,000
http://www.soundsofhope.org
Funding for Songs of Hope 2010, an international concert project featuring youth between 10- and 16-years-old from countries around the world along with youth from the Twin Cities. Thirty or more concerts will be held throughout the metro area in July 2011.
St. Paul Art Collective $10,000
http://www.artcrawl.org
Funding for the St. Paul Art Crawl, a self-guided walking tour of artists' studios and galleries located around downtown St. Paul. The Art Crawl will be held in April 2011.
Teatro del Pueblo $10,000
http://www.teatrodelpueblo.org
Funding for the 10th Annual Political Theater Festival, featuring six to seven short plays by and about Latinos. The festival will be presented at Gremlin Theatre in February and March 2011.
Theater Space Project $4,788
http://www.theaterspaceproject.org
Funding for six one-day theater skills workshop designed to reach teens. Workshops will take place at the Lowry Lab in St. Paul between January and May 2011.
Thursday Musical $10,000
http://www.thursdaymusical.com
Funding for twelve concerts in the Thursday Morning Artist Series featuring solo artists every other Thursday from October 2010 through April 2011 at the Schneider Theater in the Bloomington Center for the Arts.
Twin Cities Women's Choir $10,000
http://www.twincitieswomenschoir.org
Funding for CELTIC FIRE, a choral concert featuring guest Irish band the HiBs. Performances will take place at Central Presbyterian Church in February 2011.
Zeitgeist $10,000
http://www.zeitgeistnewmusic.org
Funding for the 2010-2011 Eric Stokes Song Contest program, including the Eric Stokes Song Contest and the "Playing it Close to Home" concert. The program will be presented at Studio Z in St. Paul and Chanhassen High School in February 2011.
Scott County
South Metro Chorale $10,000
http://www.southmetrochorale.org
Funding for a two-concert series of Handel's Messiah to be performed in Chaska, Savage, and Lakeville in December 2010 and In the Presence of Angels to be performed at churches around the south metro in April 2011.
Suburban Hennepin County
Eclectic Edge Ensemble $10,000
http://www.eclecticedgeensemble.com
Funding for Send in the Jazz, a collaborative dance piece featuring choreographers Karis Sloss and Zoe Sealy. Performances will take place at the Ritz Theater in July 2011.
Minneapolis Jewish Film Festival $10,000
http://sabesjcc.org/arts_film_festival.htm
Funding for the Minneapolis Jewish Film Festival, an annual event presenting feature films, documentaries, and shorts from around the world on themes of Jewish culture and identity. The festival will take place at Sabes Jewish Community Center in April 2011.
Reach for Resources, Inc. $2,100
http://www.reachforresources.org/
Funding for Art Abilities, a four-part workshop introducing teens and adults with developmental disabilities to a variety of fine art forms. Workshops will take place at the Brooklyn Center Community Center in October and November 2010.
Time Track Productions $9,500
http://www.timetrackproductions.org
Funding for BODY OF LIGHT, a 75-minute work of original choreography featuring movement, media, and music. Performances will take place at the Southern Theater in September and October 2011.
Suburban Ramsey County
Ashland Productions $10,000
http://www.ashlandproductions.com
Funding for Ashland Collaborative Theater or ACT!, a collaborative theater arts experience for elementary-aged youth and culminating in four staged performances at the Maplewood Performing Arts Theatre in January through March.
Lakeshore Players, Inc. $10,000
http://www.lakeshoreplayers.com
Funding for three theatrical productions in their 58th season. The Lion in Winter, Murder on the Nile and The Sound of Music will be produced and performed January through May 2011.
Washington County
East Metro Symphony Orchestra $5,000
Funding for four concerts in their 2010-2011 season, featuring partnerships with Woodbury Community Theatre, eighth grade string musicians, and New Life Academy. Performances will take place at east metro locations between December 2010 and May 2011.
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