MCF NEWS ARCHIVES
3/29/05

The Jerome Foundation in St. Paul supported the development of several new works by emerging playwrights and choreographers in Minnesota as part of its Feb. 2005 grant awards.

The foundation made a two-year grant commitment of $24,000 to the Pillsbury House Theatre/Pillsbury United Communities, Minneapolis, to support the development and production of new works by emerging playwrights. Also, a grant of $34,500 was made in support of the 2005 "Non-English Spoken Here: The Late Nite Series," a concept that represents a transformation of culture where text, music, spoken word, sounds and images weave together in a celebration of new voices and new art. The theatre’s mission is to create challenging theatre to inspire choice, change and connection.

Pangea World Theatre, Minneapolis, received a $10,000 grant from Jerome in support of "Alternate Visions," a new initiative in which emerging playwrights from Minnesota and New York City will be given the time and support needed to develop their work from closed developmental workshops to rehearsal residencies that culminate in staged readings with audience feedback. Pangea is committed to international works, styles and traditions that illuminate the human condition, end divisiveness and celebrate differences.

The Playwrights’ Center, Minneapolis, acting as fiscal agent for independent playwright/director Lisa D’Amour, received $8,000 in support of the production of "This Story May Not Be True." D’Amour is a playwright, performer, director and teacher and was a Jerome Fellow at The Playwrights’ Center in 1997–1998. The center’s mission is to fuel the theatre by providing services that support playwrights and playwriting.

In dance, the foundation awarded $24,000 to the Minnesota Dance Theatre, Minneapolis, to support the creation of new work by its choreographer in residence, Wynn Fricke, allowing her to participate in the development of the season, be engaged in the school, and develop a body of work that will advance her choreography and the repertory of the company. The Minnesota Dance Theatre’s repertory includes works by its founder Loyce Houlton, its current artistic director Lise Houlton, and national and local choreographers.

Intermedia Arts of Minnesota, Minneapolis, acting as fiscal agent for choreographer Gerry Girouard, received $9,500 from Jerome in support of the development of a new evening-length dance work. Inspired by the book "Searching for Life: The Grandmothers of the Plaza De Mayo and the Disappeared Children of Argentina," Girouard will combine his acrobatic dance style with Argentine tango to express the depth and breadth of this tragedy. Intermedia Arts, a community-based arts center, strives to be a catalyst that builds understanding among people through art.

Other Minnesota recipients of recent Jerome Foundation grants include:

In addition, the foundation awarded $3,000 to the National Center for Black Philanthropy, Washington, D.C., in support of an arts session at its fifth national conference, "Building a Future Worthy of Our Past," to be held June 8–11, 2005 in Minneapolis.

In total, the board of directors of the Jerome Foundation approved 26 grants totaling $660,000 on Feb. 18, 2005.

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