Caponi Art Park Receives Four Legacy Grants
Now Accepting Applications for Summer Interns
Stay Tuned for 2011 Program Calendar
Introducing Craig Harris, Board Chair
Welcome to New Staff

Caponi Art Park Receives Four Legacy Grants

Two years ago, Minnesotans showed their support of our state's rich arts and cultural opportunities and voted to pass the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment. Do you know how the Legacy Amendment's dedicated funds are being used? Look no further than Caponi Art Park and Learning Center! Last month, Caponi Art Park was awarded four grants totaling $40,390 from the Clean Land, Water and Legacy Amendment to support the Art Park and its programs.

Funds from the four Legacy grants will be used at here at Caponi Art Park to support existing programs, as well as a new program that serves low-income youth. Additionally, the grants will allow us to work with the Dakota County Historical Society and the Midwest Art Conservation Center to organize materials that document the history of the Art Park and the legacy of our founder, Anthony Caponi.

Thanks to the overwhelming support of Minnesotans who voted to pass the Clean Water, Land and Legacy Amendment in 2008, Caponi Art Park and Learning Center can continue to offer multicultural programs and free admission to visitors.

Now Accepting Applications for Summer Interns

Photo: Corey Pressgrove

Internships at Caponi Art Park are great opportunity to gain professional and real-world experience in the arts and nonprofit sector. We are currently accepting applications for the following unpaid internships:

Nature-based Art Teacher and Docent
Application deadline is April 15

Arts and Cultural Event Coordinator Intern
Application deadline is May 1

For more information, visit our volunteer page.

Stay Tuned for our 2011 Program Calendar

Despite the thick layer of snow that blankets Caponi Art Park, we have stayed busy over the past few months planning programs for the 2011 season. We will announce programs and events in the coming weeks. You can look forward to your favorites, including the Summer Performance Series, Shakespeare Festival, and Family Fun Tuesdays, and a new program made possible by the Legacy grants mentioned above. Programs will be listed online and on Caponi Art Park's Facebook page.

Thank You 2011 Season Sponsors!

Introducing Craig Harris, Board President of Caponi Art Park and Learning Center

This fall, Craig Harris was elected president of the board of directors of Caponi Art Park and Learning Center.

In addition to being a composer and new media artist, Craig has extensive experience in nonprofit arts consulting as well as management and arts administration, including the areas of organizational development, strategic planning and fund, project, program and creative facilities development. Craig most recently served as interim director of the Playwrights' Center in Minneapolis, and has served on the board of several nonprofit art organizations.

Our thanks to outgoing president, Thomas A. Egan, who stepped in to serve as interim board president of the park in 2009 and continues to serve as a member of the board.

Welcome to our New Staff Members, Molly Swailes and Jenna Strank!

Molly Swailes, Caponi Art Park's program and volunteer coordinator, was a tour guide for the park in 2010. Ever since she was a young child she has had a strong inclination towards art. Growing up, she enjoyed sketching her native Wisconsin landscape from the back of her father's pick-up truck. Molly looks forward to meeting and working with the all of people who visit the park, and she is excited to share her combined love for art and nature with visiting groups, volunteers, artists, and performers.

Jenna Strank is Caponi Art Park's communications coordinator. Jenna is a native of Apple Valley and grew up exploring the Art Park's sculptures and listening to orchestral music under the oak trees. She has a background in nonprofit communications, most recently working for Minnesota Environmental Partnership and the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits. Jenna is passionate about the arts as well as experiencing the outdoors and observing its natural beauty.