Irish Fair of Minnesota

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Goals

• Deepen Minnesota’s Irish community’s sense of identity and connection.
• Promote Irish heritage in a more extended and profound way than we can at the Fair.
• Aid new immigrant communities in their pursuit to share, strengthen, and advance their heritage.
• Have a significant impact on the community by raising $1,000,000 over 10 years (2006-2016) through multi-year commitments from donors.

Use of Funds

All funds raised will be distributed through a grant program on an annual basis. Two-thirds will go to Irish cultural projects, one-third to new immigrant projects.

Impact of Support

Funds raised will create a touchstone for the community – a means for Irish folks to share their culture, for new immigrants to remain connected to their heritage, and for children to learn the history and traditions of their ancestors. In time, it will contribute to the definition of what it means to be Irish in Minnesota and really raise the prominence of the Twin Cities to be “all things Irish.” Finally, it will help the organization be true to its mission of promoting and cultivating Irish culture and preserving a rich heritage of traditions for future generations.

Examples of Support

Through a pilot program in 2006, nearly $50,000 was distributed to organizations. Examples include:

• Center for Irish Music Supporting a youth workshop weekend and program development.
• Hmong American Partnership for expansion of a cultural orientation and English language program for new Americans.
• COMPAS Irish cultural residencies in predominantly immigrant-attended elementary schools.
• Irish Music and Dance Asssociation/Perpich Center for the Arts Cultural Trunk for Educators and Artists
• Paddy O’Brien Volume II of his internationally significant irish tune collection.
• Somali Arts Association for a holiday concert to help galvanize the Somali arts community.
• Robert Emmets Twin Cities Hurling Club Equipment, marketing support, official training.
• Center for Studies “Irish Voices, Indian Voices” seminar.

The Legacy Fund does not support the activities at the Irish Fair.Legacy Fund Contributor Benefits

Multi-year contributors of $250 or more automatically become members of the legacy club and receive the following benefits:

• Admission to the Hospitality Tent at the Irish Fair of Minnesota.
• Invitations to receptions with Irish Fair special guests and headliners.
• Priority access to Irish Fair special events and concerts throughout the year.
• Recognition in the Fair’s Star Tribune special section and on our website.

Words of Thanks from Past Recipients

"The Irish Fair’s support – financial, promotional and organizational – has been an integral piece of the Center’s early success. Their grant funds will allow more kids in Minnesota to learn traditional Irish music on hard-to-find traditional instruments... we are securing the next generation of musicians in the Twin Cities. They will share their passion for Irish music and culture in our community for years to come."

"The Irish Fair of Minnesota has picked up where the National Endowment for the Arts left off. My second tune collection – a companion to the one supported by the NEA, will preserve hundreds of Irish tunes that for centuries have been passed down musician to musician but have never been recorded or readily available for folks around the world to hear and learn."