We’re excited to report that the Minnesota State Arts Board has announced a $30,000 grant to Chops’ Pan Outreach program! This funding from the prestigious Creative Support for Organizations program will support steel-drum residencies at K-12 public schools in 2023-2024.
Pan Outreach, an artist-in-residence program founded at Chops in 2018, partners with host schools to bring steel-pan instruction to schools for 6 - 8 week residencies throughout the academic year. The program is free for low-income public schools.
“This is our first application to the Minnesota State Arts Board, and I’m thrilled that Pan Outreach was honored with a grant,” said Chops executive director Megan O’Leary. “Jeremy Kunkel and the Pan Outreach team deliver fun, engaging lessons while meeting Minnesota standards for arts education. We are thankful to the MSAB for supporting artist-in-residence programs during this challenging time for public schools.”
“To think that a 12-person steel drum band that started less than 10 years ago has matured and evolved into programs that now garner state and federal funding and international recognition is quite humbling,” said Jeremy Kunkel, founder and director of Pan Outreach. “It's a testament to all the tireless work and support of some truly amazing people over the past few years.”
The mission of Pan Outreach is to provide world music educational opportunities and artist development through steel pan instruction and performance. Interested in learning, hosting, donating, or volunteering? Visit www.panoutreach.org to get involved in this exciting program.
Chops, Inc. is a nonprofit organization based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, with a mission to improve lives through music education and performing arts. We meet our mission with professional bands and artist-in-residence programs, and by offering fiscal sponsorship and support to community-based performing arts groups like All City Music and Dance With Purpose. To learn more and get involved, please visit www.chopsinc.org.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
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