5.4. SR 03-08-2004 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Item 5.4. ELK RIVER ARE A ~L~!~ --~~ . . The Handke Center. 1170 Main Street. Elk River, MN. 55330. Ph: 763.441.4725. Fax: 763. 241.3521 www.elkriverart.org.elkriverart@sherbtel.net March 1,2004 Elk River City Council Mr. Pat Klaers, City Administrator City of Elk River 13065 Orono Road Elk River, Minnesota 55330 Dear Mayor Klinzing, members of the Elk River City Council, and Mr. Klaers: In accordance with City Council approved and budgeted support for the Elk River Area Arts Alliance, this letter is a formal request to release the $10,000 designated for 2004. We remain very grateful to the City Council for your continued support to our organization's efforts to community development through the arts and want to assure you that each year our own commitment to providing quality arts experiences right here in our own backyard grows stronger and stronger. Our letter of August 19,2003, a copy of which is attached, listed all the exhibits, classes, and events we provide for the area, so I won't repeat all that detail in this letter. We would like you to be aware that Arts in Harmony, on exhibit right now at the Sherburne County Government Center, is better than ever; Strings for Youth continues to be a strong, vital, necessary component to music education; the Concert Series is bringing excellent professional performances to the Zabee Theater; and our collaborations with Community Education, the Arts Magnet Program are healthy and productive particularly regarding the development of Handke Center and arts events. Should you be interested in greater detail, I would be pleased to provide that for you. This year the support from the City of Elk River is especially needed. Last legislative session, state funding to the arts was cut by 32%, a disproportionately large amount which has caused a very real and drastically negative impact on dollars available to us. Private foundations, another source of our revenues, are struggling, too, with the strained economic conditions since 9/11. We have been able to continue to serve the community's arts needs responsibly and well, despite these challenges. We continue to seek corporate and private donations in order to keep the quality of our offerings at a high standard, have increased the role of our volunteers, and have held salaries to a minimum. We are proud of the positive reputation Elk River is receiving in the statewide arts community as a result of the opportunities we are providing with your assistance.