Arts Tour Minnesota

2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$38,768

Fund Source

Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund

Recipient

Great Northern Union Chorus

Recipient Type

Non-Profit Business/Entity

Status

Completed

Start Date

March 2014

End Date

November 2014

Activity Type

Grants/Contracts

Counties Affected

Aitkin

Beltrami

Benton

Cass

Crow Wing

Douglas

Hubbard

Mille Lacs

Morrison

Otter Tail

Pope

Stearns

Todd

Wadena

Project Overview

Arts Tour Minnesota

Project Details

The Great Northern Union Chorus, an internationally acclaimed, 100+ voice men’s barbershop and a cappella chorus, will perform a major concert and set of community engagements in Grand Rapids and Staples, aimed at promoting a lifetime of singing.

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. Vice Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Wendy Dayton: Arts and community leader and philanthopist.; Sean Dowse: Executive director, Sheldon Theatre. Board member for Minnesota Music Coalition, Minnesota Citizens for the Arts, and Anderson Center for Interdisciplinary Studies.; David Glenn, Executive director of the Minnesota Project, ceramic artist; Benjamin Klipfel: Board member, Minnesota State Arts Board. Executive Director, Alexandria Area Arts Association, Inc. Director and arts educator.; Ellen McInnis: Director of Twin Cities government relations, Wells Fargo. Member of Bottineau Boulevard Partnership. Chair, Minnesota State Arts Board.; Thomas Moss: Consultant to nonprofits and government agencies; Janice Sivertson: Gallery owner and visual artist; Anton Treuer: Professor of Ojibwe, Bemidji State University.

Advisory Group Members and Qualifications

Jeffery Amundson: Executive Director, Rochester Symphony Orchestra and Chorale; Christopher Atkins: Coordinator, Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program, Minneapolis Institute of Arts; Sharon Bailey: Artist, Arts Administrator; Tania Blanich: Executive Director, Rourke Art Gallery Museum; Molly Chase: Managing director, Springboard for the Arts; board member and managing director, HUGE Improv Theater; Elisabeth Comeaux: Fundraiser / development manager, Minnesota Opera; Vanessa Healey: Production Stage Manager and Performing Arts Manager, Interact Center for the Visual and Performing Arts; performing arts, production and arts administration; Rebecca Petersen: Executive director, Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra; Luverne Seifert: Head of BA Performance, Department of Theater Arts and Dance, University of Minnesota. Co-founder of Sod House Theater Company.

Conflict of Interest Disclosed

Project Details: 2014 Fiscal Year

Legal Citation / Subdivision

Laws of Minnesota 2013, Chapter 137, Article 4, Section 2, Subdivision 3

Appropriation Language

ACHF Arts Access

2014 Fiscal Year Funding Amount

$38,768

Other Funds Leveraged

$10,300

Direct expenses

$49,068

Administration costs

Number of full time equivalents funded

Proposed Measurable Outcome(s)

The tour will pilot Great Northern Union Chorus’ strategy to make a significant, lasting difference in the accessibility of its unique art form to underserved communities. Evaluation instruments will measure not just audience response, but previous exposure to the form. Influential choral intermediaries (e.g., choir directors) will be queried as to their increased understanding and interest in the form. 2: Great Northern Union Chorus will perform for the first time in Grand Rapids and Staples. Project learnings will drive future touring projects in unexposed communities. In addition to the evaluation instrument, Great Northern Union Chorus' performance and project leaders will formally debrief with community leaders at both tour sites to identify what worked and what didn’t in order to refine its future touring strategy.

Measurable Outcome(s)

We performed in Grand Rapids and Staples. We made our art accessible in underserved communities, particularly for young men.

Description of Funds

Source of Additional Funds

Other, local or private

Recipient Board Members

Peter Benson, Jeff Taxdahl, Erik Dove, Joe Cossette, Brent Benrud, Kevin Lynch, Jerod Guida, Dan True, Bob Dowma, Roger Wambheim, Rick Hurd

Project Manager

Kevin

Lynch

Great Northern Union Chorus

3909 Dartmouth Dr