Arts Learning

Project Details by Fiscal Year
2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$24,996
Fund Source
Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund
Recipient
Kevin L. Strauss
Recipient Type
Individual
Status
Completed
Start Date
September 2015
End Date
May 2017
Activity Type
Grants/Contracts
Counties Affected
Goodhue
Houston
Mower
Olmsted
Rice
Steele
Goodhue
Houston
Mower
Olmsted
Rice
Steele
Project Overview
Arts Learning
Project Details
The Community Writing Workshop Project gives adult and older adult Minnesotans in six underserved outstate communities the skills, practice, feedback, and experience to write and publish engaging stories and poetry.
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; 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: Senior advisor, Spell Capital Partners Fund
Advisory Group Members and Qualifications
Bradley Althoff: Managing producer, national classical music programs, American Public Media - Minnesota Public Radio; Richard Carlson: Theater and philosophy teacher, School for Environmental Studies, Apple Valley; Alberto Justiniano: Artistic director, Teatro del Pueblo; theater artist and filmmaker; Cydney Perkins: Arts volunteer in Rochester schools; Gretchen Pick: Artistic director, Young Dance. Adjunct faculty, University of Minnesota Department of Dance.; Daniel Stark: Associate Professor, Minnesota State University, Mankato; Joanne Toft: Private educational arts consultant
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 Education

2016 Fiscal Year Funding Amount
$24,996
Other Funds Leveraged
$2,799
Direct expenses
$27,795
Administration costs
$250
Number of full time equivalents funded
0
Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

Participants will show measurable improvement in their Creative Writing skills. I will use participant surveys, participant verbal comments, and an evaluation rubric of pre-workshop and post-workshop writing activities to evaluate project outcomes. 2: Participants will self-identify as writers/poets and plan to continue writing after the workshops end. I will use participant surveys and participant verbal comments to evaluate this project outcome.

Measurable Outcome(s)

The vast majority of participants showed measurable improvement in their Creative Writing skills as measured by surveys and a writing rubric. The artist evaluated this outcome through participant surveys, participant verbal comments and an evaluation of participant writing using a creating writing rubric. Participants completed evaluations after each workshop session. These surveys asked participants questions about whether the workshop had improved their writing skills and knowledge. The writing rubric showed participants moving from a C piece of writing to a B+ piece of writing. 2: The vast majority of participants self-identified as writers/poets and indicated that they plan to continue writing after the workshops end. The artist used participant surveys at the end of each workshop session and verbal comments to evaluate this project outcome. Since the goal was to have a least 90% of participants self-identify as writers by the end of the last workshop session in each workshop series, this project has absolutely achieved this outcome.

Description of Funds
Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Project Manager
First Name
Kevin
Last Name
Strauss
Organization Name
Kevin L. Strauss
State
MN
Phone
(507) 993-3411
Email
kevin@naturestory.com
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