· Crow River Arts (Guild) started with a membership of 4, and earned non-profit 501c3 status.
· Visual arts exhibits and theater productions held in various Hutchinson locations
· Began sponsoring the annual Featured Artist for Hutchinson Arts & Craft Festival
· Conducted two annual choir concerts of Mandel’s “Messiah”
· Membership grew to 44
1989-1991
Crow River Arts designated as Arts Advocate Agency of the City of Hutchinson and was allocated funding in the amount of $1/person in the city of 10,000 population. This amount was matched by National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) for the duration of 3 years.
Southwest Minnesota Arts and Humanities Council (SMAHC) formed as our Regional Arts Council.
After several months of renovation, the first Art Center opened May 1990, located on the corner of 2nd Ave. and Main, Hutchinson
Staffed with part time Director and secretary/manager.
Monthly art exhibits conducted along with an active variety of art class schedules
Children’s summer 6-week theater education programs with “Once upon a shoe” and “The Reluctant Dragon” produced
Initiated annual student art exhibit with 45 pieces from Kay Voigt’s 2-6 grade art students
1990 Hutchinson Arts & Craft Festival Featured Artists, Steve Menze
1991Hutchinson Arts & Craft Festival Featured Artists, Tom Soucek
Site visit by NEA and SMAHC representatives ranked CRA as “most representative of the intent of the Arts Partners Grant” out of the 22 applicants that received funding.
Official organization name change to Crow River Arts, Inc., and new By-laws adopted
Sponsored the Minneapolis Chamber Symphony Concert, presented October 1991
Membership up to 141and 27 “gallery sitters” volunteers.
1992-1993
September ’93, moved Art Center to remodeled space provided by City of Hutchinson on Washington, operating Noon-4 p.m., Tuesday through Friday.
Founded Hutchinson Community Choir
Presented “Getting Momma Married” through the Buffalo Creek Players.
Founded Hutchinson (Adult) Community Theater and produced “I Take This Man”, and “Ordinary People”
Membership at 78, in May ‘93, fiscal year end (FYE)
1994-1995
Membership grow to 160 at May ’94 FYE, due largely to Les Kouba chairing the membership drive
Hosted Artist of Minnesota Organization Spring Show, a 3-day event held at the McLeod Co. Fairgrounds
Hutchinson Community Theater productions of “Fools”, “The Foreigner”, and“Romance Comedy”
Presented “Plain Hearts” theater production
Hutchinson Community Choir concert in ‘94
Children’s Theater production of ”Animal Fables of Aesop”
Hutchinson Arts & Craft Festival Featured Artists were; Jeanne Tuman, and Lance Albers
1996-1997
Theater production of “Everybody Loves Opal”
Children’s Theater production of “A Mark Twain Storybook”, and “Strega Noga”
Hutchinson Arts & Craft Festival Featured Artists; Joyce Young, and Charlotte Laxen
Hosted Regional Arts council (SMAHC) Annual meeting at Victorian Inn
Conducted self-guided Art Tour/Sale that featured 21 artists at the Art Center and touring of 7 studios
Member and sponsorship of 64 at ’97 FYE
1998-1999
June ’98, relocated to McLeod County Heritage Center after losing the free leased space previously provided by the City of Hutchinson
Theater productions of; Under Milk Wood”, “Little Women”, and “Our Town”
Children’s Theater production of “Wondrous Tales of Old Japan”, and “Tremendously Tall Tales by Captain Eddie B. Brown’s Traveling All Star Yokels”
Hutchinson Arts & Craft Festival Featured Artists, ??
Hutchinson Community Choir concert spring ’98
Member and sponsorship of 58, and 63 FYE
2000
CRA looses space in Heritage Center and belongs are put into various storage locations.
Board of Directors decides to not replace loss of part-time Executive Director and distributed the tasks among themselves and volunteers
Children‚s Theater Production of “Lyle the Crocodile”
Hutchinson Arts & Craft Festival Featured Artist, Roger Hanson
Hutchinson Community Choir Christmas Concert
Member and sponsorship of 60 at FYE
2001
Supported Prairie Fire Children’s Theatre presentation of “Beauty and the Beast” 30 area families in the cast
Children’s Theater Production of “Grimm Tales”
Hutchinson Community Choir Christmas Concert
Hutchinson Arts & Craft Festival Featured ArtistRichard Schiebel
2002
Presented Theater Production of “The Dining Room”
Fiscal Agent support of the theater Production of “Annie” by Hutchinson Theatre Company
Presented the Land of Lakes Boys Choir Concert
Hutchinson Community Choir Christmas Concert
Children’s Theater production of “Snowflake”
Hutchinson Arts & Craft Festival Featured Artist, Al Feser
Member and sponsorship of 68 at FYE
2003
Awarded SMAHC grant support to conduct research and develop organizational strategic plans
After 3 years of homelessness, CRA established an office in Westmiller State Farm Building
Sponsored Blue Grass Concert and Children’s Theater production of “Lilly‚s Purple Plastic Purse”
Hutchinson Arts & Craft Festival Featured Artist, Carol Lundeen
Began Annual Art Expo, showcasing area artist work, at the Hutchinson Mall
Hutchinson Community Choir Christmas Concert
Member and sponsorship of 60 at FYE
2004
Completed Statewide Audience Development Initiative (SADI) project
Hired part time Executive Director
Relocated to Hutchinson Mall and opened CRA Gallery & Gift
Hutchinson Arts & Craft Festival Featured Artist, Henny Pellinen
Kicked-off youth theater education programs of; Kids in Theater Camp, and Kids First Theater
Sponsored 8 events, including two Crow River Singers Concerts
Member and sponsorship of 107 at FYE
2005
Celebrated 20 years!
Hutchinson Arts & Craft Festival Featured Artist, Robert Wilde
Children’s theater production of “Salt & Pepper” by Metro Theatre Co., St. Louis, MO
CHAIR-A-TABLE fundraiser
Sponsored 27 events, including two Crow River Singers Concerts
Member and sponsorship of 135 at FYE and calendar year end of XX
2006
Hutchinson Arts & Crafts Festival Featured Artist, Carol Niska
Member and sponsorship of 129 at Calendar year end
First year for Summer Youth Programming – approx 150 students in 20+ classes
Sponsoredthe following events”
two Crow River Singers concerts
Hosted a “tea” for the Women’s Club
St. Patrick’s Day open house
Gail Lipe exhibit in April
June Art Expo
Hosted the spring SMAHC conference in June
Hosted a Chamber “Business After Hours” in Aug
Jauneth Skinner exhibit in Oct
Minis Shows in Nov/Dec –Erik Gran, Aaron Christensen, Charles Ottman
Displayed at the Holiday Sampler
Cashwise BBQ fundraiser
Kid’s Theater – “Blather, Blarney, Balderdash”
1st Art Raffle – Deb Zeller, 5 Stem Calla
2007
Sponsored the following events
Fiber Art Exhibit
The Rose Ensemble Concert (national touring company – Scott Miller, Project Leader)
