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<br />. <br /> <br />Of course, we could not provide this kind of impact in the community without the many <br />hours of volunteer involvement and the financial support of corporations, foundations, <br />individuals and city and state government. 'For our 2005 ArtSoup Festival alone, over 100 <br />volunteers participated and clocked over 1,000 total hours. Our Board of Directors is <br />made up of twelve volunteers from Elk River, Rogers, Otsego, Zimmerman, Ramsey, St. <br />Michael and Big Lake, who bring their diverse perspectives and backgrounds to the table, <br />yet are united in the mission of promoting an arts environment that offers quality arts <br />education, arts experiences, artist support and appropriate facilities for artistic expression. <br /> <br />Participation in our programs has increased over the years and we are now making plans <br />to expand programs and offerings for community members. Our Strings for Youth <br />program is in it's 14th year and we are currently interviewing for another instructor who <br />can expand the program by offering more class and penormance options. We have <br />contracted a Festival Director, with six years of event planning experience, to improve <br />and expand ArtSoup 2007. <br /> <br />We continue to nurture current collaborative relationships and explore new opportunities <br />with businesses and organizations in the Elk River community. Our partnership with <br />District 728 Community Education is currently producing a curriculum of quality arts <br />programming (ArtScape) with a future building expansion (Regional Art Center) that will <br />offer arts spaces for teaching, exhibition and public spaces for special events in the <br />Historic Handke Building. Our Exhibition Series continues at the Sherburne County <br />Government Center and most recently started, Elk River Library, where we feature and <br />present the artwork of local and regional artists. Our Penormance Series brings <br />professional entertainers to the Elk River High School's Zabee Theater stage to penorm <br />for audiences of all ages and ethnic backgrounds. <br /> <br />Recent research is pointing to the benefits of the arts on learning, cultural participation, <br />and creative capacity. With our growth and the many opportunities before us, we are <br />hoping that the City of Elk River will increase our funding from $10,000 to $20,000 in <br />order to meet our operational and programming needs for the next fiscal year. We feel <br />that we are at a pivotal time in OUT history, one of growth, and opportunity. We believe <br />that our leadership will distinctly benefit the residents of Elk River and the surrounding <br />area. <br /> <br />. --'2 Si~. U' ~ <br />Cl~e A. Beil <br /> <br />Executive Director <br />