Creatively Imagining Our Shared Futures: Art + Policy

Course Details

By examining the successes and challenges of bringing artists into regional planning efforts in Minnesota's Twin Cities, learn more about an innovative project that used art and creative practices as a catalyst to make policy and public engagement more inclusive, imaginative, and human-centered. A team of social-practice artists working cross-sector in government share best practices for including artists in planning efforts to help unlock community imagination and bring playfulness and joy into policy. Examples include a mobile gallery on the sides of buses, flags created as a public comment data set, and a policy-themed card game. Pick up tools and brainstorm how to bring artists into your own planning processes. Come to see artists as innovative collaborators rather than last-minute add ons, consider how art can benefit your work both internally and externally, and understand how organizations can create a positive and reciprocal experience for artists.

Learning Outcomes

• Understand how bringing artists into planning, government, and community engagement efforts unlocks internal creativity, humanizes government, and makes policy playful and more accessible.
• Be inspired and learn practical tips for engaging with artists.
• Think creatively about ways that artists can be brought into your own organization.