Walker Art Center Inc

WALKER ART CENTER COLLECTIONS: EXPANDING DIGITAL ACCESS AND ADVANCING DEMOGRAPHIC TRANSPARENCY [THE WALKER ART CENTER WILL HIRE A CURATORIAL FELLOW (COLLECTIONS), FOUR FULL-TIME CONTRACT POSITIONS, AND A SHORT-TERM CONTRACTOR AND PURCHASE THE NECESSARY EQUIPMENT TO: 1) DIGITIZE 6,070 UNDOCUMENTED OBJECTS IN THE WALKER'S SPECIAL COLLECTIONS; AND 2) RESEARCH AND COMPILE DEMOGRAPHIC DATA ON 2,400 ARTISTS IN THE COLLECTIONS. SPANNING THE EARLY 20TH CENTURY TO THE PRESENT DAY, THE SPECIAL COLLECTIONS REPRESENT MORE THAN HALF OF THE WALKER'S TOTAL HOLDINGS (14,000 WORKS). OBJECTS INCLUDE 8,872 WORKS ON PAPER (PRINTS, PHOTOGRAPHS, AND DRAWINGS) AND ARTIST BOOKS. LACK OF DOCUMENTATION HAS MADE THESE COLLECTIONS INACCESSIBLE TO CURATORS, SCHOLARS, AND THE PUBLIC DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. NEW DOCUMENTATION (IMAGES AND VIDEOS) AND ARTIST DEMOGRAPHIC DATA WILL INCREASE ACCESS VIA THE MUSEUM'S COLLECTION WEBSITE (WALKERART.ORG/COLLECTIONS), AND WILL SUPPORT A MULTITUDE OF HUMANITIES-BASED RESEARCH, PUBLICATION, EXHIBITION AND PUBLIC PROGRAMMING, AND INTERPRETATION EFFORTS.] [PURPOSE:'THE PURPOSE OF THIS GRANT IS TO INCREASE COLLECTIONS DIGITIZATION EFFORTS AND ENHANCE ARCHIVAL RESEARCH AT A CONTEMPORARY ART MUSEUM IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA.   ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED: THIS GRANT FUNDS FIVE COLLECTIONS AND DIGITIZATION POSITIONS AND ONE CURATORIAL POSITION AS WELL AS THE PURCHASE OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY EQUIPMENT. THIS STAFFING AND TECHNICAL IMPROVEMENTS WILL ALLOW THE MUSEUM TO DIGITIZE OVER 6,000 ARCHIVAL OBJECTS. IN ADDITION, THE STAFF WILL INCREASE THEIR ARCHIVAL DOCUMENTATION TO SUPPORT ENHANCED HUMANITIES-BASED RESEARCH AND PUBLIC PROGRAMMING.  EXPECTED OUTCOMES:'THIS GRANT WOULD ENSURE THAT THEIR COLLECTIONS ARE ACCESSIBLE TO CURATORS, SCHOLARS, AND THE PUBLIC DURING THE PANDEMIC AND IN THE FUTURE. IN ADDITION, INCREASED DOCUMENTATION WOULD ALLOW FOR MORE THOROUGH COLLECTIONS RESEARCH.  INTENDED BENEFICIARIES: SCHOLARS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WELL AS THE LOCAL MUSEUM-GOING PUBLIC WOULD BENEFIT FROM THESE DIGITIZATION AND COLLECTIONS DOCUMENTATION EFFORTS.  SUBRECIPIENT ACTIVITIES:'THE RECIPIENT DOES NOT INTEND TO SUBAWARD FUNDS. ]

THE WALKER ART CENTER WILL REDUCE BARRIERS FOR VISITORS WITH DISABILITIES BY PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING INTERPRETIVE TOOLS AND PROGRAMS FOR LEARNERS WITH DISABILITIES. PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN UPDATED INTERPRETATION PLAN, THE DESIGN AND PRODUCTION OF NEW INTERPRETIVE RESOURCES AND MATERIALS, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENTS, AND THE EXPANSION OF ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAMMING. THE PROJECT TEAM WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH AN ADVISORY GROUP, COMMUNITY PARTNERS, AN EVALUATION CONSULTANT, AND AN ACCESSIBILITY DESIGN FIRM ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF INTERPRETIVE TOOLS. AS A RESULT, THE MUSEUM WILL BENEFIT BY INCORPORATING GUIDELINES FOR ACCESSIBLE INTERPRETATION AND PROGRAMMING, ALONG WITH NEW TOOLS AND RESOURCES TO SUPPORT VISITORS WITH DISABILITIES, AND VISITORS WITH DISABILITIES WILL GAIN INCREASED ACCESS TO ARTS EXPERIENCES THROUGH MUSEUM EXHIBITIONS.

THE WALKER ART CENTER WILL EXPAND ITS PROGRAMS FOR TEENAGERS TO RESPOND TO THE CHANGING NEEDS AND INTERESTS OF DIVERSE TEENS AGES 14-18 IN THE TWIN CITIES REGION. THE CENTER?S TEEN ARTS COUNCIL AND A NEW PILOT SUMMER TEEN ARTS COUNCIL WILL PROVIDE TEENS WITH ACCESS TO ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT, PEER-TO-PEER PROGRAMMING, ARTS LEARNING, AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES. A SERIES OF EVENTS AND WORKSHOPS WILL EXPAND TEEN ACCESS TO CONTEMPORARY ART, WHILE A NEW ALUMNI NETWORK OF THE TEEN ARTS COUNCIL WILL HELP SUSTAIN THE BENEFITS OF TEEN PROGRAMS AND INSPIRE LIFELONG ARTS PARTICIPATION. THE CENTER ALSO WILL CREATE A HOW-TO KIT FOR TEEN PROGRAMMING THAT CAN SUPPORT THE BROADER FIELD OF ART MUSEUM EDUCATORS.

THE WALKER ART CENTER WILL IMPLEMENT NEW STRATEGIES TO EXPAND ACCESS TO SCHOOL PROGRAMMING FOR DIVERSE LEARNERS WITH SPECIFIC NEEDS AND STUDENTS FROM LOW-INCOME HOUSEHOLDS. AN INDUSTRIAL DESIGNER WILL WORK WITH MUSEUM STAFF AND OUTSIDE EDUCATORS TO DEVELOP NEW TOOLS TO SUPPORT LEARNING FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE LEARNERS, STUDENTS WITH AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDERS, AND STUDENTS WITH EMOTIONAL OR BEHAVIORAL DISORDERS. THE MUSEUM WILL OFFER TRAINING FOR ITS EDUCATORS AND K-12 TEACHERS TO USE THE NEW TOOLS. ADDITIONALLY, THE MUSEUM WILL WAIVE TOUR FEES AND PROVIDE BUS SUBSIDIES FOR TITLE 1 SCHOOLS. AS THE PROJECT TEAM CONTINUES TO HONE THE NEW TEACHING TOOLS AND METHODOLOGIES THROUGH ITERATION AND EVALUATION, AN EXTERNAL EVALUATOR WILL CONDUCT OBSERVATIONS, INTERVIEWS, AND FOCUS GROUP INQUIRY AT ALL STAGES OF THE PROJECT.

THE WALKER ART CENTER WILL ENHANCE ITS FAMILY PROGRAMS WITH NEW ACTIVITIES TO REACH THE SPECIFIC NEEDS OF TWO TARGET AUDIENCES. THE MUSEUM WILL ENGAGE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND TEACHING ARTISTS FROM A DIVERSE RANGE OF BACKGROUNDS--WITH A FOCUS ON CULTURALLY AND LINGUISTICALLY DIVERSE (CALD) COMMUNITIES--AS KEY PARTNERS TO PRESENT CULTURALLY-RELEVANT PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, AND HANDS-ON ART-MAKING ACTIVITIES, INCLUDING PROGRAMMING IN MAJOR LANGUAGES OTHER THAN ENGLISH THAT ARE SPOKEN IN MINNESOTA, SUCH AS SPANISH, HMONG, AND SOMALI. THE PROJECT WILL DIVERSIFY FAMILY PROGRAMMING; PRODUCE MORE INCLUSIVE AND SENSORY-FRIENDLY RESOURCES AND MARKETING MATERIALS; DEVELOP AND DEEPEN PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS SERVING NEURODIVERSE AND CALD AUDIENCES; AND CREATE PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES FOR CALD ARTISTS. THE MUSEUM WILL HIRE A CONTRACT EVALUATOR AS WELL AS AN OUTREACH AND EVALUATION ASSISTANT TO ASSIST WITH PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND TO PRODUCE AND DISSEMINATE A REPORT ON THE INITIATIVE TO SHARE WITH THE FIELD.

ADIOS UTOPIA: DREAMS AND DECEPTIONS IN CUBAN ART SINCE 1950

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS

"IN RESPONSE TO RAPIDLY SHIFTING DEMOGRAPHICS IN MINNEAPOLIS, THE WALKER ART CENTER WILL WORK WITH COMMUNITY PARTNERS TO SUSTAIN AND EXPAND ITS 'TEENS PROGRAMS,' A NATIONALLY-RECOGNIZED MODEL FOR ACTIVELY ENGAGING YOUTH WITH CONTEMPORARY ART AND ARTISTS. THROUGH RECENT RESEARCH AND PROGRAM EVALUATIONS, THE WALKER HAS IDENTIFIED FOUR NEW STRATEGIES TO SUSTAIN AND BROADEN ACCESS TO THESE PROGRAMS: THE WALKER ART CENTER TEEN ARTS COUNCIL (WACTAC), PROVIDING TEENS WITH ARTISTIC DEVELOPMENT AND LEADERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES; WORKSHOPS WITH A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON DEVELOPING DIGITAL ARTMAKING SKILLS AND HIGH SCHOOL CREDIT RECOVERY FOR GRADUATION; EVENTS AND PARTNERSHIPS, EXPANDING ACCESS TO CONTEMPORARY ART AND SUPPORTING A DYNAMIC YOUTH COMMUNITY; AND WACTAC ALUMNI ENGAGEMENT, SUSTAINING THE LONG-TERM EFFECT OF THE TEEN PROGRAMS AND INSPIRING LIFELONG ARTS PARTICIPATION. PROGRAM PARTICIPATION AND FREE TEEN ADMISSION WILL RESULT IN TOTAL TEEN ATTENDANCE OF MORE THAN 80,000 ANNUALLY OVER THE THREE-YEAR GRANT PERIOD, REPRESENTING 14 PERCENT OF THE INSTITUTION'S OVERALL AUDIENCE."

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

TO SUPPORT THE REMOUNTING OF JOHN CAGE AND MERCE CUNNINGHAM'S OCEAN (1994) WITHIN THE RAINBOW QUARRY NEAR ST. CLOUD, MINNESOTA.

TO SUPPORT "CREATION IN COMMUNITY," A SERIES OF COMMISSIONS, RESIDENCIES, AND PRESENTATIONS OF LARGE-SCALE PERFORMANCE WORKS.

TO SUPPORT CONCEPTION AND PERCEPTION, A SERIES OF COMMISSIONS, RESIDENCIES, AND PRESENTATIONS OF LARGE-SCALE PERFORMANCE WORKS.

TO SUPPORT CREATIVE CONNECTIONS A RESIDENCY TO CREATE AND PRESENT LARGE-SCALE WORKS ON SITE.

TO SUPPORT A SERIES OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY COMMISSIONS RESIDENCIES AND PRESENTATIONS.

TO SUPPORT CROSS-DISCIPLINARY CREATION, A SERIES OF LARGE-SCALE COLLABORATIVE MULTIDISCIPLINARY COMMISSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS.

TO SUPPORT VISIONARY CREATION, A SERIES OF LARGE-SCALE CROSS-DISCIPLINARY COMMISSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS.

THE WALKER ART CENTER IN MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA, WILL ADVANCE NEW STRATEGIES TO RESPOND TO CHALLENGES SCHOOLS FACE AS THEY NAVIGATE IN-PERSON, OFFSITE, AND VIRTUAL NEEDS FOR LEARNING, ENSURING CONTINUED ACCESS TO ARTS RESOURCES DURING RECOVERY FROM THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. THE MUSEUM WILL RESTRUCTURE AND BUILD ITS EDUCATOR STAFF, DEVELOP NEW VIRTUAL AND HYBRID OFFERINGS, AND ENHANCE DIGITAL FORMATS THAT ALIGN WITH THE MUSEUM’S FIELD TRIP AND TOUR CURRICULUM. THE MUSEUM ALSO WILL PROMOTE AND SHOWCASE THE DIVERSITY OF ITS LEARNING EXPERIENCES AVAILABLE TO SCHOOLS. THE PROJECT IS AIMED PRIMARILY AT K–12 STUDENTS IN THE TWIN CITIES AND AT RURAL SCHOOLS WITHOUT EASY ACCESS TO ARTS PROGRAMMING. THE MUSEUM WILL USE OBSERVATION CHECKLISTS AND TEACHER SURVEYS, AMONG OTHER TOOLS, TO ASSESS ITS WORK.

TO SUPPORT A SERIES OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY EVENTS CELEBRATING THE WORK OF CHOREOGRAPHER MERCE CUNNINGHAM.

TO SUPPORT FERTILE GROUND: CREATIVE RESIDENCIES/CREATIVE CONNECTIONS.

TO SUPPORT CREATIVE CONNECTIONS: DEVELOPING NEW PERFORMANCE IN COMMUNITY.

PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT THE COMMISSIONING AND PRESENTATION OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORKS.

TO SUPPORT A MULTIDISCIPLINARY SERIES OF COMMISSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS. 

TO SUPPORT THE CREATION AND PRESENTATION OF NEW WORKS.

TO SUPPORT CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT, A SERIES OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY COMMISSIONS, RESIDENCIES, AND PRESENTATIONS OF PREMIERES.

TO SUPPORT A MULTIDISCIPLINARY SERIES OF PERFORMING ARTS COMMISSIONS AND PRESENTATIONS.

TO SUPPORT THE COMMISSIONING AND PRESENTATION OF SELECTED NEW WORKS.

PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT THE ADVANCEMENT OF TECH-CENTERED, DIGITAL ACCESSIBILITY FEATURES FOR THE BENTSON MEDIATHEQUE AND RUBEN/BENTSON MOVING IMAGE COLLECTION.

PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT THE COMMISSIONING AND PRESENTATION OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORKS.

TO SUPPORT "ART TODAY AND TOMORROW", A VISUAL ARTS EDUCATION PROGRAM, IN CONSORTIUM WITH THE MINNEAPOLIS PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT THE COMMISSIONING, DEVELOPMENT, AND PRESENTATION OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY WORKS.

PURPOSE: TO SUPPORT AN ARTIST RESIDENCY THE COMMISSION OF A NEW WORK EXPLORING ACCESSIBILITY IN MEDIA ARTWORKS AND ASSOCIATED PUBLIC PROGRAMMING.