01 Mar Minnesota State Arts Board Awards Vail Place Grant
We are thrilled to announce that the Minnesota State Arts Board has awarded Vail Place a $21,120 Partners in Arts Participation grant. This grant will be used for our Vail Theater Arts Program, now in its fourth year. In this program our members work with professional artists from St. Paul’s History Theatre to develop performance pieces based on their personal experiences.
“During the program, Vail Place members learn about theater elements like playwriting, performance and directing. Ultimately many of the members perform their pieces for a theater audience and at other venues. Members who have participated in the program have reported they gained significant improvements in self-confidence, as well as increased skills in communication and collaboration,” said Stefano LoVerso, Vail Place Director of External Affairs. “We’re fortunate to have the support of the Minnesota State Arts Board, an organization that clearly understands the impact of programs like these on the lives of people who otherwise would have limited exposure to the arts.”
As part of the Vail Theater Arts Program, professionals from St. Paul’s History Theatre mentor Vail Place members during 15-week workshops in the fall and spring. To broaden the scope of the program, we are working on outreach that will bring our Vail Theatre performances to additional audiences including community and civic groups and service providers. These performances would be in addition to our next planned public performance in December, 2017.
“Encouraging creativity focusing on the arts has been well-documented to enrich the lives and recovery of adults with mental illnesses. At Vail Place, we’ve always embraced creative expression not only as a tool for recovery, but also because it simply makes all of our lives better,” said Vicky Couillard, Vail Place Executive Director. “We’re fortunate to live in a state that supports important programs like the Minnesota State Arts Board, an organization that truly helps make the arts available to everyone.”
Minnesota State Arts Board Partners in Arts Participation project grants are awarded to nonprofit health or human service organizations. Their goal is to give underserved individuals or groups chances to experience the arts.
We are extremely grateful to receive this grant to continue our work with the professional artists from St. Paul’s History Theatre, and expand the Vail Theater Arts Program.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.