Accessibility Resources for Artists

Arts Activities

ArtAbility / People Inc. (St. Paul)
http://www.peopleincorporated.org/Artability
Classes, exhibits and annual fall art sales for people with mental illness.

ArtSage (Twin Cities)
http://www.artsagemn.org/
Age-oriented arts activities, formerly MN Creative Arts & Aging Network.

Bridgeview Art Program (Fridley)
www.leecarlsoncenter.org
Drop-in center for Anoka county residents/artists with mental illness.

Courage Kenny International Art Show for Artists with Disabilities (Golden Valley)
http://www.allinahealth.org/Courage-Kenny-Rehabilitation-Institute/
Spring show is open to all artists with a disability worldwide. All work must be original. Artists are limited to entering a maximum of two works and all art must be for sale. Also Courage Cards.

Cow Tipping Press (Minneapolis)
http://cowtippingpress.org/
Teach inclusive writing classes for adults with developmental disabilities, giving audiences a new way to think about this rich form of human diversity.

Highland Friendship Club (St. Paul)
http://www.highlandfriendshipclub.org/
Provides social activities, skills development and community connections for teens and adults with disabilities.

Inclusion for Sacred Communities
www.Inclusioninnovations.com
Training on creating inclusive programs for people with disabilities in synagogues, churches, etc. Shelly Christiansen, founder.

Interact Center for Visual & Performing Arts (St. Paul)
http://www.interactcenter.com/
Day center for artists with disabilities who work in visual and performing arts. Gallery shows, plays.

Kairos Alive! (Twin Cities)
https://kairosalive.org/
Uses participatory dance, music and story — with elders at the center – to raise awareness of the importance of creative involvement across the lifespan for verifiable health benefits. Choreography of Car programs promote personal and community well-being through Intergenerational Dance Hall public participation events, Dancing Heart™ weekly programming, Community Arts and Wellbeing Residencies, and other programs.

Kaposia (St. Paul, Golden Valley)
http://www.kaposia.com/
Employment options for persons with disabilities

Fresh Eye Arts (St. Paul)
www.fresheyearts.org
Fresh Eye Arts is a fine arts program that supports artists with disabilities. We are a service offered by MSS, a day services provider that serves the Twin Cities Metro area of Minnesota. We provide the opportunity for artists to explore, learn, create, show, and sell their work. Fresh Eye artists are self-driven and are supported in their professional development. We provide artists with high-quality materials and access to art facilities that include screen printing, ceramics, and more. Fresh Eye Arts is a program of MSS and is designed and supported by professional teaching artists.​ Lauren Hughes, 651-778-1000 or lhughes@mwsservices.org.

Fresh Eye Gallery (Minneapolis)
www.fresheyegallery.com
Fresh Eye Gallery is a community art space in South Minneapolis. We are dedicated to showcasing artwork by emerging and mid-career artists, of all backgrounds, identities, abilities, and lived experiences. We value radical inclusion, community connection, partnerships, fun, and delight. We are owned and operated by MSS. Lauren Hughes, 651-778-1000 or lhughes@mssmn.org

Opportunity Partners (Minnetonka)
http://opportunities.org/
Offers a wide variety of services (residential, training, vocational) for adults with disabilities and employers. Minnetonka, Hopkins, Coon Rapids.

PACER Center (Bloomington)
www.pacer.org
Training center for parents of children & young adults with disabilities. Includes puppet & bullying programs, computer resource center, workshops.

Partnership Resources (St. Louis Park)
www.partnershipresources.org
"Creating partnerships between people with disabilities and the community."

Rise and Art Speaks program (Spring Lake Park)
http://www.rise.org
Rise’s Art Speaks program complements other therapeutic and rehabilitative services people receive.

The Show Art Gallery Lowertown (St. Paul)
http://www.theshowartgallery.org
This gallery exhibits work by artists of all backgrounds in a professional setting.

Simply ArtAble (Minneapolis /Edina)
http://simplyjanestudio.com/
Art classes include adults with disabilities

Soho Arts (Hibbing and Chisholm)
http://www.rangecenter.com/services/sohoarts.htm
Artists with disabilities learn drawing, painting, and printmaking techniques, and participate in grant-funded art projects and art events.

Avivo ArtWorks (Minneapolis)
https://avivomn.org/csp/artworks/
Art-making programs and exhibits for artists with mental illness.

Unrestricted Interest (Minnesota)
https://www.unrestrictedinterest.com/
At Unrestricted Interest, our teaching-writers use their experience and expertise to facilitate accessible creative writing craft development for neurodivergent writers of any age or communication support needs. Student-writers work at their own pace, define their own goals, and set their own standards of meaning, artistry, and completion. Together, student and teacher create the relationship and environment the student needs to achieve their goals, tackle large projects, build up a body of work, and even pursue publishing. Our 1:1 sessions are conducted by video call to bypass any transportation or geographic complications. We operate using a sliding price scale and connect students and families with internal and external resources in an ongoing effort to cultivate financial accessibility for students and teachers.

Upstream Arts (Minneapolis)
www.upstreamarts.org
Mission: to use the power of the creative arts to activate and amplify the voice and choice of individuals with disabilities. Upstream Arts works with and alongside individuals with disabilities at every stage of life in schools, adult day programs, and community settings. Our Self-Advocacy classes are open to all adults with disabilities (18+) and use the theater, dance, visual arts, poetry and music to explore interests and strengths, increase ability to express wants and needs, and rehearse self-advocacy skills. More at upstreamarts.org/take-a-class.

Valley Friendship Club (Stillwater)
www.Valleyfriendshipclub.org
The Mission of the Valley Friendship Club is to promote and provide safe, accessible social opportunities while fostering friendships. To this end, we aim to enhance community connections, empower club participants to strengthen important life skills, and create greater social independence.

Velvet Tones (Apple Valley)
http://www.velvettones.org
Singing group of adults with disabilities.

Open Flow Monthly Meetups

Open Flow is a meetup for Visual Artists, Performers, Musicians and Poets with and without disabilities, held every first Thursday of the month from 7:00-9:00 PM. Join fellow artists at this monthly gathering to share our art in an informal, supportive setting. Bring a sample of your writing, visual art, music, memoir, poetry, photography, video, storytelling or other art form.

Open Flow meets virtually for the time being. To sign up for email notifications for upcoming Open Flow meetings, please contact Andy at resources@springboardforthearts.org.

Employment Benefits Questions

Working artists with questions about how income from grants, contract work or other earned income might affect their disability benefits are encouraged to contact the organizations below:

Disability Hub
1-866-333-2466
https://disabilityhubmn.org/contact-us/

Work Incentives Connection (a program of Goodwill Easter Seals)
1-800-976-6728 (toll-free) or 651-632-5113 (MN Relay – 711)
https://www.goodwilleasterseals.org/services/work-incentives-connection