Art Project Grant
ACHF Arts Access ACHF Arts Education ACHF Cultural Heritage
All Souls Night goals are: To share and inspire affordable handmade and live spectacle traditions, which mirror extremes of contrasting seasons of life and encourage soulful creativity from all. To showcase multi-cultural diversity of art expression, reflecting changing demographics. To form a communal container in which to safely hold and process the gamut of joy, sorrow and gratitude for a subsequent sublimation into meaning-rich art and action. To honor the memories of those who have gone before, and model holistic and active imagination towards present and future beings of our planet. To highlight and reward artists who spark year-round observations of cosmic change in fun, original, profound ways! Documentation of increasing number/diversity in participants and returning/new attendees (some travel from distant parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin and Michigan), adding to eight years of amazing photos. Recounting spontaneous comments (which consistently express sincere gratitude for offering an affordable holistic alternative to Hollywood Halloween-tide). Casual followups with participants/observers to discuss All Souls Night highs/lows, and ideas for possible improvements in following years. Past critiques have been very positive and folks who take time to approach us usually join in. Active Facebook/website pages where engaged public can easy contact us with photos and offer their talents/suggestions.
We offer a healthy, fun, and profound fall artistic community event and 2016 feedback confirms we achieved this again. We counted record attendance of 550 at the door (unknown number joined outside) and an increased participants in original costumes and those requesting face paint. The Depot opened and advertised the altar displays in the Great Hall a week before our scheduled event, which attracted additional viewers and appreciative communications. We expect networking of artistic collaborations to flourish year-round, as it has since our start. We have successful new relationships with aerialist, Alex Loch, Kako kids choir, the Children of the Wild theatre ensemble, and Twin Cities Barebones Puppets. These additions increased the quality of entertainment and artistic inspiration, as well as diversity represented. We will invite them back along with groups who have participated over time, Lady Slipper Dance, Magic Smelt Troupe, Spin Collective and spoken word artists, including Ellie Schoenfeld, Poet Laureate . Richie Townsend debuted a new band along with leadership roles in spoken word accompaniment, display, community spiral dance, and drumming. Ryan Cruz expanded his display of soulful Guatemalan Kites. Laurel Sanders presented Northern European traditions. Eduardo Sandoval returned with his food truck, El Oasis del Norte, providing authentic Mexican food and Pan de Muertos (Bread of the Dead). We aspire to honor all diversity and inspire positive social change by calling out social injustices as "Rotten Ideas." Kathy Hermes, exhibiting LGBTQAI advisor, was honored for educating her topics in Minnesota. Children of the Wild is a gender queer ensemble theatre and models positive support for vulnerable youth. We work for next generations, who attend and will inherit and continue holistic and heartfelt global traditions that deepen our evolving local culture. Families tell us how they look forward to this as their favorite annual community event of the year.
Other, local or private