NORTH IOWA CULTURAL CENTER & MUSEUM

THE NORTH IOWA CULTURAL CENTER AND MUSEUM OPERATES, MAINTAINS, AND PRESERVES THE HISTORICAL SURF BALLROOM LOCATED IN CLEAR LAKE, IOWA. OUR MUSEUM IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DAILY. WE PROVIDE NUMEROUS PROGRAMS TO EDUCATE VISITORS AND FANS ABOUT THE HISTORY, AND CONTINUING SIGNIFICANCE, OF ALL GENRES OF MUSIC WITH AN EMPHASIS ON BIG BAND AND ROCK AND ROLL MUSIC. WE CARRIED OUT OUR MISSION THROUGH 1) THE OPERATION OF A MUSEUM WHERE WE COLLECT, ARCHIVE AND PRESERVE MUSICAL ARTIFACTS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS SO THEY MAY BE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND AND APPRECIATE THE WAY MUSIC HAS DEVELOPED DURING THE LAST CENTURY 2) THROUGH THE EMPLOYMENT OF AN EDUCATION DIRECTOR WHO CONDUCTS EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS BOTH AT THE SURF BALLROOM AND THROUGHOUT THE AREA INCLUDING CLASSROOM VISITS, SCHOOL TOURS AT THE BALLROOM, PIANO AND GUITAR LESSONS, SUMMER PROGRAMMING AND SPECIAL EVENTS, AND 3) WE PROVIDE NUMEROUS TOURS, SEMINARS, AND MUSICAL PROGRAMS FOR THE PUBLIC WHICH DEMONSTRATE THE MUSIC PERFORMED HERE AND IN AMERICA DURING THE PAST 65+ YEARS. 2023 PROGRAM SERVICE ACCOMPLISHMENTS INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1. HOSTING 22 MOTORCOACH TOURS 2. HOSTING 24,873 MUSEUM VISITORS FROM 50 STATES AND 22 FOREIGN COUNTRIES 3. HOSTING 33 CONCERTS AND SPECIAL EVENTS WITH AN ESTIMATED ATTENDANCE OF 31,137 4. MUSIC ENRICHMENT CENTER: AS THE PREMIER LOCATION IN NORTH IOWA FOR PEOPLE TO EXPERIENCE LIVE MUSIC, THE SURF BALLROOM ALSO STRIVES TO USE OUR PLATFORM TO PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH AMPLE EDUCATIONAL AND CULTURAL OPPORTUNITIES AS WELL. THE MUSIC ENRICHMENT CENTER IS DEDICATED TO PROVIDING ENGAGING, HANDS ON, LIFELONG LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES TO STUDENTS OF ALL AGES IN THE GREATER NORTH IOWA AREA. WE ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT SHARING THE STORY OF THE HISTORIC SURF BALLROOM, CREATING RELEVANT CURRICULUM TO ASSIST SCHOOLS, AND CONTINUALLY WORKING TO INSPIRE GENERATIONS THOUGH THE MUSIC THAT LIVES ON. INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO: THE SURF BALLROOM INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO ALLOWS STUDENTS TO GAIN HANDS ON EXPERIENCE WITH INSTRUMENTS OF ALL TYPES. STRING, PERCUSSION, AND KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS ARE ON DISPLAY FOR STUDENTS TO GAIN HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH. CHILDREN LEARN HOW THE INSTRUMENTS PRODUCE SOUND, WHERE THE INSTRUMENTS COME FROM, AND DIFFERENT PLAYING TECHNIQUES. INSTRUMENTS FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES ARE ALSO FEATURED FOR STUDENTS TO PLAY AND LEARN ABOUT. THIS PROGRAM STRIVES TO SPARKS CHILDREN'S INTEREST IN LEARNING AN INSTRUMENT AND DEVELOP A PASSION FOR MUSIC. THIS HANDS ON PROGRAM ALSO ALLOWS STUDENTS THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEST OUT NEW INSTRUMENTS BEFORE COMMITTING TO PURCHASING ONE, WHILE HELPING STUDENTS DISCOVER NEW INSTRUMENTS AND WHICH ONE THEY WOULD MOST ENJOY LEARNING. FEATURING INSTRUMENTS FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES SHOWCASES TO STUDENTS THE IMPORTANCE OF MUSIC THROUGHOUT HISTORY IN CULTURES AROUND THE WORLD, DEVELOPING AN APPRECIATE FOR MUSIC AND HISTORY. THE INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO HAS ALSO ALLOWED THE SURF BALLROOM TO DEVELOP MANY PARTNERSHIPS WITH LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS LIBRARIES, YOUTH CENTERS, FARMER'S MARKETS, ETC. THE INSTRUMENT PETTING ZOO REACHED NEARLY 600 STUDENTS IN 2023. MUSIC TEACHERS/STUDENTS: - NICK JOHNSON, SUB-CONTRACTED GUITAR INSTRUCTOR, CONTINUED TEACHING GUITAR AND STRING INSTRUMENT LESSONS IN 2023 WITH 15 STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE WEEKLY LESSONS. - PIANO TEACHERS WERE SUB-CONTRACTED AND THEY TAUGHT PIANO LESSONS TO 100 STUDENTS WEEKLY AT THE MEC. - MARISSA HUMBURG PORVIDED MUSIC THERAPY TO 15 STUDENTS WEEKLY DURING THE SUMMER OF 2023. - BRUCE RAY TAUGHT A WEEKLY BEGINNER GUITAR GROUP CLASS DURING THE SUMMER OF 2023 WITH 15 STUDENTS. - HEIDI KAHL TAUGT TAUGHT VIOLIN LESSONS IN 2023 WITH 3 STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE WEEKLY LESSONS. - MATT ROOT TAUGHT DRUM LESSONS IN 2023 WITH 10 STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE WEEKLY LESSONS. - ROGER LASLEY TAUGHT GUITAR LESSONS IN 2023 WITH 8 STUDENTS WHO RECEIVE WEEKLY LESSONS. - JENNIFER KENNICKER PROVIDED VOICE & MUSIC THERAPY TO 10 STUDENTS WEEKLY DURING THE SUMMER OF 2023. - HANNA FURGESON TAUGHT VOICE LESSONS IN THE SUMMER OF 2023 WITH 10 STUDENTS RECEIVING WEEKLY LESSONS. MUSIC THERAPY: IN APRIL OF 2022, THE SURF BALLROOM STARTED A PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTHERN MINNESOTA MUSIC THERAPY. MUSIC THERAPIST MARISSA HUMBURG VISITED THE MEC WEEKLY FROM JUNE-AUGUST 2023 SEEING CLIENTS BOTH ONE ON ONE AND IN SMALL GROUP SETTINGS. USING THE POWER OF MUSIC, MUSIC THERAPY PROVIDES CHILDREN AND ADULTS A FUN, THERAPEUTIC WAY TO ACHIEVE COGNITIVE, EMOTIONAL, SOCIAL, PHYSICAL AND DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS. CHILDREN AND YOUNG ADULTS MAY BENEFIT FROM USING MUSIC THERAPEUTICALLY, AS IT CAN HELP WORK ON AREAS LIKE: INCREASING SOCIAL SKILLS, PROMOTING COMMUNICATION, TAKING-TURNS, FINE AND GROSS MOTOR MOVEMENTS, IMPROVING COGNITION. FOR OLDER ADULTS, MUSIC CREATES OPPORTUNITIES TO: MAINTAIN COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING, ENHANCE PHYSICAL BEING, PROVIDE AN OUTLET FOR SOCIALIZATION, OPPORTUNITIES TO REMINISCE. IN 2023, WE EXPANDED THIS PROGRAM AND BEGAN A PARTNERSHIP WITH JENNIFER KENNICKER OF MUSIC THERAPY OF NORTH IOWA IN ADDITION TO MARISSA HUMBERS OF SOUTHERN MINNESOTA MUSIC THERAPY. MARISSA ALSO VISITED ONE VISION CHILDRES'S AUTISM CENTER WEEKLY FOR A SMALL GROUP SESSION. 25 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN 2023 (WEEKLY SESSIONS JUNE-AUGUST). CONTINUING EDUCATION: CONTINUING EDUCATION CLASSES ARE OFFERED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH NORTH IOWA AREA COMMUNITY COLLEGE. CLASSES ENHANCE LIFE SKILLS THROUGH A VARIETY OF INTERACTIVE COURSES, FROM ART & MUSIC TO CULINARY AND COMPUTER SKILLS TO PHOTOGRAPHY AND MORE. AVERAGE OF 25 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN CONTINUING EDUCATION CLASSES IN 2023. PARTNERSHIPS: THE MUSIC ENRICHMENT CENTER STRIVES TO GROW OUR EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH SERVICES TO INCLUDE MORE RURAL COMMUNITIES IN NORTH IOWA. PARTNERSHIPS WITHIN RURAL COMMUNITIES, SUCH AS LIBRARIES, COMMUNITY CENTERS, AND SCHOOLS PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES TO SHARE OUR SERVICES, COLLABORATE ON JOINT ENDEAVORS AND GAIN EDUCATION PARTNERS. THE MUSIC ENRICHMENT CENTER CONTINUALLY PERUSES AND MATURES VALUE ADDED RELATIONSHIPS TO INCREASE YOUTH PARTICIPATION AND EXPAND VISIBILITY. HAVING AN EDUCATIONAL OUTREACH FACILITY HAS ALLOWED THE SURF BALLROOM TO DEVELOP MANY BENEFICIAL PARTNERSHIPS AND BRING MUSIC EDUCATION TO OUR COMMUNITY IN DIVERSE WAYS. ONE VISION, ONE VISION CHILDREN'S AUTISM CENTER, NIACC, CLEAR LAKE PUBLIC LIBRARY, CLEAR LAKE FARMER'S MARKET, CENTRAL GARDENS OF NORTH IOWA, MUSIC MAN SQUARE, CLEAR LAKE ART'S CENTER, BELMOND PUBLIC LIBRARY, GARNER PUBLIC LIBRARY, GIRL SCOUTS OF GREATER IOWA, NORTH IOWA CHILDREN'S MUSEUM, ROTARY OF CLEAR LAKE, IOWA STATE UNIVERSITY, MUSIC THERAPY SERVICES OR NORTH IOWA, SOUTHERN MINNESOTA MUSIC THERAPY. THE MUSIC ENRICHMENT CENTER GIVES THE COMMUNITY'S RESIDENTS A PLATFORM TO SHARE HOBBIES, INTEREST AND TALENTS. INDIVIDUALS PARTNER WITH THE MUSIC ENRICHMENT CENTER TO HOST CLASSES, RECITALS AND WORKSHOPS. ARTIFACT DISPLAYS: AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE MUSEUM ARTIFACTS AT THE SURF BALLROOM MUSIC ENRICHMENT CENTER CONTINUES TO GIVE US THE UNIQUE CHANCE TO DISPLAY MEMORABILIA THAT HAD PREVIOUSLY BEEN KEPT IN STORAGE. WE INVESTED IN NEW SHATTERPROOF CASES TO PROTECT THE ITEMS (WHICH INCLUDE ARTICLES OF CLOTHING; MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS LIKE GUITARS, TAMBOURINES, HARMONICAS, DRUM HEADS, ETC.; POSTERS; PHOTOGRAPHS AND OTHER ITEMS) FROM DAMAGE. THESE UNIQUE MEMORABILIA HELP US SHARE PIECES OF HISTORY WITH MUSICIANS OF ALL KINDS AT THE SURF BALLROOM MUSIC ENRICHMENT CENTER. 5. RAVE ON: DURING THE SCHOOL YEAR SEPTEMBER THROUGH MAY), THE SURF BALLROOM EDUCATION COORDINATOR PROMOTES AND TEACHES A SPECIAL CURRICULUM TITLED "RAVE ON." THESE PROGRAMS ARE AVAILABLE TO MORE THAN 710 CLASSROOMS IN CERRO GORDO AND SURROUNDING COUNTIES (ALL SCHOOLS WITHIN A 50-MILE RADIUS OF THE SURF BALLROOM). THE ENGAGING CURRICULUM IS DESIGNED TO TEACH THE HISTORY OF THE SURF BALLROOM, THE LIVES OF BUDDY HOLLY, RITCHIE VALENS, J.P. 'THE BIG BOPPER' RICHARDSON, AND THE IMPACT THAT THEIR MUSIC HAD ON THE WORLD. WITH THE AID OF THE "RAVE ON" CURRICULUM WE VISITED 7 SCHOOL DISTRICTS, RESULTING WITH CONTACT TO 1,440 STUDENTS IN 2023. 8 SCHOOLS AND 2 HOMESCHOOL GROUPS ALSO TOURED THE BALLROOM, RESULTING WITH CONTACT TO AN ADDITIONAL 460 STUDENTS. 6. WINTER DANCE PARTY KID'S SHOW: A SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL EVENT AND HIGHLIGHT DURING THE YEAR IS THE WINTER DANCE PARTY KIDS SHOW, WHERE STUDENTS FROM ACROSS NORTH IOWA TAKE A FIELD TRIP AND EXPERIENCE THE HISTORIC VALUE OF THE SURF WITH A CONCERT JUST FOR THEM. PRIOR TO THE KID'S SHOW, THE SURF'S EDUCATION COORDINATOR VISITS CLASSROOMS TO TEACH THE HISTORY OF THE SURF. OUR GOAL IS TO CREATE AN UNFORGETTABLE, ONE-OF-A-KIND EXPERIENCE FOR NORTH IOWA STUDENTS THAT SHOWCASES THE ABILITY THAT MUSIC HAS TO BOTH INSPIRE AND CONNECT US. A TOTAL OF 5 SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND OVER 1,000 STUDENTS PARTICIPATED IN 2023. 7. WINTER DANCE PARTY ART CONTEST: ANOTHER ASPECT OF THE WINTER DANCE PARTY KID'S SHOW IS AN ART CONTEST THAT CLEAR CREEK K-5 STUDENTS PARTICIPATE IN EACH YEAR. DURING THE KID'S SHOW, MEMBERS OF THE RITCHIE VALENS FAMILY WERE PRESENT TO ANNOUNCE THE WINTER DANCE PARTY ART CONTEST WINNERS. 665