Art Start

THE MISSION OF ARTSTART IS TO INSPIRE ARTISTIC CREATIVITY AND ILLUMINATE THE CONNECTIONS AMONG PEOPLE, IDEAS AND THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH ENGAGING ARTISTS, CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES IN QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION EXPERIENCES.

ARTSTART BACKGROUND. THE MISSION OF ARTSTART, FOUNDED IN 1988, HAS REMAINED CONSTANT OVER ITS 35-YEAR HISTORY: TO FOSTER ARTISTIC CREATIVITY AND ILLUMINATE THE CONNECTIONS AMONG PEOPLE, IDEAS, AND THE ENVIRONMENT. OUR ARTISTS ENGAGE CHILDREN, FAMILIES, AND COMMUNITIES IN QUALITY ARTS EDUCATION EXPERIENCES THAT INVESTIGATE ENVIRONMENTAL AND CULTURAL THEMES AND USE RECYCLED MATERIALS. WE SAY WE DO OUR WORK AT THE INTERSECTION OF WHERE ART, ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP, AND CULTURE COME TOGETHER WHICH ENABLES US TO ADDRESS DIVERSITY, EQUITY, AND ACCESSIBILITY ISSUES AS THEY RELATE TO OUR PARADIGM. ARTSTART'S 4 CORE PROGRAMS ARE: 1.) ARTSTART'S ARTSCRAPS, PROVIDING LOW-COST, RECYCLED MATERIALS TO FAMILIES, PROFESSIONAL AND YOUNG ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO FURTHER OUR MESSAGE OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP THROUGH THE ARTS; 2.) ADULT AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT THAT INCLUDES COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS IN LIBRARIES AND WITH SOCIAL SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOL RESIDENCIES, AND SUMMER CULTURAL ARTS CAMPS TO FURTHER OUR MESSAGE OF RESPECT FOR OUR ENVIRONMENT AND HONORING THE ARTS OF DIVERSE CULTURES WHILE EMPLOYING ARTISTS FROM THOSE CULTURES; 3.)ARTSTART SPECIAL PROJECTS AND COMMISSIONS PROVIDE EMERGING AND EXPERIENCED ARTISTS WITH INCOME, TRAINING AND SUPPORT. HIGHLIGHTS OF 2024. *ARTSTART'S ARTSCRAPS CREATIVE MATERIALS AND IDEAS STORE CONTINUED TO BE OPEN 3 DAYS A WEEK TO THE PUBLIC, AND CONTINUED TO MAKE GAINS IN REVENUE EVEN WITH 3 FEWER DAYS OF BEING OPEN. OVERALL, REVENUE FOR THE STORE WAS UP 22% IN FY24. * ARTSTART CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY WORKSHOPS WORKING WITH THE ENTIRE 7-COUNTY METRO LIBRARY SYSTEM, WASHINGTON CO., SCOTTCO., HENNEPIN CO., RAMSEY CO., CARVER CO., ANOKA CO., DAKOTA CO., AND THE SAINT PAUL PUBLIC LIBRARY, AS WELL AS THE GREAT RIVER REGIONAL LIBRARY SYSTEM AND THOSE IN SOUTHERN MINNESOTA. WORKSHOPS EMPHASIZED CULTURAL ARTS AND REUSE ART WORKSHOPS. ARTSTART IMPLEMENTED 12 SCHOOL RESIDENCIES THROUGH GRANTS FROM THE MINNESOTA STATE ARTS BOARD, PLUS 9 ADDITIONAL RESIDENCIES THAT WERE EARNED INCOME. IN ADDITION, ARTSTART PROVIDED 3 GRANT-FUNDED EDUCATOR STAFF DEVELOPMENT TRAININGS ON THE THEME OF ARTFUL REUSE IN EDUCATION, AND 1 STAFF TRAINING THAT WAS PAID FOR BY INTERNATIONAL SPANISH LANGUAGE ACADEMY.BTHE SUMMER 2024 ARTS CAMP, "PASSPORT TO BRAZIL THROUGH THE ARTS" WAS FILLED WITH OVER 350 CHILDREN AGES 4 YEARS-12 YEARS ATTENDING. IN ADDITION, ARTSTART DESIGNED A SUMMER ECO ARTS CAMP FOR STUDENTS AGES 6-12 YEARS WHO ATTENDED SUNNY HOLLOW MONTESSORI SCHOOL, LOCATED NEAR THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER, AND AN ARTFUL ACES CAMP WITH ST. PAUL URBAN TENNIS. IN ADDITION, WE HELD A NEW CREATIVE WRITING CAMP IN JUNE OF 2024 IN PROSPECT PARK, MINNEAPOLIS. WE ADDED SOME CREATIVE WRITING PROGRAMMING FOR ADULTS TO OUR STUDIO A OFFERINGS, IN THE FORM OF A NEW FREE POETRY READING SERIES AT OUR ARTSCRAPS SPACE, AND AN ADULT POETRY CLASS TAUGHT BY NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED POET MICHAEL KLEBER-DIGGS. THE BOARD CONTINUED ITS FUNDRAISING INITIATIVES HOLDING A FALL AND A SPRING CAMPAIGN THROUGH GIVEMN. WE PROVIDED ARTFUL REUSE ACTIVITIES AT A VARIETY OF EVENTS AROUND THE TWIN CITIES METRO AREA, INCLUDING TWIN CITIES JAZZ FEST AND THE FLINT HILLS CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL AT THE ORDWAY THEATER. APART FROM THE ABOVE-MENTIONED STORE REVENUE INCREASE, WE SAW AN 11%RISE IN OUR PROGRAMMING REVENUE OVERALL.