Hopkins Arts Center Sees Big Increase in Arts Board Money

A larger than expected state grant for the should bring some extra features to the upcoming season of its Saturday concert series.

The arts center received a $64,000 grant this year from the Minnesota State Arts Board—more than 50 percent larger than last year’s $42,000. The increase comes via a pilot program called the Arts Tour Minnesota 2012 Grant Program that aims to increase access to high-quality arts activities.

In all, the State Arts Board handed out $1.9 million through 42 arts tour grants.

The increase will allow the Hopkins Center for the Arts to attract more touring groups and to keep ticket prices low—particularly for seniors and students, said Amanda Birnstengel, the art center’s director.

The center will also use the money to increase the educational component of the seven-program series. Details of the season are still being set, but Birnstengel said the art center will host speakers to add context to the performances. An expert may talk about the jazz genre in conjunction with a jazz performance, for example, or a talk on a composer’s contributions to music may accompany a classical performance.

The grant money comes from the clean water, land, and legacy amendment that Minnesotans passed in 2008.

“Obviously, we’re very pleased to have the support from the State Arts Board,” Birnstengel said. “That legacy funding has been a boon to the arts community.”

In addition to that money, the arts center also received $5,000 from Supervalu to support education-related programs.

The extra money is especially good news for an organization that’s seen an increasingly tight budget, set at about $780,000 for 2012. In 2009, the state cut off the $50,000 in local government aid it gave to Hopkins—money that had been directed to the arts center.

The center has significantly cut travel, equipment rentals and advertising in an aggressive attempt to make up for the lost money.

Birnstengel said the arts center is still not in a position to rest easy. She’ll continue seeking sponsorships and other funding opportunities.

“(The grant is) going to allow us to continue to do the Saturday concerts and keep those ticket prices down,” she said. “But it doesn’t necessarily get us out of the woods.”