Springboard for the Arts

Springboard for the Arts cultivates vibrant neighborhoods by connecting artists with the skills, resources, and opportunities they need to not only make a living but to make positive change in their communities. Through innovative programs like CSAs (Community Supported Art), Artists’ Health Fairs, Irrigate, and Ready Go, Springboard to the Arts helps communities collaborate with artists to solve local economic, social, and cultural challenges.  Its national initiative, Creative Exchange, enables communities everywhere to replicate Springboard for the Arts’ flagship programs as well as proven projects from across the country that mobilize the powerful, creative force of artists to build stronger cities.  Springboard for the Arts is based in St. Paul and Fergus Falls, Minnesota.

Visit the Springboard for the Arts Website →


7 Related Articles

Using art for urban planning

By Patrick Kowalczyk

Dec. 22, 2017

Cities looking to engage the public in urban planning are ditching traditional town meetings in favor of eye-catching, artist-designed tools like a mobile sign shop, a really big table, transportable photo studio with built-in darkrooms, and a pop-up ping pong table.

It’s all part of Ready/Go, an online marketplace created by Springboard for the Arts where local governments, organizations and community groups can hire artists who have created whimsical art installations designed to engage people in conversations and interaction. 

PKPR secured coverage for the innovative program in a range of outlets including Governing Magazine, CityLab, and PSFK

Permalink | Posted on Dec 22, 2017 at 9:38 AM by Patrick Kowalczyk

Springboard highlights NEA’s rural impact

By Patrick Kowalczyk

Jun. 02, 2017

With the Trump administration proposing to eliminate funding for the National Endowment of the Arts, Springboard for the Arts wanted to help shape the national debate by highlighting how a $25,000 NEA grant helped a struggling rural Minnesota community leverage 10 times that amount in new private investments ($1.2 million) for an innovative artist-led economic development program.

PKPR placed in depth stories on Springboard’s powerful NEA case study in outlets including ThinkProgress, Vice’s Creators, and The Art Newspaper.

Permalink | Posted on Jun 02, 2017 at 11:47 AM by Patrick Kowalczyk

Fast Company profiles Creative Exchange

By Patrick Kowalczyk

May. 20, 2016

Check out this amazing profile of Creative Exchange in Fast Company.

Permalink | Posted on May 20, 2016 at 10:14 AM by Patrick Kowalczyk

Creative Exchange launches Work of Art

By Patrick Kowalczyk

Feb. 12, 2016


Aiming to give artists the entrepreneurial skills they need to make a living and a life in the arts, Creative Exchange launched WORK OF ART, a free workbook and video series that guides artists of all disciplines through every facet of building a successful and sustainable career.

PKPR secured secured interviews with Creative Exchange founder Laura Zabel in Forbes (”How Entrepreneurship Can Save Starving Artists”), Backstage, Black Enterprise, and Metro New York and coverage in a wide range of arts industry outlets from Music Connection Magazine to Photo District News to Dance Magazine.

 

Permalink | Posted on Feb 12, 2016 at 11:53 AM by Patrick Kowalczyk

Creative Exchange in Quartz, DIY Network

By Patrick Kowalczyk

Sep. 10, 2015

Over the summer, PKPR has placed stories in outlets from Quartz to DIY Network to Food Republic on how Creative Exchange is helping communities nationwide replicate Community Supported Art programs.  The program is modeled after Community Supported Agriculture, but instead of buying a share to receive produce from a local farm, shareholders receive boxes of original art made by local artists.

Permalink | Posted on Sep 10, 2015 at 10:30 AM by Patrick Kowalczyk

Creative Exchange Op-Ed in The Guardian

By Patrick Kowalczyk

Feb. 13, 2015

PKPR worked closely with Laura Zabel of Creative Exchange to develop and place an op-ed by her in The Guardian. Her column looks at 7 case studies from around the world where artists are leading innovative community and economic development projects. The piece has already been shared more than 2,100 times in just 24 hours.

Permalink | Posted on Feb 13, 2015 at 10:55 AM by Patrick Kowalczyk

Creative Exchange Launches

By Patrick Kowalczyk

Nov. 14, 2014

Dedicated to helping communities mobilize the creative force of artists to solve local challenges, Creative Exchange was launched last month by St. Paul-based Springboard for the Arts. Creative Exchange offers free toolkits, consultation, and networking to help communities collaborate with artists in replicating programs that creatively address economic, social, and cultural issues.

PKPR secured coverage for the launch in outlets like Next City, CitiScope, Shareable, The Art Newspaper Human Transit, Better Cities & Towns, and This Big City.

Permalink | Posted on Nov 14, 2014 at 9:48 PM by Patrick Kowalczyk


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