On May 26, 2015, MRAC awarded 
250,877 to 26 organizations in the second round of its FY 2015 Arts Learning grant program. The Arts Learning projects chosen will provide high-quality, age-appropriate arts education for Minnesotans of all ages to develop knowledge, skills, and understanding of and/or through the arts for children, youth, and adults by engaging people in extended arts experiences and activities with clearly articulated learning objectives. The Arts Learning grant program is a direct result of the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund of the Legacy Amendment. All applications go through a competitive peer review panel process. The MRAC board of directors makes the final decisions on all panel recommendations.
The following is a list of awarded projects sorted by the county of affiliation. Organization websites are included when available as a way to get more information about the groups and awarded projects. Please note that the core cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are separated from the surrounding suburban Hennepin and Ramsey counties.
Dakota County
Drama Interaction 8,348
cokartscenter.com/dramainteraction501c3.html
Funding for a series of three performance arts classes for adults with special needs. The project will begin in June 2015, and is a partnership with Chrestomathy, Inc., which provides specialized adult day programs.
International Friendship Through the Performing Arts 9,218
Funding for residencies during the 2015-2016 school year by Chinese musician and educator Gao Hong at Yinghua Academy in Minneapolis, Randolph Elementary School in St. Paul, and Farmington Elementary School.
OboeBass! The Vecchione/Erdahl Duo 9,000
www.oboebass.com
Funding for a series of seven monthly one-hour "Pages of Music" education programs at five senior residences from June 2015 through February 2016.
Rosemount Area Arts Council 10,000
www.rosemountarts.com
Funding for a theater school for seniors, offering 100 hours of classes between September 2015 and May 2016. The school will culminate in the production of a play at The Steeple Center in Rosemount, and in the formation of an ongoing senior theater company.
Minneapolis
Copper Street Brass Quintet 10,000
www.copperstreetbrass.com/home.html
Funding for residencies focusing on musicianship essentials with the Burnsville Junior High and High School bands to enhance the schools' music instruction during the 2015-16 school year.
Phyllis Wheatley Community Center 10,000
www.pwccenter.org
Funding for "World Explorers," an eight-week summer program where youth ages 5 through 13 will learn about world cultures through indigenous visual and performing arts. The project will be held at Heritage Park in Minneapolis during the summer of 2015.
Plymouth Christian Youth Center 10,000
www.pcyc-mpls.org
Funding for residencies conducted by the Capri Theater at the PYC Arts & Tech High School in north Minneapolis during the 2015-2016 school year.
Weavers Guild of Minnesota 10,000
www.weaversguildmn.org
Funding for 16 weeks of participatory fiber arts learning activities for beginners through advanced learners during the fall of 2015 at the Textile Center in Minneapolis.
St. Paul
Arts Us 10,000
arts-us.org
Funding for Summer Camp Teranga for youth in kindergarten through 8th grade to explore and create through the arts. The camp will be held during the summer of 2015 at Dunning Recreation Center in St. Paul.
CAAM Chinese Dance Theater 10,000
www.caam.org/cdt
Funding for specialized training, including solo and small group choreography and educational programming, that will allow CAAM Chinese Dance Theater to expand its offerings. The training program will occur between June 2015 and February 2016.
Deborah Elias Danza Espanola 10,000
dedanza.org
Funding for residencies in flamenco dance, music, and culture at six schools from September 2015 to March 2016. Each residency will culminate in a community celebration.
East Side Arts Council 10,000
www.eastsideartscouncil.org
Funding for artist residencies at three elementary schools on the east side of St. Paul during the 2015-2016 school year.
Hamilton Ink Spot 10,000
www.hamiltoninkspot.org
Funding for The Hamilton Ink Spot Internship Program for artists ages 18 to 26 to learn design, printmaking, and exhibition skills from master printers. The program will run for one year, with two six-month cycles, starting in January and July of 2016.
In Progress 10,000
in-progress.org
Funding for Digital Journeys, a comprehensive digital arts learning program for newly developing artists. The program focuses on small group mentorship, individualized coaching and goal planning with youth ages 13-20, and will take place at the In Progress main studio in St. Paul.
Keane Sense of Rhythm 10,000
www.tapcompany.org
Funding for Tap with Class tap dance classes for students in 1st through 4th grades at two 2015 summer school venues in St. Paul. Students will perform at an assembly to culminate the experience.
Macgowan Productions 10,000
www.mfilm.com
Funding for a Screenwriting and Media Production Workshop for the 8th grade students at Linwood Monroe Arts Plus (LMAP) School in St. Paul. The workshop will begin in the spring of 2016, and will allow the students to present their work in the first annual LMAP Film Festival.
Minnesota Chinese Dance Theater 10,000
Funding for Chinese dance instruction for adults and students in kindergarten through 12th grades from June through October of 2015. Classes will be held at the University of St. Thomas, and will include various community performances.
Oratorio Society of Minnesota 10,000
www.oratorio.org
Funding for eight workshop sessions during the Oratorio Society's Summer Chorus. The workshops will be held during July 2015 and are open to all community singers, and will culminate in a performance of Great Opera Choruses.
Saint Paul Ballet 10,000
spballet.org
Funding for the Everybody Dance Summer Program of 12 weeks of introductory summer dance classes for children ages 4 through 12 and teens ages 13 through 18. The program will run from June through August of 2015.
Teatro del Pueblo 10,000
www.teatrodelpueblo.org
Funding for New Encounters providing emerging Latino artists and community members the opportunity to engage in the performing arts through a series of workshops on scene work, voice, movement, and basic technical tools of the theater trade. The project will run from August 2015 to May 2016.
Walker West Music Academy 10,000
www.walkerwest.org
Funding for the 2015 Summer Music Enrichment Program, a three-week music day camp during July of 2015 at Walker West's music center in St. Paul. The camp provides students ages 5 to 12 the opportunity to experience instrumental and vocal music for the first time.
Suburban Hennepin County
Blossoms of the Orient Dance Theater 10,000
Funding for a year-long dance program for children during 2015 and 2016 focusing on Hmong dances from Southern China, Laos, and Thailand at the Brady Education Center at the University of St. Thomas. The program includes performances at various locations.
Maple Grove Arts Center 10,000
maplegroveartscenter.org
Funding for The Extremely Serious Comedy Workshop for youth and older adults led by comedian Scott Hansen, from mid July through mid September of 2015.
Suburban Ramsey County
Rosetown Playhouse 10,000
www.rosetownplayhouse.org
Funding for DanceTogether, a four-week project bringing together high school students of Karen, African American, and other ethnicities to build community and leadership by dancing together. The project will occur in July 2015, and will culminate with a free pubic performance.
Women's Writing Program 10,000
Funding to engage women, in short-term incarceration at the Ramsey County Correctional Facility during 2015 and 2016, to learn creative writing skills for self-expression and building self-confidence, and to publish works in professionally produced poetry chapbooks cataloged in The Saint Paul Public Library collection.
Washington County
FamilyMeans 4,311
www.familymeans.org
Funding for the Teen Center Zine Project during summer 2015. Youth ages 13 through 18 will create a graphic zine responding to a theme of their choice.
