Arts Access

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$40,986
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Duluth Playhouse
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
January 2015
End Date
December 2015
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Aitkin
Carlton
Cook
Itasca
Lake
St. Louis
Aitkin
Carlton
Cook
Itasca
Lake
St. Louis
Project Overview
Arts Access
Project Details
The Duluth Playhouse and collaborator The Scottish Rite Clinic will conduct three ten-week sessions of Stage Play: Theatre for Children with Autism during 2015. This program will serve youth with a variety of autism spectrum disorders.
Competitive Grant Making Body
Board Members and Qualifications
Ardell Brede: Mayor of Rochester, elected 2002.; Peggy Burnet: Businesswoman, art collector, and community volunteer. Chair of the Nominating Committee, Smithsonian National Board. Trustee, Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Michael Charron: Dean of the School of the Arts, Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Rebecca Davis-Lee: Touring pianist, piano and music theory teacher; Wendy Dayton: Arts and community leader and philanthropist.; Sean Dowse, Executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Music Coalition, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies, Treasurer, Minnesota State Arts Board.; David Glenn: Executive director of the Minnesota Project, ceramic artist; Ellen McInnis: Director of Twin Cities government relations, Wells Fargo. Member of Bottineau Boulevard Partnership. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies; Janice Sivertson: Gallery owner and visual artist
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Mary Bromen: Executive director, Dakota Woodlands Women's and Family Homeless Shelter; Laura Campbell: Adult day program manager, Southwest Senior Center, ArtSage teaching artist; Kendall Carlson: Communications and events manager for Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES); Cheryl Kessler: Founder and principal evaluator, Blue Scarf Consulting, LLC; Lisa Vesel: Executive director, Minnesota Discovery Center
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2013, Chapter 137, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2015 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$40,986
Other Funds Leveraged
$10,482
Direct expenses
$51,468
Administration costs
$2,400
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The Duluth Playhouse and Scottish Rite Clinic will partner to create, and share unique programing combining theatre arts with communication/social skills focus in youth with Autism Spectrum Disorders. Evaluation of success includes the assessment of student participation and growth during each session and meeting the goal number of students per session, and continued interest in the program from new and returning families. 2: Barriers to participation in activities are mitigated by the opportunity, and the effort to provide it tuition free for families. Stage Play overcomes barriers by providing theatre education for free, compensating for gas and travel when possible, and providing necessary supports and customized experiences within the group dynamic.

Measurable Outcome(s)

The Stage Play Program served thirty children with Autism or related Spectrum Disorders and thirty teen buddies with three-ten week sessions as a result of this grant. Student intake surveys, parent meetings, pre session and post session review of student skills and growth. Student action plans are evaluated based on Clinic benchmarks for skill development and anecdotal successes and victories experienced in the classroom. It is impossible to measure the increase in confidence and self-expression that is the result of Stage Play. 2: All 30 students were able to successfully complete their sessions with the supports made possible by this grant. Student intake surveys, parent meetings, pre session and post session review of student skills and growth. Student action plans are evaluated based on Clinic benchmarks for skill development and anecdotal successes and victories experienced in the classroom. It is impossible to measure the increase in confidence and self-expression that is the result of Stage Play.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Herb Minke, Marcia Doty, Sandy Hoff, Tim Johnson, Patty McNulty, Jeanie Peterson, Steve Greenfield, Brian Liberty, Steve Nys, Dolly Schnell, Mia Thibodeau, Monique Forcier
Project Manager
First Name
Christine
Last Name
Gradl Seitz
Organization Name
Duluth Playhouse
Street Address
506 W Michigan St
City
Duluth
State
MN
Phone
(218) 733-7551
Email
seitz@duluthplayhouse.org
Administered By
Administered by
Location

Griggs Midway Building, Suite 304,
540 Fairview Avenue North,
St. Paul, MN 55104

Phone
(651) 539-2650 or toll-free (800) 866-2787
Email the Agency