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|  | | | Investing in the Arts
All non-profit theater companies have a life that is enabled by revenue from a multitude of sources that include, predominantly, ticket sales, individual contributions and public and private grants.
The City of St. Paul has shown its own support of the arts for St. Paul arts through its Cultural STAR Program.
In 1993, the Minnesota State Legislature provided legislative authorization for the City of Saint Paul to levy an additional 1/2 percent sales tax to pay for expansion and remodeling of the Saint Paul Civic Center Complex. The remainder of the funds were designated to be spent for capital projects to further residential, cultural, commercial and economic development in both Downtown Saint Paul and Saint Paul neighborhoods.
In 1994, the City Council established the Sales Tax Revitalization (STAR) Program to distribute the remaining sales tax proceeds to neighborhoods and cultural groups. The Neighborhood STAR Program awards loans and grants for capital improvement projects in Saint Paul Neighborhoods. The Cultural STAR Program was created to promote economic growth in Saint Paul by strengthening the arts and cultural sector and by supporting Downtown as a vital cultural center.
Over the last 5 or 6 years, MJTC has been the recipient of project, organizational development and capital STAR grants, all of which have been so valuable in the growth and development of the theater to the point where today it is a highly respected theater company with a national reputation.
For example, an organizational development grant provided start up funding for a second full-time staff position to handle external affairs (PR, marketing, group sales, school group sales, audience development). This position is now self-sustaining. A project grant assisted MJTC in producing its first musical, and a capital project grant provided part of the funds for MJTC to purchase state-of the art computerized sound equipment and lighting equipment.
I think the City of St. Paul has shown a leadership role for city government support of the arts.
Barbara Brooks
Minnesota Jewish Theatre Company
St. Paul
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