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2007 Annual Report for the Grinnell Area Arts Council
September 2007
Submitted by: Lesley Wright, President
Summary: The Grinnell Area Arts Council finishes 2006-07 in the black, with a number of successful programs completed and a few just about to launch. Grinnell Area Arts Council, founded in 1979, uses membership dues to promote, encourage, develop and assist in the understanding, appreciation and financial support of the arts in the Grinnell area. In 2006-07, membership dollars, with additional funds provided by grants and donations, allowed us to continue a number of our projects. September 2007 will see the start of a new fiscal year, along with the incorporation of Studio 6-an afterschool arts enrichment program for children-into our programming at the Art Factory, and the week-long residency by the Missoula Children's Theatre.
Administration: Board members Marion Chamberland, Levi Dressler, Dan Ferro (VP) Kamal Hammouda, Roger Henderson, Alesia Lacina, Jess Lease, Jill McFee (student rep), Tara Shukla (secretary), Shannon Fitzgerald-Schultz (treasurer), Jeff Verona, and Lesley Wright (president) met throughout the year to conduct GAAC business. This year we enjoyed administrative support provided by the Claude and Dolly Ahrens Foundation, and we continued to utilize the facilities at the Art Factory, located on the Lacina farm north of Grinnell, as the site of our classes and programs. A color brochure, designed by Alesia Lacina, is now available around town to promote our activities.
Minigrants Awarded: We awarded three minigrants this year to: the Grinnell Children's Choir of the Iowa Youth Chorus, to Imagine Grinnell for art activities at the upcoming Tallgrass Bioneers Conference (October 2007), and to Turlach Ur Pipe Band for a highland drumming workshop in connection with their Thursday in the Park concert.
Programs: Jess Lease took over the teaching duties for our Arts Coop ceramics classes. Class series met in the fall, winter and spring and we finished the year with a raku firing in May. Alesia Lacina again coordinated our popular Summer Arts camp for children in June. Teachers this year included Ben Howort, Samantha Newport, Therese Murda, and Jess Lease. 56 children attended and everyone showed up for the final celebration, even though it was postponed a day due to ferocious rain. All our programs at the Art Factory were improved by the generous donation of potters' wheels and a kiln from Grinnell College. The College also helped support scholarships and operating expenses for Summer Arts with a minigrant.
Thursday Music in the Park: Thursday Music in the Park, in its 5th Anniversary season, attracted a strong roster of local sponsors. The Poweshiek County Alliance provided a grant, Brownells, Grinnell Tourism Group, Grinnell HyVee, KGRN, Grinnell College Student Government Association, and Grinnell Regional Medical Center were major sponsors, and support was also received from Grinnell Mutual Reinsurance Corp., Grinnell Herald-Register, Grinnell Rotary, Ramsey-Weeks, Saints Rest, ASI Modulex and Phoenix Café. These funds supported 15 weeks of music on Thursdays throughout the summer (May 24 to August 30).
Arts in the Schools: GAAC continues to support the arts in our schools. We provided funds to the art teachers at Grinnell High School and the three Grinnell elementary schools this year, to help wherever they saw a need. Kate Baumgartner won our high school scholarship ($750) and will use it as she studies theatre and education at Grinnell College.
The Year Ahead: GAAC's fiscal year starts in September. Several new initiatives lead off the new year. Studio 6, which has operated as a program under the GAAC umbrella, will be formally absorbed by GAAC. Alesia Lacina will be the lead teacher and the afterschool program will move to the Art Factory. This consolidation will make the administration of Studio 6 much easier. September 17-22, two directors from the acclaimed Missoula Children's Theatre will be in Grinnell, casting 50-60 children (ages K-12) in their adaption of Robin Hood, and presenting two performances on Saturday, September 22 at Grinnell Community High School. We are eager to see how this venture into participatory children's theatre goes. Finally, the board of GAAC hopes a membership drive in the fall brings new members to GAAC and more ideas for lively support of the arts.
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