Arts Access

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$75,000
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Illusion Theater and School, Inc. AKA Illusion Theater
Recipient Type
Non-Profit Business/Entity
Status
Completed
Start Date
November 2015
End Date
October 2016
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Hennepin
Ramsey
Hennepin
Ramsey
Project Overview
Arts Access
Project Details
Illusion Theater will partner with Youth for Cultural Appreciation & Racial Equality to engage 275 at-risk Twin Cities youth with Illusion with an aim to provide access to theater and improve their life chances.
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; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies; Janice Sivertson: Gallery owner and visual artist; Dobson West: Private equity manager; board chair, Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Ann Benrud: Director of communications and external relations, Minneapolis College of Art and Design; Christina Chang: Museum curator; doctorate in art history; Kevin Curran: Nonprofit professional in development and grant writing for arts organizations; Mary Flicek: Arts administrator; board member, River Junctions Arts Council; Cheryl Kessler: Founder and principal evaluator, Blue Scarf Consulting, LLC; Patrick Serrano: MS in nonprofit institutions, volunteer grant writer; Dameun Strange: Bush Foundation Community Innovation Team member
Conflict of Interest Disclosed
No
Legal Citation / Subdivision
Laws of Minnesota 2015 Special Session, chapter 2, article 4, section 2, subdivision 3
Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$75,000
Other Funds Leveraged
$19,977
Direct expenses
$94,977
Administration costs
$5,000
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Enhance partnership with YouthCARE resulting in potential ongoing programming that engages the target population with Illusion and the art of theater. Illusion leadership will engage in discussions and interviews with YouthCARE staff and youth leaders to determine the success of the project and the potential for ongoing collaboration. 2: 275 at-risk youth (age 13-18) and 35 YC staff and youth mentors will attend Illusion plays, events, and workshops designed for the target group. Illusion will maintain accurate attendance records.

Measurable Outcome(s)

Illusion enhanced its partnership with YouthCARE resulting in ongoing programming that actively engages youth with Illusion and the art of theater. Project leader Karen Gundlach engaged in discussions and debriefing interviews with YouthCARE staff. She had three on-site meetings during the year with YouthCARE staff to assess the work done, to determine who she would work with next, and the focus that this next work should take. Some groups were being trained as youth leaders; some as part of the program to be exposed to theater; some for communication skills. 2: 279 distinct at-risk youth (age 13-18) and 35 YouthCARE staff attended Illusion plays, events, and workshops designed for the target group. Illusion artist/educators and YouthCARE maintained records of youth who attended workshops and the number of workshops held. We used the special code, general complimentary codes and tracking of school performances to track the number of those from YouthCARE who attended productions.

Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members
Stan Alleyne, Anthony Bohaty, Emily Bridges, Willie Bridges, Barbara Brin, Amy Brenengen, Pat Dunleavy, Keith Halperin, Lori Liss, Christopher Madel, Vivian Martin, Bonnie Morris, Katie Otto, Emily Palmer, Therese Pautz, Jeffrey Rabkin, Michael H. Robins, Rebecca F. Schiller, Susan Shapiro, Tracy M. Smith, David Stamps, Erica V. Stein, Robin Stein, Susan Thurston, Christopher Wurtz
Project Manager
First Name
Michael
Last Name
Robins
Organization Name
Illusion Theater and School, Inc. AKA Illusion Theater
Street Address
528 Hennepin Ave Ste 704
City
Minneapolis
State
MN
Phone
(612) 339-4944x 208
Email
mrobins@illusiontheater.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