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<br />. <br /> <br />II The Arts In Harmony national art show is well established in the region with more than <br />450 artist applicants each year. <br />II We continue to provide public arts exhibits of local and regional artists year-round at the <br />Sherburne County Government Center and at other locations. <br />II The ArtSoup Elk River Community Arts Festival was larger and better than ever this <br />year. Business owners in the Historic Downtown expressed excitement about their <br />experience with festival goers. <br />II We are entering the second year of our professional Concert-Performance Series that <br />offers first quality performances for families in the Zabee Auditorium. This year we have <br />two sell-out performances for elementary students by the Tony Award winning <br />Children's Theatre as part of the four event series. Workshops are offered in conjunction <br />with two performances. Our partner in the concert series is the Elk River Arts Magnet. <br />II In addition, we are honoring war veterans in May with a production based on Pulitzer <br />Prize winning World War II war correspondent Ernie Pyle. <br />II We are especially proud of The Eddy, our bimonthly newsletter of the arts. <br />II Our master painter and writer workshops feature nationally renowned artists and we offer <br />other workshops. <br />II Our collaboration with Community Ed provides arts programming for elementary and <br />middle school students after school. We are also providing an all school lyceum at the <br />senior high about World War II and Ernie Pyle. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />We do all of these and serve as a central arts resource for the Elk River area with a very small <br />paid staff: a part time Executive Director, the Strings For Youth instructor and numerous talented <br />and committed volunteers. We also recently hired a part time Development Coordinator to head <br />the ArtSoup Festival and initiate our membership, funding and capital campaign this year. <br /> <br />State funding for the arts has been drastically cut. We have been advised that foundations on <br />which we rely for project grants are also experiencing a decrease in their funds. Now, more than <br />ever, the Arts Alliance needs stable funding. <br /> <br />Last year it was requested and approved that the Elk River Area Arts Alliance becomes part of <br />the city's regular budget at $10,000 each year. It was noted that the bi-annual ArtSoup Festival <br />would be included in that funding. We are again renewing that request with this letter. Since 2004 <br />is an off festival year, that funding will playa larger role in sustaining the Strings For Youth, Arts <br />in Harmony, and arts classes for youth, adults and seniors. However, planning for the 2005 <br />festival begins in April of 2004, so funds will also go to festival planning. <br /> <br />Thank you for your consideration of this request. We are certainly available for questions or <br />comments if they arise. We thank you for your past support - it continues to be vital to our <br />progress and success in serving the Elk River community. <br /> <br />Sincerely, <br /> <br />Elk River Area Arts Alliance <br />1 <br /> <br />.....--?-"~ <br />/,,"v7/ ! <br />~~/tll r~~~ <br />{",,,,/ ,f' <br /> <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Tony Darkenwald <br />Treasurer <br />