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Looking for new approaches to solving your community, organization, neighborhood or city challenges? Whether you are a transit agency, a housing developer, a business association or a neighborhood organization – local artists will bring unique perspectives and innovative approaches to turn your challenges into opportunities.

We believe artists are agents of change and assets to their communities. Artists are on every block and in every neighborhood; creative people from all backgrounds, disciplines, and experience levels who are from and of the places you strive to support. If you work with your local artists, you can create: - Locally-based approaches for creative problem-solving - Authentic narratives of community identity - Healthier local economies - Increased and more diverse community engagement - Stronger networks and social capital Springboard for the Arts supports and creates simple mechanisms for artists to connect with their communities to create meaningful, economically vibrant and equitable places. We provide catalytic workshops, trainings and project management in partnership with city governments, neighborhood organizations, private institutions and other groups that wish to engage artists in community building, economic development, creative placemaking and innovative problem-solving. We implement projects in urban and rural Minnesota and national partners, and share what we’ve learned to catalyze the movement of artist-centered innovation across the country.

Associate Director, Programs

Rural Director

Community Development Director


Our Community Development work is made possible in part by the following supporters: ArtPlace, Central Corridor Funders Collaborative, F.R. Bigelow Foundation, Good Family Foundation, John S. and James L. Knight Foundation, Kresge Foundation, McKnight Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts, Pluribus Project Narrative Collaboratory, Saint Paul Foundation and the Surdna Foundation.

Community Development

Springboard for the Arts supports and creates simple mechanisms for artists to connect with their communities to create meaningful, economically vibrant and equitable places. Learn more about program offerings and get connected.

Learn more
Workshops, trainings and presentations

We design and facilitate customized workshops and trainings for artists, creative entrepreneurs, non-profits and students. Topics include creative placemaking, collaboration and community building, shared visioning, and project design. In Minnesota we hold regular workshops and trainings.

Check the Calendar
New Ideas

We are always listening and looking for effective ways to connect artists to their communities for mutual benefit, and all the better to do this with partners. If you have an idea or a query, please contact us!

Be in touch
Ready Go
Ready Go connects artists to organizations, businesses and others who can use creative and artistic ways to engage their people. Ready Go is a mechanism (like Reddy Rents or Etsy) that allows artists with proven, existing projects that can facilitate and prompt participation and interaction to offer these “off the shelf” projects for hire.
Hire a project today!
Project management and advising

We recognize that organizations and groups may be interested in working with artists, but may not have the tools or capacity to do so easily. Our first objective is to provide the direction and materials you can take and customize to your situation. Secondarily, when the goal of working with artists is to engage community stakeholders in new ways, we are able advise and/or manage the artist/project selection and coordination – still with the goal to develop your capacity.

Learn more about Community Development
Bring Springboard to You

If you are an arts organization, school or other group interested in bringing Springboard workshops, presenters or other services to your constituents, submit the Bring Springboard to You form to connect with us and learn more.

Bring Springboard