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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />ArtSoup2001 Needs Your Support <br /> <br />Clearly a festival this ambitious doesn't come to fruition without the help of many dedicated <br />people. Attached you'll find a list of committee heads who are involved in the planning and <br />coordination of ArtSoup, but we also have had many private citizens step forward and volunteer <br />their time to help ensure the festival's success. ArtSoup 1999 drew an impressive two hundred <br />plus volunteers in addition to the many Arts Alliance members who contributed. <br /> <br />Local organizations supporting ArtSoup 2001 to date include: The Elk River Area Arts Council <br />(which under new leadership is cosponsoring the festival this year), ISO 728 Community <br />Education, Elk River Area Arts Magnet, ERASH theatre and music departments, Community <br />Recreation, RSVP, and the Sherburne County Historical Society. This isa growing list. We are <br />hopeful that all of the groups that participated last time will want to be involved again. 4H and <br />the Boys and Girls Clubs have also expressed an interest, and will be included. Having the <br />support of the City of Elk River lends a huge amount of credibility to the festival. We, the arts <br />community, would like to give this festival to the people of Elk River, and for it to become a part <br />of the cultural identity of our area. We would like our residents to look forward to ArtSoup as <br />"oursummer arts festival." This perception is much easier to propagate with the City on board. <br /> <br />We would like ArtSoup to be a source of pride for our town as well. We are willing to work hard <br />to that end, and are actively seeking funding to ensure a quality event. We are pursuing state <br />and regional grants, as well as contacting local businesses to solicit their support. ArtSoup <br />1999's total expenses ran slightly over $35,000. Additional expenses for ArtSoup 2001 will <br />include: another tent for the Arts and Community Exhibit, expenses for the production of the <br />historical play including a COMPAS playwright, stage, lighting etc, additional seating,dance <br />floor, band and decorations for the Community Swing Dance, seating for the concessions area, <br />and some additional expense for professional performers such as the Heart of the Beast Puppet <br />and Mask Theatre. . <br /> <br />It is our goal, once ArtSoup becomes an established festival, that all of our expenses may be <br />covered through grant programs and ticketed events. This will be only the second year we are <br />attempting this however, and we are still in need of financial support. In 1999, the City very <br />generously contributed $5000 towards ArtSoup, helping make it a very successful debut, and a <br />wonderful starting point. This year, as outlined, there are a number of improvements we would <br />like to include that would really make ArtSoup a source of local pride. We are asking the City to <br />consider a contribution of $3000 to this year's festival to help cover those expenses. It is our <br />hope that the City Council will recognize the positive impact this arts festival has had, and will <br />continue to have on our rapidly growing area, with so many new and long time residents <br />searching for a sense of community and a way to connect. <br /> <br />Thank you for your time and consideration, <br />Sincerely, / <br /> <br />Sue s~er / <br />~liance <br /> <br />ArtSoup 2001 Festival Director <br />