2008-2009: Also based on inspiration from Invigorate the Common Well, the City of Winona declares “WATER” as a focus for an entire year with civic organizations, the 3 colleges, public schools, book clubs, the Frozen Film Festival, and several art organizations participating in “Our Drinking Fountains, Our Water”. This extensive collaboration focused on the importance of water in the town of Winona, and the connection to all the Water in the world. The year long focus ended with the dedication of a beautiful new public drinking fountain in a public park near the Mississippi River.
In the Heart of the Beast Theatre conducted residencies at Winona State University and St. Mary’s University, and the community of Winona and Spieler also participated as panelist and speaker in several events. The year long focus was supported in part by a grant from the Minnesota Campus Compact and funded by the State of Minnesota.
Participants include: the City of Winona, Winona State University, Saint Mary’s University, Minnesota State College Southeast Technical, Southeast Minnesota Water Resources Board, County of Winona, and In the Heart of the Beast Theatre artists Sandy Spieler, Masa Kawahara and Malia Burkhart.
Julie Boada conducts several Water residencies in elementary schools in the Twin Cities Metro Area.
Many thanks to the MN State Arts Board for supporting the creation of this website through a 2014 Artist Initiative Grant with funds appropriated by the Minnesota State Legislature from the vote of the people of Minnesota on November 4, 2008.