ArtStart celebrates 30 years of environmental
education and conservation through the arts
(St. Paul, MN) September 2018 — Founded in 1988, ArtStart is celebrating 30 years of inspiring artistic creativity and illuminating the connections among people, ideas, and the environment through quality arts education experiences for all. ArtStart’s core programs include a unique blending of human creativity in the arts, and reusing materials to contribute to awareness and protection of the environment.
As an award-winning, non-profit arts organization dedicated to providing quality arts education for children and adults, ArtStart has initiated a number of innovative programs and projects that focus on the link between the arts and the environment with a multicultural, interdisciplinary view of the world. ArtStart draws on a pool of artists and arts educators who focus on process as well as product. These artist/educators emphasize critical thinking, problem solving, esteem building and citizenship along with learning in and through the arts.
ArtStart’s Signature Programs
ArtScraps Reuse Center is an innovative concept that combines waste management with art making. In a unique partnership with businesses and manufacturers, ArtScraps collects scraps, overstock, factory rejects, and other items normally destined for the landfill. ArtScraps makes these products available to teachers, parents, artists, scout leaders, day care providers – anyone working with children or interested in reducing waste through reuse of discard able materials.
Youth Education
- School Residency Program: ArtStart’s artist-in-residence program focuses on unlocking each individual’s creative artist within. ArtStart’s artist spark creativity, engage students in the artistic process, and deepen learning as they create or perform.
- River EcoJourneys is an arts-based, interdisciplinary curriculum designed to teach 3rd – 6th grade students how to care for Minnesota’s rivers through watershed stewardship and nonpoint source pollution prevention. River EcoJourneys creates a framework for students to better understand the river environment and how human activities can cause pollution and impact people and wildlife.
- Camps: ArtStart offers camps for young children and teens throughout the year with a focus on learning about world cultures through the arts.
EcoArts Fest, now in its 11th year, is a one-day outdoor arts, environmental, and cultural celebration at the Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge. Set overlooking the beautiful Minnesota River Valley, this free, family friendly, zero waste event features interactive art and nature activities for all. EcoArts Fest engages kids and adults with fun activities that shed light on environmental issues through art making and show ways individuals can create change.
Adult Education: Last year, ArtStart began offering an inspired series of classes for those who like a little guidance before they do-it-themselves! Taught by professional artists who help participants imagine possibilities and demonstrate artistic processes with a focus on reuse.
Scrapmobile Community Workshops bring fabulous, funky materials from ArtStart’s ArtScraps Materials Reuse Center to your site with art projects and activities designed to spark the imagination! Workshops are customized for all ages and for youth with different learning styles. All workshops are taught by professional artists.
Historic Timeline
- 1988: ArtStart founded, began classes in Hopkins school district
- 1990: Received first grant to do a program at J.J. Hill
- 1993: ArtScraps ReUse Center founded
- 2008: EcoArts Fest begins
2018 – 2019 Events
- SEPTEMBER 10: Passport to India Inspired Exhibit Opening
- OCTOBER 15: Celebrating 30 Years: An ArtStart Retrospective Exhibit Opening
- NOVEMBER 19: Gift of Art Exhibit & Boutique Opening
- DECEMBER 26-28: Winter Arts Camp: Passport to Brazil
- FEBRUARY 10: Saint Paul Civic Symphony Children’s Concert
- APRIL 1-5: Spring Arts Camp: Passport to Haiti
- APRIL 20: EcoArts Fest
- JUNE 24-27: Camp Create for Teens
- JULY 8-12 AND 15-19: Summer Arts Camp: Passport to Mexico
ArtStart’s programming is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
