ART IN LIBRARIES

The state’s twelve regional library systems have received $4.25 million to provide arts and culture activities. (This is way more money than the Regional Arts Councils were appropriated to grant out to the arts all of last year). All of the systems are looking for partnerships that will connect libraries, historical societies, arts organizations, and literacy. The library Legacy money must be spent in 4 categories: 1. Arts, 2. Culture, 3. Literary, 4. MN History.

If you want to partner with the libraries to provide programming, then you should get on the phone with your regional library system ASAP. Some of them are very unfamiliar with local artists and arts organizations.

The state’s libraries got $8.5 million over the next two years to do history and arts programming in libaries across the state. Been wondering how you or your arts organization can partner with the libraries to provide those services? Search no more:

Attention: Artists, Authors, Instructors, Performers and Arts Organizations:

The state library system has set up a way for you to get onto a roster as a possible partner for local libraries to do programs and events with their new legacy funds. Sign up to be in their database by going to: www.mnlegacygrant.org. Click on the link that says “Click Here For Submission Form.”

You can fill out a form to inform them what you can offer, your posting will be reviewed and hopefully approved by a regional library person, and then you will be in the database where local libraries will go to find people and organizations to hire with their legacy funds. NOTE: The more information you provide when you sign up, the more likely you will get hired. Make sure to include your prices (and make sure your prices are high enough to cover your costs!). Make sure also to include your website address, if you have one.

Remember that these opportunities are in addition to the new programs being offered by the Minnesota State Arts Board and Regional Arts Councils. Take advantage!

More information about their Legacy Fund planning, and contact information for each of the regional library systems can be found at: www.crplsa.info. Suzanne Miller, State Librarian, Minnesota Department of Education can also provide additional information. She can be reached at: 651-582-8791 or suzanne.miller@state.mn.us. There is also a blog where the libraries are tracking their activity with Legacy funds at: http://www.crplsa.info/pages/viewrecentblogposts.action?key=CRPLSA

STATEWIDE:
All twelve regional library systems have set aside 10% of their allocation for a statewide initiative. While not confirmed, it looks like it will be used for a Greatest Generation program in partnership with the State Historical Society.

THE TWELVE REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEMS:
The other 90% will be split between the twelve regional library systems. (The allocation for each of the regional library systems is based on the existing “Regional Library Basic System Support” formula which is used to distribute the state’s appropriation for libraries, which includes factors for population and geographical area):

METRO AREA:
The seven metro counties and the City of St. Paul each have a regional library system. Collectively, the Metropolitan Library Service Agency (MELSA) covers them all. They have decided to hire Melinda Ludwiczak melinda@melsa.org from the Hennepin County Library to coordinate the Legacy Fund efforts for the whole metro area. MELSA will use approximately 40% of their funds to create programs and partnerships on a metro-wide level. The remaining 50% will be allocated by population to each of the eight member systems to enhance partnerships with local community agencies and provide arts, cultural heritage, literary and Minnesota history activities.

GREATER MN:
The remaining regional library systems are each determining their own programming.

• The Traverse des Sioux Regional Library, headquartered in Mankato, will partner with the Prairie Lakes Regional Arts Council to get the money distributed.
• In Duluth, the Executive Director of the Arrowhead Regional Arts Council is on the committee to help the library system (Arrowhead Library System) determine how best to utilize their funds.
• The East Central MN Library system has posted a web page where they will post their plans: http://eastcentrallibraries.blogspot.com/2009/08/arts-and-culture-in-library.html

MINNESOTA PUBLIC TV

All public TV stations in MN have received money to do more arts and cultural programming with their amendment funds. To find out what the stations in your area are planning, and to potentially partner with them, call your local station:

• Twin Cities Public Television, Minneapolis / St. Paul, 651-222-1717, www.tpt.org
• WDSE-TV Channel 8, Duluth / Superior & Hibbing, 218-724-8567, www.wdse.org
• Lakeland Public Television, Bemidji / Brainerd, 800-292-0922, www.lakelandptv.org
• Pioneer Public Television, Appleton / Worthington / Fergus Falls, 800-726-3178, www.pioneer.org
• KSMQ-TV, Austin / Rochester, 800-658-2539, www.ksmq.org
• Prairie Public Television, Moorhead / Crookston, 800-359-6900, www.prairiepublic.org

What follows is the info. they sent me on what their planning is for cultural programming:

KSMQ, Austin: “KSMQ Public Television serves the southern Minnesota region and will be pursuing the following Legacy Production goals:

• Weekly arts, history, culture series to begin early 2010
• Weekly art, history, culture feature to be included in weekly series “Cities on the Move” to begin in early 2010
• “Legacy Minute” interstitials to begin in early 2010
• Historical documentary to air in June 2010
• Performance special to air in late spring 2010

We are currently assembling our Legacy Production team so for the time being the primary contact with KSMQ is: Marianne Potter , President/CEO, KSMQ, 2000 8th Avenue NW, Austin, MN 55912, 507-433-0678 Voice , 507-433-0670 Fax, ceo@ksmq.org”

Lakeland Public Television Bemidji and Brainerd: “Lakeland Public Television intends to develop, produce and distribute a new 30-minute magazine-style program that will showcase regional arts, history and cultural heritage events, people, and places of significance. Legacy Profiles (working title) will air weeknights during primetime, and will receive overnight and weekend rebroadcasts, as well as a primetime repeat on our LPLUS digital sub-channel. Each episode will be comprised of two to three major segments, each approximately seven to nine minutes in length. Topics will include, but not be limited to, visual art exhibits, pow wows, festivals, music and dance performances, and historic landmarks. Also, our nightly newscast, Lakeland News at Ten, will be airing a new segment on Friday evenings titled “In Focus”, which will feature additional art and cultural content. We are in the process of hiring a Legacy Production Manager. Until that position is filled, inquiries sent to the above e-mail address will go to all appropriate personnel at Lakeland Public TV: legacy@lptv.org”

Pioneer Public Television Appleton, Worthington and Fergus Falls: “Pioneer Public Television will be producing a new 30-minute series focusing on the arts, history and cultural heritage of western Minnesota. We will hire an executive producer to lead the development of content for this series, which will air in 2010. The production will feature stories from throughout the viewing area, which is reached by broadcast towers near Appleton, Worthington, and Fergus Falls. Pioneer will also enhance existing programs with new content focusing on these three topics, and producing a series of related short interstitials to reach as many viewers as possible. Pioneer recently produced a documentary on the history of local parks in the region, and will produce other special programs in the coming year. For more information, contact: Les Heen, General Manager, Pioneer Public TV, 120 West Schlieman Avenue, Appleton, MN 56208, lheen@pioneer.org, 320-289-2915.”

Prairie Public Television Moorhead, Crookston and East Grand Forks: “Prairie Public Broadcasting, in addition to producing a number of full length documentaries, will produce each year eight (8) five to eight minute features on Minnesota organizations or individuals involved in arts, cultural or historical pursuits. Prairie Public has also established a substantially reduced Minnesota Legacy Partnership production rate for arts groups in our coverage area to work with us on joint productions. Organizations seeking additional information can contact: John Harris, 701-241-6900, jharris@prairiepublic.org or Bob Dambach, 701-241-6900, bdambach@prairiepublic.org”

TPT St. Paul and Minneapolis: “Twin Cities Public Television will showcase Minnesota artists and their bodies of work through a new weekly series, one-hour specials, an interactive website and arts education materials. The weekly art series will profile Minnesota artists and the creative process in segments produced by staff from tpt and the five other stations of the Minnesota Public Television Association (MPTA). Our producers will capture the best and the brightest, the most creative and innovative, the elders and the emerging talents of various diverse backgrounds, representing all of the arts disciplines – musicians, visual artists, poets, novelists, dancers, filmmakers, architects and designers all of whom form the vast array of creative individuals living, working and creating in Minnesota. Twin Cities Public Television will produce fifteen 30-minute programs in FY 2010 and 44 programs in FY 2011. We will also produce multi-camera performances for one-hour specials and for content within the series. And to celebrate the cultural history of Minnesota and its people, tpt will produce two one-hour Minnesota History documentaries over the biennium. The high definition (HD) series and specials will air on tpt 2, tpt MN statewide and tpt LIFE. In addition, tpt will create an interactive website featuring content from the series and specials as well as unique content for the online audience. The website will be a teaching resource with downloadable segments and arts education materials that meet Minnesota Teaching Standards. For more information, please contact: Dianne Steinbach, Exec. Producer, Arts & Cultural Productions, 651-229-1485, dsteinbach@tpt.org, or Ashleigh Rowe, Producer, 651-229-1382, Arowe@tpt.org.”

WDSE/WRPT Duluth and Hibbing: “WDSE/WRPT-DT, broadcasting from Duluth/Superior and the Iron Range, is poised to launch a vibrant schedule of Arts and Cultural Heritage funded productions, including a new weekly arts series. Art Now: Inspired by the North (working title) will provide a medium for celebrating the art and artists of northern Minnesota. The first season of this series for public television stations will be comprised of eighteen half hour magazine style programs, and will showcase the works of northern artists, independent filmmakers, actors, playwrights, musicians, novelists, poets, dancers, composers and craftspeople. The public television audience will learn about what inspires these artists, the uniquely individual process of creating art, and experience works of art from an entirely new point of view. Viewers will also be given opportunities to connect to local artists and happenings in the artistic community as a whole. In addition, our weekly news magazine series Almanac North will incorporate a new “Art this Month” segment featuring newsmakers in the arts. The Almanac North segments will cross promote the Art Now series and website by encouraging viewers to connect to monthly arts opportunities via our website which will in turn connect to regional on-line arts calendars. With Arts and Cultural Heritage funding WDSE will also expand live broadcast coverage of performances of the Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, partner with the DSSO to provide lesson plans and classroom materials to support the subsequent broadcast of a Young People’s Concert, and revive and refresh a historical documentary series Album: Making History. For additional information please contact: Juli Kellner, Director of Programming and Production, WDSE and WRPT-DT, 632 Niagara Court, Duluth, MN 55811, (218) 724-8567, Byron.Richard@pcae.k12.mn.us

Proposals submitted in response to the Request for Proposals in this advertisement must be received at the address above no later than 2:30 PM, Central Daylight Time (CDT), Monday, November 2, 2009. Hand delivered proposals must be delivered to the Perpich Center for Arts Education Receptionist in the Arts High School building. Late proposals will NOT be considered. Fax or emailed proposals will NOT be considered. This request does not obligate the State to complete the work contemplated in this notice. The State reserves the right to cancel this solicitation. All expenses incurred in responding to this notice are solely the responsibility of the responder.

MN HISTORICAL SOCIETY

The Minnesota Historical Society has created a web page to describe their plans and promote potential grant opportunities for local historical sites and organizations: http://www.mnhs.org/about/grants/legacy/index.htm

MN PUBLIC RADIO