History

Articulture was founded in 2000 and supported by members of the community who saw a need for more visual arts programming in the immediate south Minneapolis area. Initially running classes and workshops for children and adults out of a church basement, we rapidly grew and moved into a storefront in the Longfellow neighborhood of south Minneapolis. As the organization evolved, we added various programs and workshops to better serve the needs of the community. In 2008, Articulture moved into the larger space we currently have in the Seward neighborhood, which has enabled further growth.

Programming

Our programs uphold our mission of empowering individuals through the process of creating art. From our summer camps for children to adult classes that serve a multitude of demographics, each program and project is curated to use art as a form of self-expression. Our programming seeks to provide opportunities for quality artistic learning on all levels.

Onsite classes

Articulture is best known for onsite visual art classes offered to the general public, of all ages and creative abilities.

• Adults – classes and workshops

• Teens – classes, workshops, and summer camps

• Children – classes, workshops, winter/spring breaks, school release days, and summer camps

Art and Healing

This program is geared towards partnerships with social service and health field organizations offering arts experiences to marginalized and vulnerable populations.

• Having an opportunity for a creative outlet alongside peers helps to build a feeling of acceptance, self-confidence, stress relief, and camaraderie.     

• Programs are sustained through direct or indirect grant funds, for clients to explore, process, and have a creative outlet in a safe and inclusive environment.

  Examples of community members we have worked with:

  • Adults struggling with severe and persistent mental illnesses

  • Newly homed houseless groups

  • Adults with physical and cognitive disabilities

  • Houseless children

  • Single mothers

  • Domestic abuse victims

  • Rehab clients with alcohol and chemical addition

  • At risk teens

Public Art Projects

Articulture’s Youth Arts Collaborative (YAC) has produced a number of community public art projects in south Minneapolis, which are often centered around social justice and/or environmental issues.

• Youth have the opportunity to work directly with teaching artists to ideate, design, and execute public art projects.

  • Teens learn artist and teambuilding skills along with experiencing the process of creating public art

  • They learn about the subject that the work is about — often centered around community, social justice, and/or environmental issues.

    • It also enables them to pass along this acquired knowledge to others in the community.

  • Past projects have been in the form of murals, utility boxes, and sculpture.

Outreach

Articulture is dedicated to offering arts experiences in different capacities and for different purposes.

• Arts programs with community organizations and other nonprofits

• Artist-residencies in the schools

• After school art classes

• Example – our partnerships with local Minneapolis public schools with quality art classes in established after school programs.

• Corporate/nonprofit — teambuilding or art and healing needs

Anti-Discrimination Policy

Articulture does not and shall not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion (creed), gender, gender expression, age, national origin (ancestry), disability, marital status, sexual orientation, or military status, in any of its activities or operations. These activities include, but are not limited to, hiring and firing of staff, selection of volunteers and vendors, and provision of services. We are committed to providing an inclusive and welcoming environment for all members of our staff, board, volunteers, contractors, vendors, partners and clients.