DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC TRANSFORMATION

Nurture strategy area is to nurture the rural arts and culture field. Beyond the clock is a series of virtual learning exchanges connecting and lifting up rural artists, culture workers, and connectors across the country. Dopt hosted 11 beyond the clock events throughout 2024, engaging over 175 attendees. Dopt engaged in mentorship, coaching, and keynote/breakout presentations across the united states. Dopt also facilitated and/or participated in various partnerships, cohorts, program design sessions, round tables, exchanges, coalitions, and communities of practice.

Connect strategy area is to connect rural municipalities, organizations, artists, and systems. Rural civic arts partnership is a dynamic program that empowers rural community leaders, community groups, nonprofit organizations, and local governments to collaborate on creative strategies for stronger community connections, increased civic engagement, and transformative systems change. During 2024, dopt was engaged by the southwest minnesota housing partnership to provide a consultation and a curated workshop series to adapt arts-led approaches for the sustainable/affordable housing sector. Additionally, dopt worked toward documenting, expanding, and updating the program with an eye toward sustainability and approachability. The program will be rebranded as engage rural in 2025 to better reflect its focus on active participation, creative engagement, and the evolving needs of rural communities.