ArtsLab Newsroom

Forecast Public Art: Securing a Legacy for the Field

Sharon Rodning Bash — Sun, 08 Aug 2010 11:18:56 -0500

This June, a landmark gathering of some of the world’s leading providers and brokers of online public art resources took place in Baltimore, Maryland. A well-known leader––Jack Becker, Executive Director, Forecast Public Art––convened the meeting, co-sponsored by the Public Art Network of Americans for the Arts. Attendees committed to a process of identifying needs and opportunities to advance public art by collective action. The meeting confirmed the importance of Forecast’s plans to build a bold new website.

In 1978, Jack helped start Forecast in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. Forecast has grown to be a mainstay of public art through consulting, artist services, and its national journal. In 2008, following a heart transplant, Jack deepened his thinking about legacies. Likewise, the organization soul-searched as part of ArtsLab’s evaluative and reflective processes, leading to a realization of Forecast’s obligation to share its storehouse of public art knowledge and expertise.

Staff and board developed strategies to make Forecast’s resources available worldwide, using digital tools as well as enhanced communications and human connections. Major funders and public art supporters have responded enthusiastically to Forecast’s accelerated growth and expanding sphere of influence. The University of Minnesota is digitalizing and indexing the entire content of Public Art Review. NEA and the Andy Warhol Foundation funded an online version of the journal. Beneficiaries will be current and future generations of public artists, educators, policymakers, and others creating or facilitating public art. Ultimately, it’s a bequest for the public.

Testament to Bemidji Symphony Orchestra's Community Service

Sharon Rodning Bash — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:24:47 -0500

Bemidji Symphony Orchestra (BSO) has received national and local accolades and prizes during the past few months. Dr. Beverly Everett, conductor, was recently awarded the American Prize as one of six outstanding conductors nationally — a citation based on excellence in music education. The Orchestra was also a finalist for the American Prize, based on outstanding programming.

A recent honor that particularly pleases Dr. Beverly Everett, however, is the Outstanding Organization Stewardship Award bestowed by Bemidji Leads, a civic leadership group. “This acknowledges that we inspire people and improve quality of life in our area,” Beverly declared.

Since accepting an appointment in 2005 as the orchestra’s first resident conductor, Beverly implemented improvements contributing to an upsurge in orchestra development and community support. She appointed a Concert Master and section leaders, raising expectations for rigorous individual practice by all musicians. To perfect performances, she changed the rehearsal format from weekly to “a condensed, intense” schedule prior to concerts. The Board and Symphony Guild fundraised for outstanding guest artists, such as pianist André Watts and the Brubeck Jazz Trio, and for a youth symphony infusing new vitality into the parent organization.

Higher standards drew more musicians, tripling the orchestra’s size over the past five years to approximately 75 musicians. The age range now spans seven decades. Increased artistic capacity, in turn, allowed ambitious concerts for a community that responded with great enthusiasm. When BSO joined ArtsLab, the emphasis on artistry and community reinforced BSO’s direction. Audiences grew to 235 season ticket holders and over 1,600 participants annually. “Musical Testaments”––BSO’s 2010-2011 season’s theme––captures the sense of how valuable the orchestra has become to its community.

All My Relations Arts Plans New Gallery within American Indian Cultural Corridor

Sharon Rodning Bash — Tue, 13 Jul 2010 11:15:15 -0500

Since 1999, All My Relations Arts has developed its reputation for outstanding exhibits of contemporary American Indian fine art. Annually, thousands of guests have attended shows, such as City Indians and Hokah! featuring Julie Buffalohead, Gordon Coons, and numerous other award-winning artists. All My Relations Arts also offers spoken word, film premieres, outdoor installations, mentoring, and shows hosted in partnership. The organization’s 25th show, Original Green, begins May 20th at Mill City Museum, with a reception 6:00-8:00 p.m.

A recently formalized affiliation with the Native American Community Development Institute (NACDI), which focuses on building community assets, enables All My Relations Arts to fully participate in the neighborhood’s revitalization, and to welcome visitors from around the world. By this December, All My Relations Arts expects to open a new gallery and programming space at a prominent storefront location on Franklin Avenue within Minneapolis’ American Indian Cultural Corridor.

Many good forces converged to make “a big move” possible, according to Heid Erdrich, curator of All My Relations Arts and consultant to NACDI. She credits Shirlee Stone and the Great Neighborhoods! Development Corporation for their roles in starting All My Relations Arts, and ArtsLab for instilling confidence to mobilize current leaders to pursue new relationships and funding. The McKnight Foundation and an outpouring of community gifts are supporting initial costs related to the new gallery.

Theatre B's Year of Magical Growth

Sharon Rodning Bash — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 17:04:00 -0500

Explosive growth best describes Theatre B’s seventh season as a rising regional theater in the Fargo/Moorhead marketplace. Strong shows and collaborations are attracting the area’s best performers, while a growing fan base has promoted the productions. Ticket sales are off the chart.

Five plays now comprise the season. The dream of touring is being realized through regional bookings of Joan Didion’s “The Year of Magical Thinking.” Theatre B inherited a national corporate sponsorship and is now lead agency in an in-depth summer experience for teen thespians. The “explosion” began last fall with involvement in a staged reading of “The Laramie Project: Ten Years Later.” Even though this meant two shows in concurrent production, the ensemble seized the chance to be involved in a simultaneous international premiere. Executive Director Carrie Wintersteen describes “a magical year” for Theatre B where “every single thing we did garnered positive response.”

Theatre’s B’s positive changes, including a Board-projected balanced budget with a 75% increase over the previous year, could swamp an organization unprepared for the variety and extent of growth. Wintersteen credits consistent emphasis on artistic quality, value of art as inspiration for social action, community collaborations, hard work, and openness to new opportunities. She also indicates that ArtsLab helped Theatre B’s leadership team deepen its community focus, anticipate growth, and plan for a sustainable future. She is confident that Theatre B is prepared to “enjoy the upsurge.”

Convergence

Sharon Rodning Bash — Sun, 11 Apr 2010 11:09:23 -0500

published by the Irvine Foundation
written by Heather Gowdy, Alex Hildebrand, David La Piana, and Melissa Mendes Campos of LaPiana Consulting.

Based on extensive review of existing research and in-depth interviews with thought leaders and nonprofit leaders and activists, Convergence explores major societal trends and looks at the ways nonprofits can successfully navigate the changes. The monograph is by La Piana Consulting, a national firm dedicated to strengthening nonprofits and foundations.

Convergence is a “must read” for all arts and culture organizations seeking to adapt to the new environment of the 21st century.

One Voice, One Message

Sharon Rodning Bash — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 10:04:07 -0500

By far the largest group persecuted during the Holocaust was Jewish. But others perished at the hands of the Nazis, including some of the most creative voices of Europe from the gay/lesbian/ bisexual/transgender community. Honoring those voices with its UNsilenced performances in January 2010, One Voice Mixed Chorus––Minnesota’s GLBTA Chorus––touched audiences in ways that transcended words. The performances broke all previous attendance records and engendered audience response on a scale never before experienced.

According to Artistic and Executive Director Jane Ramseyer Miller, the organization experienced “a breakthrough” while planning UNsilenced. To address the possibility that difficult subject matter would deter audiences, Kathy Graves, a partner at Parenteau Graves Communications, worked with the organization’s staff to convey the show’s essence. Together they perfected an appealing description focusing on “hope and resistance.” The powerful message—just three sentences—consistently appeared prior to the concerts in e-blasts, posters, Facebook, Twitter, paid MPR advertisements, pod casts, and singers’ distribution to their social circles. Jane believes that the strong unified message along with creative and compelling programming contributed to record ticket sales.

Jane credits ArtsLab’s philosophy, training, and materials for encouraging the chorus to enhance interaction with its current and potential community. The consultant, funded by ArtsLab, taught One Voice the value of a pithy, repeatable message, a lesson that will influence the way all future concerts are communicated to a widening audience.

You may hear more about this event at Minnesota Public Radio as well as at One Voice Mixed Chorus.

Green Papers from Americans for the Arts

Sharon Rodning Bash — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 16:24:39 -0600

As a way to celebrate the successes of the past 50 years in the arts field, Americans for the Arts has collected Green Papers from a variety of national arts service organizations and peer groups representing different perspectives and disciplines. They are now inviting you to join the conversation.

Green Papers are a chance for anyone who cares about the arts to talk about a particular discipline or interest area in a facilitated, open forum. Each participating organization who authored a Green Paper also selected an emerging leader Ambassador to facilitate discussion about the related Paper. Ambassadors will continue this dialogue throughout the year—capturing and synthesizing the ideas, changes, and themes that arise from online discussions. Ambassadors will be led by a group facilitator, Eric Booth. At the end of the year, new Green Papers will emerge that will reflect the overarching changes and ideas proposed through this democratic forum process.

Join the discussion on our future as an arts sector. You may read the Green Papers, comment, and follow the commentary on topics of interest through setting an RSS feed.

Let your voice be heard!

UNsilenced. GLBT and Jewish Voices of the Holocaust

Sharon Rodning Bash — Thu, 28 Jan 2010 09:12:25 -0600

Alison Young, Minnesota Public Radio
St. Paul, Minn. — By far the largest group persecuted during the the Holocaust was Jewish.

But countless others perished at the hands of the Nazis — gypsies, communists, the mentally and physically handicapped — as well as those deemed degenerate — some of the most creative voices of Europe from the Gay/Lesbian/Bi-sexual/Trans-gendered community.

On January 30th and 31st One Voice Mixed Chorus will honor those who suffered and died in the holocaust with a very unique and important choral concert. Best hurry to purchase tickets. This concert may sell out.

Turn to Minnesota Public Radio for a feature story, audio sample, and images from both the holocaust as well as One Voice Mixed Chorus.

Laramie Project

Sharon Rodning Bash — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 16:27:21 -0600

This ninety-minute staged reading will be presented by the EdgeWild Players at the Edge Center for the Arts in Bigfork, MN on January 29th & 30th at 7pm and on Sunday January 31st at 2pm.

Twin Cities director, Aaron Gabriel, and a cast of four Twin Cities actors and four local actors are collaborating in this production. Gabriel and actor Andrea Cole are originally from Bigfork. Barbra Berlovitz from Theatre de la Jeune Lune in Minneapolis, Tod Petersen, also from Jeune Lune who wrote the Ordway’s favorite, “A Christmas Carole Petersen,” and Gregg Peterson will join local actors, Patricia Feld, Pastor John Hanson, Zachary Madsen, and Kimberly Powell.

The Blandin Foundation of Grand Rapids, MN is underwriting this production. A documentary being made of this production is being subsidized in part by the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

Tickets will be available at Cenex Two Rivers Convenience Store, online at The Edge Center, and at the door. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children, and Student Rush is $3 ten minutes before the curtain.

Hokah! Ten Years of Art

Sharon Rodning Bash — Fri, 15 Jan 2010 08:49:11 -0600

Hokah! Ten Years of Art at Ancient Traders Gallery December 11, 2009 – January 30, 2010. Exhibit hours: Thursday-Sunday, 11 a.m.- 3 p.m. and by appointment. Artists Panel Q & A on January 23, 6-9 p.m. Hokah! features more than 30 artists including: Carolyn Anderson, Jim Denomie, Gordon Coons, Tiffany Eggenberg, Carl Gawboy, Kevin Pourier, Mona Smith, Catherine Whipple, Jonathan Thunder, and more.

In The Circle News Carolyn Anderson commented that she sees this show as a good opportunity to combat American Indian stereotypes. Her invitation to artists states that, “American Indian people have become accustomed to outsiders portraying us in ways that are not truthful and that often create or add to romanticized and often condescending stereotypes. Self-portraiture gives us the power to reflect back what we see in ourselves, and to put ourselves within a context that the general public is not used to seeing thereby overcoming these stereotypes.” Read this feature article at The Circle.

Nonprofit Current Conditions Report

Sharon Rodning Bash — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:05:08 -0600

by Jon Pratt, Executive Director, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits, as reported in the Nonprofit Quarterly

Jon Pratt of the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits says that the level of contributions in the fourth quarter of 2009 may seal the fate of a number of nonprofits since that is the quarter when a disproportionate number of charitable donations are generally taken in. MNCN’s “current conditions” report mirrors what we have been hearing from elsewhere. Pratt says that smaller organizations with budgets under $400,000 seem to be suffering more difficulties proportionately to the rest.—Ruth McCambridge reports with her 2010 Prognostications More>>

Please consider subscribing to this important news service, as well as signing up for the free on line Nonprofit Newswire.

Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival Honored

Sharon Rodning Bash — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 09:09:33 -0500

The annual Nordic Festival has been nominated by the Minnesota Tourism office and selected by the American Bus Association for inclusion in their national Destinations magazine. Only a very few events from any state are selected for this honor. The mission of the Scandinavian Hjemkomst Festival is to “preserve, celebrate and perpetuate Nordic cultures” through a three day summer arts festival that presents innovative and life-changing fine and cultural arts that help create identity and connection. Pictured are Anne Dunn, of the Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe, and Faith Fjeld, of the Saami (Raindeer) people, presenting “Kindred Spirits: Ojibwe and Saami Connections.” For more information on this festival and other year round activities, visit Nordic Culture Clubs.

Springboard for the Arts receives NEA stimulus grant

Sharon Rodning Bash — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 16:15:50 -0500

The National Endowment for the Arts today announced its FY2009 Grant Awards under the federal stimulus package, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The grants, which total $29.7 million, will go to 631 local arts organizations across the country. Visit MinnPost.com for details about this news item.

TU Dance returns to the Southern Theatre

Sharon Rodning Bash — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 08:31:31 -0500

The Star Tribune reports that “Summer is upon us and TU Dance is embracing the essence of this eagerly anticipated season with two very different yet altogether satisfying world premieres choreographed by Uri Sands, now performing at the Southern Theater through June 28.” Read their review at Star Tribune.

Be sure to explore TU Dance’s website for a visual display of their work and also a calendar of upcoming performances.

Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative

Sharon Rodning Bash — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 12:31:42 -0600

Arts in Crisis: A Kennedy Center Initiative is a program designed to provide planning assistance and consulting to struggling arts organizations throughout the United States. Open to non-profit 501©(3) performing arts organizations, the program will provide counsel from Kennedy Center President Michael Kaiser and the Kennedy Center executive staff in the areas of fundraising, building more effective Boards of Trustees, budgeting, marketing, technology, and other areas pertinent to maintaining a vital performing arts organization during a troubled economy. To learn more about the initiative or to request services, turn to Arts in Crisis.

Building the Power Grid

Sharon Rodning Bash — Tue, 03 Feb 2009 15:40:25 -0600

The Nonprofit Quarterly has been very appropriately described as the Harvard Business Review for the nonprofit sector. Every issue is packed with exceptionally thoughtful and always timely and relevant material for leaders of nonprofit organizations.

The email that brought the current issue reminds us, “In this time of spontaneous, chaotic reorganization, we all will be forced to be radically different. Old habits, beliefs, and tacit compacts have landed us all in an odd transitional moment. Although we may know something about what we are transitioning from, no one knows where we are headed and through what we will have to pass to get there.”

The lead article challenges us to listen to our communities, consider new solutions learned from the voices of our constituencies, and, as ArtsLab continually reminds its grantees, to “plan from the outside-in.” Know your constituencies, know their issues, know their solutions, and work within a network. more

Please consider subscribing to this free e-newsletter. It is one that I eagerly await in my inbox and read each issue thoroughly.

MinnPost.com reviews Bedlam's 'The Turducken'

Fri, 19 Dec 2008 13:39:42 -0600

According to the latest MinnPost.com review, “First act of Bedlam’s ‘The Turducken’ is hilarious; the second act … not so much”, by Christy DeSmith, “There are more than a few brilliant moments in Bedlam Theatre’s production of “The Turducken.” She goes on to talk about enjoying the “trio of singers” clad in Christmas sweaters and how the 3-in-1 show writer Josef Evans created a very funny script.

Read the entire review by Christy DeSmith at MinnPost.com | Published Fri, Dec 19 2008 9:47 am

Harmonic Convergence

Sharon Rodning Bash — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 09:22:40 -0600

Jane Ramseyer Miller, Director of the Chorus, lived in Haiti for years, which has provided a unique vantage point for her regarding the HIV/AIDS epidemic.

She was for this reason especially eager to work in collaboration with Titamba. Titamba, “welcoming the masters” in one of the languages of Zimbabwe, was founded by Christian Adetti, an immigrant from Ghana. Mr. Adetti was also eager to participate in a program focusing on AIDS, a significant health issue throughout the African continent.

The concert focal point was a newly commissioned work designed for this cultural juxtaposition. Christopher Gable, a professor at Macalester College, was tapped for the commissioning. His creation, “By the Fireside,” is set to poetry of Nigerian poet Odia Ofeimun and South African Ingrid de Kok. The second of the poems is a meditation on the social costs of HIV/AIDS. The work concludes with “Lux Aeterna” from the Latin Requiem.

The performances to very full houses were enthusiastically received.

Poetry in Motion: TU Dance in Performance

Sharon Rodning Bash — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 10:16:37 -0600

City Pages describes the latest performance at O’Shaughnessy:
The performance began with the debut of Sense(ability) Sketch 1, a tryptych of varied moods entitled Earth, Touch, and Ether (The Space in Which Everything Exists). The performance was the first series of sketches for an evening-length work that explores the relationship between the senses and the elements, taken from Ayurvedic philosophy. “Ayurveda,” writes artistic director Uri Sands, “is the belief that everything in the universe is made up of five great elements which manifest in the functioning of the five senses: earth/smell, water/taste, fire/sight, air/touch and ether/sound.” More from City Pages Review

Hallmark Event for the Bemidji Symphony Orchestra

Sharon Rodning Bash — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 09:18:58 -0600

Sharon Rodning Bash
ArtsLab Program Director

For me personally, November, 2008, will be held as a lifelong memory—the month that André Watts played in Bemidji, Minnesota.

The Bemidji Pioneer reported that the orchestra “brought down the house”; that they “performed masterfully.” But it was most memorable for me as an opportunity for a regional orchestra, rapidly growing in stature, to be graciously supported by an artist of profound generosity and kindliness of spirit. Beverly Everett reports that Mr. Watts gave her a “thumbs up” each time she left the stage. He showered praise on each orchestra member who spoke with him. He posed for family photos, signed autographs, and clearly reveled in celebrating the role of the arts in community.

I watched with amazement the youngest violist (age 9) playing Rachmaninoff with Mr. Watts, while her legs dangled free (visible under his piano) because her feet still could not reach the floor. It was fun to watch women in furs arriving with men in hunting caps. It was a thrill to celebrate a career milestone with “our” ArtsLab orchestral conductor, Beverly Everett. It was delightful to hear the local buzz of community pride and a new excitement for what the arts, and this orchestra, can become in Bemidji.

Beyond simply “bringing down the house” with their lengthy standing ovation, I would describe the audience exuberance as akin to having just won the Stanley Cup. As the Bemidji Pioneer reported: “Cheers! Symphony wins!”

Victory for the Arts

Sharon Rodning Bash — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 10:21:34 -0600

Victory for the Arts in Minnesota. Sheila Smith, our tireless advocate as Executive Director of Minnesota Citizens for the Arts sends out her celebratory thank you: “Wow! It’s hard to find the words to thank all of the wonderful arts advocates who were a part of our historic victory last night.

Did you know that the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment got more votes than our new president, Barack Obama, in Minnesota? We received 56% of the statewide vote. What a resounding affirmation that Minnesotans value the arts, the great outdoors, and our state’s wonderful quality of life.

This dedicated funding will be available for 25 years.
This is what you would call a game changer. And it’s because our extraordinary arts community rolled up their sleeves and got to work.

On Monday night, Nov. 10, MCA will be holding our regularly scheduled Annual Meeting at the Illusion Theatre in Minneapolis at 5:30 p.m. We will reflect upon and celebrate this historic moment, and show the winners of the Vote Yes! Film Contest. And we will raise a glass in honor of this great arts community. If you want to join us, please RSVP to staff or call 651-251-0868.”
__________

On the national front, Americans for the Arts Action Fund President and CEO Robert L. Lynch reports that “Yesterday’s election results also expanded the base of support for the arts in Congress, which will help move arts and arts education initiatives through the legislative process.” More

The Big Read Now Accepting Applications

Sharon Rodning Bash — Mon, 27 Oct 2008 16:34:54 -0500

Creating a Nation of Readers
The Big Read is an initiative of the National Endowment for the Arts designed to restore reading to the center of American culture. The NEA presents The Big Read in partnership with the Institute of Museum and Library Services and in cooperation with Arts Midwest.

The Big Read brings together partners across the country to encourage reading for pleasure and enlightenment.

The Big Read answers a big need. Reading at Risk: A Survey of Literary Reading in America, a 2004 report by the National Endowment for the Arts, found that not only is literary reading in America declining rapidly among all groups, but that the rate of decline has accelerated, especially among the young. The concerned citizen in search of good news about American literary culture would study the pages of this report in vain.

The Big Read aims to address this crisis squarely and effectively. It provides citizens with the opportunity to read and discuss a single book within their communities.

For Guidelines and Application as well as more information on the program, explore The Big Read.

AgStar Grants Available to Enhance Rural Quality of Life

Sharon Rodning Bash — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 12:25:06 -0500

“Committed to enhancing the quality of life and future opportunities for rural residents and their communities” is the mission of the Fund. It was created to demonstrate our support for agriculture and the rural communities within our service area.

To date, the AgStar Fund has contributed over $1.7 million to support rural America in our service area. This grant application allows AgStar to continue its mission and support organizations working to benefit farmers and rural areas.

For more information regarding the grant application process please visit agstar.com. Applications must be completed on-line and will be accepted through November 30, 2008. Organizations receiving a grant will be notified in March 2009.

Through this grant program and the other programs of the AgStar Fund, we are helping to ensure a strong future in rural America.

More information from AgStar.

McKnight Honors 45 Artists Selected for Artist Fellowships and Residencies

Sharon Rodning Bash — Sat, 04 Oct 2008 12:12:55 -0500

McKnight provides fellowships of $25,000 per year to selected Minnesota artists in 12 disciplines.

“This fellowship program exists to provide Minnesota artists with much-needed time and resources to do their work,” said Erika L. Binger, McKnight board chair. “The return on our investment comes in the form of a robust cultural environment that enriches the lives of people across the state.”

Including this year’s awards, the Foundation has funded over 1,350 artist fellowships since 1982. McKnight currently gives about $1.7 million per year to support fellowship programs run by nonprofit arts organizations representing 12 different media.

For a complete list of fellows and national artists in residence visit The McKnight Foundation website.

The COMPAS Greater Minnesota School Arts Fund (GMSAF) announces new grant opportunity

Sharon Rodning Bash — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 13:33:50 -0500

The arts play an important role in education. All students, regardless of economic background, neighborhood, or any social barrier should have access to art in their education. Any new or existing collaborative efforts, projects, activities, or programs that demonstrate the value of the arts in schools serving grades K-12 will be considered for funding.

Greater Minnesota School Arts Fund (GMSAF)
Deadline: December 5, 2008

Requests up to $2,000 will be considered

For more information, please turn to the United Arts Fund on the COMPAS website.

Catching the Red Eye to Theater Innovation

Sharon Rodning Bash — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 08:30:00 -0500

Over the years, the Red Eye Collaboration has developed a who’s-who of theater talent. Miriam Must, Managing Director, ticks off local actors, playwrights, and visual artists who have worked at the Red Eye in one capacity or another. There are more than a hundred names on her list, including such local heavyweights as Open Eye Figure Theatre’s Michael Sommers, Frank Theatre’s Wendy Knox, and the crew from Bedlam. The acting roster includes such recognizable big-stage names as Luverne Seifert, Tracey Maloney, and Jim Lichtscheidl.

But the Red Eye is resolute in looking forward rather than to the past. Read their recent accolades in City Pages.

Bush Foundation Reaffirms Commitment to ArtsLab

pat — Mon, 04 Aug 2008 15:23:29 -0500

The Bush Foundation, one of the five foundations supporting ArtsLab, has reaffirmed its commitment to ArtsLab as it announces a new strategic direction.

From the Bush Foundation website:

In 2006, our Board of Directors began looking carefully at the past and future of the Bush Foundation. As we looked to the future, we concluded that we needed to focus our energies in order to have even greater impact. During the past six months, we asked ourselves repeatedly, “What difference do we want to make?”

In response, we have chosen three ambitious goals that we intend to pursue for at least the next decade.

Develop Courageous Leaders and Engage Entire Communities in Solving Problems
Support the Self-Determination of Native Nations
Increase Educational Achievement

More at www.bushfoundation.org

ArtsLab Collaborative Names 17 Grantee Organizations

admin — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 15:47:09 -0500

July 14, 2008, Minneapolis — ArtsLab, a collaborative of major foundations that support the arts, today announces the 17 Minnesota organizations selected for participation in its three-year training and development program. The 17 arts nonprofits were selected from a field of nearly 70 program applicants; a full list of program participants follows this release.

ArtsLab is a $1.85 million venture of the Bush Foundation, the F. R. Bigelow Foundation, Mardag Foundation, The McKnight Foundation and The Saint Paul Foundation. Going beyond traditional capacity-building approaches to strengthen operational management, the ArtsLab program was holistically designed to also improve individual leadership capacity and to bolster the region’s arts sector within a community context. ArtsLab seeks to:

increase the leadership pool for tomorrow’s arts sector;
strengthen the presence of visionary small arts organizations in both urban and rural communities; and
use the power of the arts to enhance community vitality and engagement.

“With increased capacity, these exceptional organizations will be better equipped to serve their own audiences and our entire community,” said Peter C. Hutchinson, Bush Foundation president. “By focusing on visionary leadership, as well as artistic excellence and community connections, ArtsLab will enable these institutions to nurture current and future cultural leaders.”

In addition to providing modest grants to support operations, ArtsLab will provide technical assistance and peer learning opportunities to cultivate leadership skills, strategic thinking, community impact and adaptability to change, as well as more traditional management tools and systems. “Such promising, smaller organizations are worthy of both our attention and our investments,” explained Carleen Rhodes, president and CEO of The Saint Paul Foundation. “By allowing them to bring their missions fully to life, ArtsLab’s programs and professional team also empower them to have increased presence and engagement in their communities. In partnership with our committed colleagues, we are pleased to support these organizations as invaluable regional assets.”

To assist with the program’s curriculum and coaching design, training and development, ArtsLab has retained a diverse team of experts. Areas of expertise covered by the curriculum planning team include board development and governance, executive assessment and coaching, staff and volunteer skills-building, conflict management, organizational effectiveness, fundraising, evaluation and strategic planning, financial management, social change and community engagement, community development, marketing and communications and media relations.

Program participants were chosen because of their demonstrated ability to creatively explore their own artistic path, while also probing a deeper understanding of engagement with audiences and their civic community. Reflecting a depth of experience in arts administration and capacity-building in communities of all sizes, the selection panel included Barbara Davis, arts consultant (panel chair); Janet Brown, arts department chair, Augustana College, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; John Davis, executive director, Cornucopia Art Center, Lanesboro; Cinda Holt, Business Development Specialist , Montana Arts Council; Herman Milligan, Jr., PhD, Wells Fargo & Company, Minneapolis; Linda Myer, arts consultant, Minneapolis; Rick Shiomi, artistic director, Mu Performing Arts, Minneapolis; Bonnie Steward, vice president of outreach & advancement, Northland College, Thief River Falls; Chris Widdess, managing director, Penumbra Theatre, St. Paul.

The 17 arts nonprofits selected by the panel cultivate new artistic aesthetics, reach a breadth of diverse audiences, serve both emerging and mid-career artists, challenge traditional organizational structures and meet a wide range of regional needs. Altogether, the organizations taking part in the unique three-year program represent cultural activity in four regions of Minnesota: Minneapolis/Saint Paul; Fargo/Moorhead; Bemidji; and Little Falls.

See a full list of the grantees

Minnesota State Arts Board's Arts Across Minnesota Returns

admin — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:55:03 -0500

The Minnesota State Arts Board is reintroducing the Arts Across Minnesota Program. Arts Across Minnesota exists to help make outstanding arts experiences available to residents in every region of the state through festivals and touring presentations that engage local artists, children, and other members of the public in community arts celebrations.

You may find more information about this opportunity. The program has three components: Host Community grants, Festivals grants, and a Touring Directory. For more information regarding this new opportunity you may contact Amy Frimpong, Program Officer

Are 501(c)(3) Organizations Out of Sync?

admin — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:52:33 -0500

“The more rapidly society changes, the more out of synch the 501©(3) organization is likely to be.” In a particularly challenging article printed in the Grantmakers in the Arts Reader, Adrian Ellis focuses on the characteristics of 501©(3) nonprofit organizations and the disadvantages they may face in the context of rapidly changing markets. He probes two areas of shortcoming which he believes are, if unaddressed, “likely to render the nonprofit cultural organization increasingly out of synch with the wider community it is designed to serve, and the wider cultural ecology in which it operates.”

More at http://www.giarts.org/usr_doc/7069_03Ellis.pdf

Mongolian Ensemble Tours Minnesota

admin — Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:49:13 -0500

An Da Union, a musical ensemble from Inner Mongolia, is currently touring small venues in the upper Midwest, as a part of Arts Midwest’s World Fest program.

Arts Midwest World Fest’s overall purpose is to foster an understanding of and appreciation for global uniqueness and differences. The program’s objectives are to present high-caliber, accessible international artists to local communities, and young people in particular, for a multifaceted, lasting experience; integrate art into a broader social, cultural, political, and historical framework; and encourage young people to explore issues and concerns of diverse cultures.

“This touring program is critical in rural areas where budgets and national requirements have curtailed the arts. This program will change lives,” comments Lynn Verschoor, Director of the South Dakota Art Museum.