Rosemount Area Arts Council reports surge in events; service agreement approved on consent agenda

The Rosemount Area Arts Council on May 6 told the Rosemount City Council it has sharply increased programming and volunteer support in recent years, and the council approved a service agreement with the arts council as part of the meeting’s consent agenda.

The presentation was given by Tony Sasso, identified in the meeting as the 2025 chair of the Rosemount Area Arts Council. Sasso said the arts council’s mission is “building and strengthening our community through the arts.” He highlighted free events, concerts, theater productions and volunteer-run programming that serve Rosemount and neighboring communities.

Sasso told the council that in 2024 the arts council produced about 105 free events attended by more than 4,400 people and staged 21 theater nights that drew roughly 1,600 attendees at the Stifel Center. He said volunteer engagement has grown since the COVID-era low: “In 2020 … we had a total of 4,066 hours by 50 people. Now … in 2025, 11,568 hours,” and he presented a conservative monetary estimate of the volunteer contribution between roughly $289,000 (at $25/hour) and $462,000 (at $40/hour).

Sasso described major upcoming events and partnerships, including the annual Art Blast festival (presented in June) and a free concert by Steinway performer Don Erwin to be held at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Apple Valley because of the venue’s Steinway piano and acoustics. He also noted the arts council’s two theater groups, concerts that have drawn tribute bands and cover acts, and recurring family-oriented activities at the Stifel Center, library and Central Park.

The council approved a consent agenda that included “a service agreement between the Rosemount Area Arts Council and the city.” The consent motion was moved by Weisensel and seconded by Klimpel; during the roll call the clerk recorded yes votes for Weisensel, Frisky, Tyson and Klimpel, and the consent agenda was adopted.

Discussion only: the presentation was informational; no new policy or budget action tied to the presentation was taken at the lectern. The service agreement was approved as part of a bundled consent agenda rather than as a separate, discussed item.

Background: the Rosemount Area Arts Council has operated under a periodic service agreement with the city to provide arts and cultural programming for residents. The council said much of its recent growth in events and attendance reflects increased volunteer capacity and partnerships with local businesses and venues.

Looking ahead: the arts council encouraged residents to check rosemountarts.com for event schedules and volunteer opportunities and to use the website’s donation tools. The city’s routine calendar announcements list the arts council’s Art Blast and other seasonal activities.