Arts and Cultural Heritage

The number of Minnesotans who are able to participate in the arts increases. The quality, types and number of arts opportunities in our region, and the organizations or venues that offer them increases. Real or perceived barriers to arts participation and arts access are identified and addressed. New relationships with members of groups that have traditionally been underserved by the arts or by the applicant organization are built. Executive Director Sara Buechmann will oversee the project evaluation. She has received training from Dr. Patricia Shifferd, the Minnesota State Arts Board, and Carnegie Hall's Resnick Education Wing in the field of arts evaluation and attended workshops on the subject. The plan is to use volunteers to distribute a survey at the performances, along with programs, and collect them at the end of each performance. The surveys will be tabulated to determine any trends or changes in participation. In addition to surveys, we find valuable information through talking to participants. We can talk with participants and ask questions about their experience to determine if goals are being met. We also analyze unsolicited feedback--thank you letters, phone calls, and posts on social media often provide a lot of information about a powerful concert experience. Many people post about their first visit to the Symphony and tag us so that we can see it.