East Side Arts Council

THE MISSION OF THE EAST SIDE ARTS COUNCIL IS TO COLLABORATE WITH OUR COMMUNITY AND ARTISTS TO CELEBRATE AND EXPERIENCE THE ARTS.

"WHEN YOU GIVE PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO EXPRESS THEMSELVES, IT CREATES A SENSE OF CONNECTION AND BELONGING. WE BELIEVE THAT WHEN COMMUNITIES KNOW AND UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, WE ALL BENEFIT. HALF OF SAINT PAUL'S POPULATION LIVES ON THE EAST SIDE, WHICH BOASTS A VARIETY OF CULTURES. COMING FROM DIFFERENT BACKGROUNDS CAN SOMETIMES PRESENT CHALLENGES, BUT WE BELIEVE DIVERSITY IS OUR COMMUNITY'S GREATEST STRENGTH.EAST SIDE ARTS COUNCIL USES ART TO BRIDGE CULTURAL GAPS AND STRENGTHEN COMMUNITIES THROUGH A WIDE RANGE OF VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS OPPORTUNITIES THAT REFLECT OUR MULTICULTURAL POPULATIONS. OUR PROGRAMS AND PARTNERSHIPS ALLOW THE DIVERSE POPULATION OF THE EAST SIDE TO SHARE AND CELEBRATE CULTURE, OFFERING A SENSE OF BELONGING AND PURPOSE. WE EXIST TO ADDRESS SHORTCOMINGS ON THE EAST SIDE, FROM A LACK OF FUNDING FOR ART PROGRAMS IN SCHOOLS TO THE ISOLATION SOME SENIORS EXPERIENCE IN RETIREMENT COMMUNITIES." "OUR YOUTH PROGRAMS INCLUDED ARTMOBILE WHICH BROUGHT FREE ARTS CLASSES TO TWELVE COMMUNITY SITES IN THE SUMMER OF 2019. OUR TEACHING ARTISTS TAUGHT AFTER SCHOOL CLASSES IN VISUAL AND PERFORMING ARTS THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH 10 SAINT PAUL PUBLIC SCHOOLS. DURING SCHOOL ARTIST RESIDENCIES ALSO OCCURRED AT 4 INNER CITY SCHOOLS ON THE EAST SIDE. WE ALSO PROVIDED ARTISTS TO TEACH FREE WEEKLY YOUTH ARTS CLASSES AT 10 SITES THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH SAINT PAUL PARKS AND RECREATION FOR SUMMER BLAST. WE REACHED 8,438 YOUTH WITH THESE PROGRAMS.ARTS AT HOME, WAS CREATED IN 2020 TO PROVIDE ARTS PROJECTS FOR AT HOME LEARNING FOR AGES 5-12. ART PROJECT VIDEOS WERE CREATED BY ARTISTS FOR PRINTMAKING, ORIGAMI, PUPPETRY, FIBER ARTS, AND OTHER ART FORMS. THESE PROJECTS CAN BE MADE WITH MATERIALS EASILY FOUND IN THE HOME OR ONE'S YARD. THE VIDEOS ARE IN OUR WEBSITE." "CREATIVE CONNECTIONS FOR SENIORS 62+ IS OUR PROGRAM THAT BRINGS FREE AND ACCESSIBLE ART TO COMMUNITY SPACES ON THE EAST SIDE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS. IN 2019, THIS INCLUDED ARTIST-TAUGHT CLASSES IN VISUAL ARTS, POETRY AND STORYTELLING WHICH TOOK PLACE AT ARLINGTON HILLS COMMUNITY CENTER, CAMBRIC SENIOR APARTMENTS, AND LABOR PLAZA.OUR URBAN DESIGN PROGRAM PARTNERS WITH ARTISTS TO BRING PUBLIC ART AND CREATIVE PLACEMAKING TO THE EAST SIDE WHICH INCLUDED AN ART BENCH ADDITION TO OUR TRIANGLE PARK IN RAILROAD ISLAND IN 2019. SAINT PAUL PORT AUTHORITY ALSO PARTNERED WITH US TO CREATE PUBLIC ART FOR THE OUTSIDE OF THE NEW POLICE TRAINING CENTER."