4.1. SR 07-25-1994 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Jil. 10 1~ Elk F}iver flrea flrts <?;"otIQcil 400 JacksoI/ fIveI/ue Rlk ~iver, MN 55330 (612) 441-4725 July 19, 1994 Dear City Administrator Klaers, Mayor Duitsman and Council Members, On Monday, July 25 myself and Arts Council Board members will come before you as you decide whether to release the $5000 you had budgeted for us in 1994, and decide what ammount to fund us at in 1995. . We are going to ask you to increase our funding to $6000 in 1995 in order to help preserve our Arts in the Park program. Arts in the Park was attended by 1550 people in 1993 - the total is not in yet for '94, as the season is still in progress. Enclosed is a schedule. Hear the St. Cloud String Quartet on Sunday the 24th of July, or the Third Annual Elk River Area Opry on the 31 st. Two more concerts, these with youth in mind, follow. The Arts in the Park season has been shortened by two weeks this year, and the most expensive single acts eliminated, in order to cut costs. As in '92 and '93, the program has been partly funded by the Central Minnesota Community Foundation. This year, with the notice that our grant request was partly funded, the Foundation suggested that we seek another source of funding in '95. They suggested finding local funding, or charging admission. An admission cost would eliminate attendance by some people, especially if enough was charged to meet costs. We are asking you to increase our funding to $6000 to make up the $1000 minimum we have been getting from the Central Minnesota Community Foundation. Our Strings for Youth program is in a new growth phase with the hiring of Rhonda K. Johnson as Strings for Youth Program Director. She will administer and develope the program, teaching the additional instruments we will add this year, and directing the youth orchestra we will open to advanced students in '95 - '96. Beside the growth in scope of the program, this phase is expected to increase the total number of students, and provide an artistic goal for the young strings players as they move into their teens. Costs will also be increased. We are increasing the fees for students to the maximum that will keep them affordable to those families that are not affluent, but costs of the program are still not covered. You have seen that the Elk River Area Arts Council has matched in funds raised locally the $5000 you have budgeted for us well before the middle of 1994. We raised $3200 with our variety show which showcased the talent of people of a wide range of ages. Another variety show will open this year on September 16. Still, without your continued funding, we cannot be assured of a future. We seek funds from every possible source; try to devise and produce fund raising events that have artistic merit and suit our mission. At a certain point, however, more time will be spent scrambling for funds than producing constructive arts activities. Please consider our request. Sincerely, . rL0y-iL~~ - Jane Thomson Elk River Area Arts Council Coordinator