Civic Arts Engagement Workshop

Register now for The Scenic Route: Civic Arts Engagement Workshop to learn how your creativity can impact your community! Led by Springboard for the Arts, this opportunity will take place on Saturday, September 26th from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm at the Sons of Norway Lodge in Lanesboro, MN. Whether you are an artist who already works in community or someone who wants to start, this workshop will introduce you to methods and techniques on how to reach out to community organizations and businesses to expand your artistic practice. Michele Anderson, Rural Director at Springboard for the Arts, and Molly Johnston, Rural Program Manager for Springboard for the Arts will be joined by representatives from MNDOT to explore possibilities for creative projects. The goal of this workshop will be to: Introduce opportunity for artists to create projects in response to upcoming construction Provide examples and reflection opportunities that help artists come up with strong project ideas Encourage values of asset-based approaches, collaboration, inclusivity, and collective impact by making space for community visioning and appreciative inquiry. Facilitators will share examples of similar projects, lead an observational tour of town, and encourage creative brainstorming through various visioning activities. Light Lunch will be provided. Register to attend for free using the link above. This workshop is a part of Lanesboro Art's The Scenic Route, an artist-empowered local approach to meeting the challenges of road construction. Through investing in artist and community-lead creative projects, Lanesboro Arts hopes to embrace the opportunity presented by the reconstruction of highway 250. Artists who are interested in applying for a project grant through The Scenic Route are highly encouraged to attend the Civic Arts Engagement Workshop. After this workshop, Lanesboro Arts will open applications for small-scale public and civic arts engagement proposals. Lanesboro Arts emphasizes that the application is open to artists and community members. An established art practice is not required, However prospective applicants are highly encouraged to attend the workshop on September 26th. About The Scenic Route With a looming large road construction project that will impact the main street through town (Highway 250) in 2027-28, Lanesboro Arts' is working to re-ignite the intersection of civic engagement and arts programming by supporting artist projects that celebrate downtown Lanesboro in new ways. Artists and community members can apply for funds to support small-scale creative projects of their own design. Applications are due December 31st, 2026. More information at LINK. Between 10 - 20 artist-led projects will be supported for $500 - $1500 each to address the the following criteria and goals: Create connection, beauty, and pride in downtown Lanesboro. Encourage visitors and residents to stop, shop, and spend time downtown. Foster collaboration and relationship building across sectors despite, amid, and because of the disruptions of downtown construction. Spark conversation around construction, maintenance, and building for Lanesboro's future. About Springboard for the Arts Springboard for the Arts is a community & economic development organization for artists based in Saint Paul and Fergus Falls, MN. As Rural Director, Michele Anderson leads overall strategy and partnerships for Springboard's rural programs in support of rural artists and creative community development, including the Rural Regenerator Fellowship, the Rural Futures Summit, Artists on Main Street, and the Falls Community Arts Exchange. Michele is also a composer, creative writer and pianist with a BA in Music from Lewis and Clark College and an MA in Cultural Sustainability from Goucher College, where she was awarded the inaugural Rory Turner Prize in Cultural Sustainability. In 2015, Michele was selected by the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits for their Catalytic Leader Award. Her work is about creating and seeking out multiracial and multi-generational pathways to new rural futures rooted in repair, stewardship and joy, whether through policy, poetry, or karaoke! As Rural Program Manager, Molly Johnston ensures that the artists and partners in Springboard's rural programs, including the Rural Regenerator Fellowship and the Falls Community Arts Exchange, are supported and have what they need for a joyful and impactful experience. Molly also supports the Community Development and Economic Opportunity teams to align goals and programming across rural and urban spaces. Molly is also a dance artist and cofounder of DanceBARN Collective in Battle Lake, MN. Molly holds a BFA in Dance from University of the Arts and an MFA in Dance from the University of Oregon. As a dancer and choreographer, Molly has worked with the Fergus Falls School of Dance, Art of the Lakes, the Creative Arts Center, and enjoys collaborating with artists across disciplines to create site specific performances that celebrate rural places.