DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSFORMATION

ACTIVATE STRATEGY AREA IS TO ACTIVATE RURAL COMMUNITY ASSETS. THE YES HOUSE IS A MULTI-USE COMMUNITY SOCIAL AND CREATIVE GATHERING SPACE CURRENTLY UNDER RENOVATION THROUGH AN ARTIST-LED COMMUNITY DESIGN AND BUILD PROCESS. THE ORGANIZATION HOSTED EVENTS AS POSSIBLE, GIVEN STAFF CAPACITY AND CONSTRUCTION SCHEDULES, INCLUDING ORGANIZING AND/OR COLLABORATING ON OVER 50 EVENTS, PERFORMANCES, WORKSHOPS, AND GATHERINGS. CONSTRUCTION PROGRESS CONTINUED THROUGHOUT 2024. THE YES HOUSE ALSO LAUNCHED THE INAUGURAL RIVER VALLEY RIPPLE ARTIST RESIDENCY, FOCUSED ON UPLIFTING AND SUPPORTING RURAL ARTISTS WITH TIME, SPACE, AND RESOURCES TO FURTHER DEVELOP AND/OR EXPAND THEIR ARTISTIC PRACTICE. ACTIVATE RURAL USES A COHORT-BASED LEARNING LAB TO CULTIVATE AND INCREASE WELCOMING PHYSICAL INFRASTRUCTURE IN RURAL COMMUNITIES USING AN ARTIST-LED ASSET ACTIVATION FRAMEWORK. FIVE BUILDING ACTIVATION PROJECTS IN MINNESOTA COMMUNITIES WITH A POPULATION UNDER 10,000 WERE SELECTED TO PARTICIPATE IN THE INAUGURAL 2023-2025 PROGRAM CYCLE. ACTIVATE RURAL ALSO LAUNCHED A SERIES OF PUBLIC WORKSHOPS AND COACHING SESSIONS TO SUPPORT CREATIVE ENTREPRENEURS AND SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS IN MINNESOTA AND BEYOND. THE ACTIVATE RURAL PUBLIC WORKSHOP SERIES HAD OVER 980 REGISTRATIONS DURING 2024.

SUPPORT STRATEGY AREA IS TO SUPPORT RURAL ARTS AND CULTURAL WORKERS. IGNITE RURAL SUPPORTS RURAL ARTISTS AND CULTURE BEARERS TO IMPLEMENT CREATIVE PROJECTS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES. THE 2024 IGNITE RURAL ARTIST COHORT SUPPORTED SIX ARTISTS AND CULTURE BEARERS BASED IN RURAL COMMUNITIES WITH A POPULATION OF 20,000 OR LESS WITHIN THE BORDERS OF MINNESOTA, NORTH DAKOTA, SOUTH DAKOTA, AND THE 23 NATIVE NATIONS THAT SHARE THE SAME GEOGRAPHY. FISCAL SPONSORSHIP SUPPORTS SMALL, START-UP ARTS GROUPS AND PROJECTS WORKING IN OR WITH RURAL COMMUNITIES THAT DO NOT WANT (OR ARE NOT READY) TO BECOME TAX-EXEMPT NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS. DOPT MANAGED 3,188 AND 177,341 IN FISCAL SPONSORSHIP FUNDS DURING 2023 AND 2024, RESPECTIVELY.