College of Continuing and Professional Studies (CCAPS) Graduate Programs

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A 10-Year Assessment of Equitable Geographic Inclusion in Minnesota's Legacy Amendment
(2021-07) Alfaro, Benjamin D
As a dynamic model for public funding to the arts - and the single largest state-based conservation finance measure to pass in the nation's history - Minnesota's Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment dictates annual government spending to environmental, artistic, and cultural causes in an unprecedented method. The Legacy Amendment boasts the largest voter turnout for an issue referendum in Minnesota's history and represents a nationally distinct policy model responsible for more than $3 billion in total dollars designated for the aforementioned purposes from 2009 to 2021. This project interrogates only one of several measurable areas of the policy model, specifically examining the geographic spread of funds over the amendment's first 10 years and using an equity lens to explore the relationship between government spending and the measure of "fairness" as a key criterion for success. Previous research exploring socially equitable public administration has challenged such ambiguous benchmarks for policy goals, instead encouraging more empirical, contextual definitions of how success might be determined. With these critiques in mind, this study lays the groundwork for understanding the Legacy Amendment as a multi-pronged instrument of economic subjectivity by navigating how the relationship between legislative priorities and spending decisions manifested during the first decade of the policy. Initial findings indicate approximately two-thirds of all Legacy funds affected statewide or multi-county causes, demonstrating a broad alignment with policy goals. Despite significant variances in total dollars spent, higher density urban areas and economic development regions demonstrated relatively parallel ratios in their share of Legacy spending per capita. The baseline data collected through this project lends itself to future examination of the Legacy Amendment's other self-described and perceivably benevolent goals.
Advancing LGBTQIA+ Inclusion in the Twin Cities Theater Arts Nonprofit Sector
(2024-05) McLaughlin, Meghan “Mac”
This research explores LGBTQIA+ inclusion in the Twin Cities theater arts nonprofit sector. It delves into how HR policies impact LGBTQIA+ workers and suggests recommendations for improvement. Through personal narratives and organizational insights, it highlights the challenges and commitments to inclusivity. Ultimately, the study, through phenomenological research, includes interviews with LGBTQIA+ people in theater organizations and surveys of theater organizations regarding their HR policies and practices; aims to foster diversity and equity, building upon the historical legacy of social progress within the arts community.
Aesthetics at Work: Using Principles of Art and Beauty to Improve Work Engagement
(2014-06-06) French, Jennifer
Organizations today need employees who are creative and innovative, yet most OD and HRD initiatives focus only on technical learning. This project challenges the effectiveness of narrow, skills-based, and transactional design and implementation of employee training programs. The integration of aesthetics into HRD is proposed to improve training and development practices through the integration of imagination and creativity. The implications of aesthetics in HRD are outlined, including more holistic learning programs, improved work engagement, and a legitimate need for artful and art-inspired HRD.
The American Front and Side Yard - From Colonial to Contemporary for a zone 4 garden
(2008) Grotans Luss, Gunda
This is an overview of garden and corresponding house styles in America from the 1600’s until the present. It considers how world view and a perception of “Nature” affects landscape design. Over time the fear of the wild turned to a desire to tame it and now to preserve it.
American Muslim Organizations: Response to Counterterrorism Initiatives
(2015-12) Michel, Amber
Counterterrorism efforts in the US have discriminatorily targeted Muslims through the use of surveillance, infiltration, paid informants and other forms of harassment. In this project, I examine the narrative generated by Muslim organizations nationally and in Minnesota, in response to the intense policing practices of American counterterrorism initiatives. I identified accommodationist themes throughout the national narratives but observed this phenomenon much less frequently at the local level. I observed the damaging and destabilizing effects of such initiatives. I also theorize that proximity to a national stage determines the tone of public narrative.
Art as Activism: Displacement Prevention in the Twin Cities
(2016-12) O’Donnell, Stephanie
This research uses the history of urban development and media representation as context for understanding current racial equity gaps and growing fears of gentrification and displacement in Minneapolis and Saint Paul neighborhoods. It emphasizes the importance of narrative in the process of changing power structures, and explores the community-building work of artist, Wing Young Huie, and arts organizations, Mixed Blood Theatre and Juxtaposition Arts. During times of change, art can strengthen neighborhood resilience by giving communities control over the telling of their own stories.
The Art of Making (It) Work: Artist-Centered Organizational Models in Small Professional Theater Companies
(2016-05) Bridges Stecklein, Emily
Many theater artists hold multiple jobs in order to achieve financial stability while pursuing a career in the arts. Research suggests their skills for communication, adaptability, and creativity are more in demand than ever in non-arts related fields, but are underutilized in paid administrative positions within theater companies. However, a growing trend in small professional theater companies with artist-centered models of organizational leadership is changing the way theater is produced by prioritizing artist compensation and leveraging the skills of artists historically used in non-arts sectors. This paper examines some of these models at work, identifies common factors that contribute to sustainability, and explores the necessary factors that will determine the impact artist-centered leadership models will have on the future of modern theater.
The Art of Plastic Pollution: Creating Awareness Through Community Engagement
(2013-05-31) Gravening, Tanya
Plastic pollution has become an unprecedented crisis that most people contribute to unconsciously because they lack awareness and understanding of the problem. To raise consciousness the artist completed a creative project that called attention to plastic pollution. Sculptures were created from plastic trash collected by a community. Engaging a community in the process of making art reinforces the message and reduces the use of plastic. The project’s research reveals the use of trash in the creation of art, and demonstrates that the aesthetic appeal of art summons a wider audience than the facts and figures of science.
Artists of Color as Social Entrepreneurs: Seeking new support in Coworking spaces
(2017-05) Yang, Teeko
This paper seeks to explore artists of color as social entrepreneurs by investigating the synergy created in collaborative workspaces, also known as coworking spaces. They have emerged as nontraditional office spaces that provide their members professional meeting rooms, opened floor plans, and a creative environment among other things. With the influx of coworking spaces and their perceived notion of presenting serendipitous encounters, spontaneous exchanges and collaboration between the professionals that visit their space, can artists of color thrive in coworking spaces? Particularly a coworking space that values and supports social entrepreneurship such as Impact Hub Minneapolis. As social barriers continue to impede artists of color, the slow response from philanthropic supporters have not addresses new ways of providing resources. This study contributes critical discussion through empirical analysis of a project aimed at seeking new resources and support for artists of color as social entrepreneurs, by exploring what coworking spaces provide.
Arts Access and the Politics of Empowerment in the Twin Cities
(2016-05) Metzler, Melissa May
Arts Access grants , distributed from Legacy Amendment funds, are designed for underserved communities who have the least exposure to visual art. Substantial barriers face individuals in the Twin Cities who are served by these grants. Arts advocates, politicians, and taxpayers should understand more about how the funds are used and how their use can be improved.
The Arts Involvement in Social and Political Issues: The Minnesota Arts Community and the Same-Sex Marriage Amendment
(2013-01-14) Carlson, Cortney
On November 6, 2012, Minnesota became the first state in the country to defeat a constitutional amendment to limit marriage equality. Focusing on the proposed marriage amendment, this thesis explores how the arts can be involved in social and political issues. Working together or with outside disciplines, the arts can be an asset to advocacy or campaign efforts.
Arts Organizations and Their Impact on Adverse Childhood Experiences
(2017-05) Clarke, Kristine
The following three questions will be examined through this study. First, what role do arts organizations play in relation to Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)? Second, do art organizations make any impact on individuals who have experienced ACEs? Third, do these organizations create this impact knowingly or unknowingly? Through examining six organizations it appears that arts organizations serve as efficient supplemental tools in helping individuals suffering from side effects of ACEs. By combining organizational efforts around mental health, rehabilitation, and social work with those of arts organizations, individuals are able to find a pathway or alternative communication method to expressing their emotions, fears, and demons that they have been trying to keep hidden. The research has also shown that art organizations are helping people confronting ACEs without knowing that the programming is indeed helping individuals facing ACEs. Through examining these questions the recommendation from this paper is for mental health, rehabilitation, and social work organizations to acknowledge how useful the arts can be for their patients and clients, and to seek out collaborations with these organizations.
Artwork-Mediated Deliberations: How Art Can Awaken Narratives, Emotions and Agency
(2018) Marks, Ruth Ann
Deliberation forums using an artwork-mediated journaling facilitation technique were conducted at United Methodist churches on a topic that placed the earth’s natural resources into tension with economic development. In two of the forums, narrative elements played a role in how participants framed their introductory remarks and expressed their values and emotions on the topic. This new deliberation configuration creates a way for participants to readily enter into discussion and engages them to explore a complex topic including how they viewed their own agency.
At Least She Died Free: The Possible Fates of Aging American Women Prisoners
(2016-05) Olson, Sara
This project examines the reasons for the growing cohort of aging American prisoners overall while focusing on living conditions inside prisons and the potential outcomes for older women in particular. Employing a qualitative analysis, informed by quantitative research and a wide range of carceral literature, the inquiry seeks to discover different possibilities for the futures of these women. The United States incarcerates more women than any other country and, by 2030, one-third of all prisoners will be age 55 or older. Human rights issues relating to prison conditions, punitive sentencing policies, and prisoner desistance perspectives in the United States are explored.
Back to Nature for Good: Using Biophilic Design and Attention Restoration Theory to Improve Well-Being and Focus in the Workplace
(2012-05-30) Green, Judith
E.O.Wilson's biophilia hypothesis contends that "humans are still powerfully responsive to nature's forms, processes, and patterns." Relying on the strength of this connection, interior spaces can be created to promote physical well-being through the use of design elements that represent nature or aspects of nature. Since even brief exposure to nature has been proven to be beneficial, biophilic design, then, becomes a powerful tool in designing spaces where people work, learn, recuperate and recreate. Attention restoration theory builds on the foundation provided by biophilic design and goes one step further, suggesting that exposure to nature allows rejuvenation of focused attention. Therefore, the workplace is an ideal location for utilizing design principles that incorporate elements of nature.
Being Neighborly: How One Museum Looks Beyond its Walls to Build Community
(2020-06) Butler, Brenda F
It is common for museums to be geographically located in urban neighborhoods with neighbors who do not visit. Museums make efforts to engage with their communities through programming to establish relationships with neighbors; this study highlights one museum, The American Swedish Institute (ASI), located in Minneapolis, Minnesota. This case study seeks to discover whether ASI is building cross-cultural relationships in their neighborhood; and finding what impacts are made on the neighborhood. This study may be useful to arts or cultural organizations seeking to build on their relevance to their neighbor communities and wanting to better engage with neighbors.
Better Together?: Examples and Impacts of Ongoing Resource Sharing and Collaboration in Twin Cities Arts Nonprofit Organizations
(2024-05) Keefe, Brittany
This paper explores ongoing resource sharing and collaboration among nonprofit arts organizations based on the study of such collaborations in the Twin Cities metro area. The purpose is to understand how these collaborations function and their impacts. This inquiry is important because sharing can connect and elevate arts organizations despite ongoing economic, social, and programmatic challenges. The research examines five cases representing a spectrum of collaborative models, including a merger, alliance, joint space, coalition, and programmatic partnership. A literature review precedes the case study, centering on definitions and collaboration models in the nonprofit sector, noting the relatively low incidence of arts organizations represented. Research conducted for this study aims to fill this gap using multiple case study methods with interviews across a spectrum of arts organization collaboration types. Findings suggest collaboration can be a successful strategy for arts organizations, fostering sustainability, communication, and crisis response. Key learnings include the importance of clear communication, strong leadership, and formal agreements for complex collaborations. Collaboration models can offer financial benefits and opportunities to evolve over time; however, the most suitable model depends on the specific needs and goals of the participating organizations. This research identifies areas for future investigation, such as the distinct effects of collaboration on business metrics versus artistic outcomes and the lessons learned from unsuccessful collaborations.
BIPOC exclusion from Milwaukee's professional theatre organizations: An inquiry into systemic change
(2021-08) Esposito, Amy
Arts organizations in the nonprofit sector often seek to create social change in their communities as a response to art rather than exclusively creating art for its entertainment value. As the United States continues to tackle and address racial inequities, the arts sector is not only responsible for evolving with society, but also crafting and depicting narratives many organizations hope will help positively impact society. In this sense, they should be leaders. This inquiry into racial representation in Milwaukee, Wisconsin’s nonprofit theatre sector hopes to identify the unique qualities of the Milwaukee arts community, inclusive actions currently taking place, and areas for improvement. Using a grounded theory approach, interviews were conducted with local arts leaders and stakeholders. Based on the literature reviewed and data collected, these findings were used to assess initiatives currently in place and to formulate recommendations for addressing racial representation and creating meaningful organizational change.
Building the Future of Art Museums: Spotlighting Behind the Scenes Roles in Art Museums and Art Spaces in the Twin Cities
(2023) Pilarski, Laura A
This StoryMap dives into the world of behind the scenes roles at Twin Cities art museums through a series of interviews with industry professionals with the central question being how they view the future of museums from their perspective. This question guided our conversations, with topics including: accessibility, labor and compensation, the changing role of institutions after COVID-19, and technology’s impact on the field. This narrative-based methodology seeks to amplify the voices of those who work in less visible roles within museums and the impact of their work regarding DEAI, the art viewing experience, and the preservation of the artists’ vision through exhibition design. A phenomenological approach was taken to further examine the main topics and current events within the field.
The Case to Engage Millennials in Classical Music
(2016-05) Legeros, Alexander N
As the largest demographic group in America both now and for the forseeable future, millennials carry great promise for classical music - that is, if classical music organizations can capitalize on the traits that make this generation so distinct. My thesis is that classical music organizations must "retune" programming to reflect millennials in light of significant demographic changes which have occurred during the generational lifetime of baby boomers. To that end, I posit three key recommendations that any classical music organization can incorporate: creating programming that is less time-dependent, building trust and relationships with millennials, and empowering the (numerically) greatest generation.