| For Immediate Release | For more information contact: |
| February 17, 2000 | Patrick Condon (651) 296- 2317 |
ST. PAUL Rep. Bob Ness (R-Dassel) this week released information that shows the benefit of state arts grants to many groups and organizations in District 20A.
"Many of these local groups are small and have to look hard for resources," Ness said. "That's why these grants from the state are extremely important. A healthy arts community is a very important part of creating a good quality of life in small cities and towns, and these grants help foster that kind of activity."
Ness said that participation in the arts is especially beneficial to children and young adults. "Participating in things like children's theater, music or dance lessons or other arts opportunities will help a child to become more well-rounded as they grow and mature," Ness said.
The Minnesota State Arts Board and its Regional Arts Councils are dedicated to fostering the arts and humanities in Minnesota. The Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council (SMAHC) encourages the development of the arts and humanities in southwestern Minnesota by serving as a source of funds and technical services which enable local organizations, education institutions and individuals to sponsor and create and promote the arts and humanities in 18 counties throughout southwest Minnesota.
For instance, arts funding by the State Legislature, through the SMAHC, made possible a production and performance of Handel's Messiah by the Crow River Arts/Hutchinson Community Chorus. One participant said the performance "raised the community's perception of the chorus and raised the choir members' perceptions of the their own skills."
In fiscal years 1998 and 1999, communities in District 20A benefitted from a total of $39,867 in grants from the Minnesota State Arts Board and the Regional Arts Council.
What follows on the next page is a rundown of some of all the State Arts Board and Regional Arts Council grants in 1998 and 1999 in District 20A:
Name and City Grant/Program Grant Amount
RAC=Regional Arts Council
Bernie Aaker, Litchfield 1999 RAC Prairie Star Award $1,000
Cokato Elementary School 1998 RAC Project Grant $3,000
Crow River Area Youth Orchestra, 1999 RAC Production Assistance $4,845
Hutchinson
Crow River Area Youth Orchestra, 1998 RAC Production Assistance $2,750
Hutchinson
Crow River Arts Guild, 1999 RAC Production Assistance $3,500
Hutchinson
Crow River Arts Guild, 1998 RAC Local Arts Development $5,000
Hutchinson
Crow River Arts Inc., 1999 RAC Challenge Grant $500
Hutchinson
Crow River Arts Inc., 1999 RAC Sponsorship/Presenter $975
Hutchinson
Crow River Arts Inc., 1998 RAC Production Assistance $874
Hutchinson
Crow River Arts Inc., 1998 RAC Sponsorship/Presenter $1,064
Hutchinson
Dassel Elementary 1999 RAC Arts in Education $305
Dassel-Cokato High School 1999 RAC ArtBridge/Intergenerational $2,040
Hutchinson Community Theater 1999 RAC Production Assistance $2,488
Hutchinson Community Theater 1998 RAC Production Assistance $2,755
Independent School District 466, Cokato 1999 RAC Project Grant $1,061
Gerald Kulzer, Litchfield 1998 RAC Artist Assistance $1,500
Litchfield Area Writers Group 1999 RAC Production Assistance $3,625
Litchfield Public Schools 1998 RAC Production Assistance $2,585
"It is very heartening to see this kind of support for local artists," Ness said. "I would encourage all who live in District 20A to be a part of these programs, whether it be as a direct participant, or simply going to the productions. That will be a signal to the state organizations that what is being done continues to be worthwhile. Appreciation of the arts and their value add to our lives."
Over the past six years, SMAHC has also sponsored production grants that have brought us many local music and theater productions, including:
Production Gr ant
Meeker County
Litchfield Area Writers Group, An Evening of Memoir and Song I & II, '99 $3,625
District 465 Community Ed, "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," '98 $2,585
Dassel-Cokato Community Ed, Prairie Fire Theatre production of "Peter Pan," '96 $750
The Choralaires, Eden Valley, fall concert, '95 $900
Eden Valley-Watkins High School, Visual Artist in Residence: Bookmaking, '95 $650
ACGC City Junior High School, Grove City, Celebration of Black History, '94 $1,959
Dassel-Cokato Community Ed, Faure's "Requiem" by the community chorus, '94 $876
Litchfield Community Theatre, "Sound of Music," '94 $715
Dassel Elementary School, Central Minnesota Children's Theatre, "Wizard of Oz," '99 $305
(more)
Production Gr ant
McLeod County
Buffalo Creek Players, Glencoe, "Barrymore's Ghost," '99 $1,295
Crow River Arts, Inc., Hutchinson, "The Wondrous Tales of Old Japan," '99 $975
Buffalo Creek Players, Glencoe, "You Can't Take it With You," '99 $3,210
Crow River Arts, Inc., Hutchinson, Handel's "Messiah" and Spring Festival, '99 $3,500
Four Shadow Theatre Company, Glencoe, "The Glass Menagerie, '98 $865
Four Shadow Theatre Company, Glencoe, "The Diary of Adam and Eve," '98 $1,055
Buffalo Creek Players, Glencoe, "You Can't Take it With You," '98 $2,000
Four Shadow Theatre Company, Hutchinson, "A Perfect Match," '97 $770
Lester Prairie Community Education, Stepping Stone Theatre, "Create-A-Play," '97 $462
Crow River Arts, Inc., Community Chorus Christmas and Spring Concerts, '96 $1,500
Buffalo Creek Players, "Best Broadway Music" and "Victoria's Christmas," '95 $2,568
Crow River Arts, Inc., Community Theatre production of "Rumors," '95 $1,000
Crow River Arts, Inc., Minnesota Children's Theatre presentation of
"Animal Fables from Aesop," '95 $2,000
"There was also funding for visual artists, authors and performing artists-in-residence programs in our schools," Ness said.
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