Back to School – Back to Creativity!

Can you believe that it’s already time for Minnesota students to go back to school? We can’t either. Connecting with kids in the classroom is a highlight of our programs. Did creative activities help you learn and engage when you were in school? Let us know in the comments.

In case you missed it – here’s a post from our Creative Classroom Director, Julie Strand, on her experience with the arts in school. “…Creative opportunities gave me options to be validated, outside of grades, and find the person I wanted to be.” 

Kids going back to school aren’t the only people experiencing creativity this fall – COMPAS Teaching Artists will be working with older adults at sites across the metro area this fall, helping students connect with their past, and look towards the future.  COMPAS Artist Lucy Rose Fisher recently talked to Next Avenue about her experience helping older adults unleash creativity. Read her thoughts here.

This month and next, COMPAS artist May Lee-Yang will be helping older adults learn to “Play Around With Theater” at three locations through the Hennepin County Library system. Participants will play theater games, do improv, learn about creating characters, and get a taste of the creation, rehearsal, and performance process involved in creating theater.

Want to get in on the action? The workshops will be offered free of charge to older adults, and advance registration is required. You can get more information and register here.

Heading to the final weekend of the State Fair this weekend? Don’t miss this post from Arts Innovation Director Betsy Mowry on how COMPAS is helping showcase creativity at the fair.

All summer our ArtsWork apprentices have been hard at work painting a beautiful mural on the BNSF Railway underpass that goes over Maryland Avenue in Saint Paul’s North End. Come check out the mural and learn more about this inspiring project at our ArtsWork Press Conference & Ribbon Cutting on Saturday, September 24.  

Did you know that participating in music or theater arts in school helps students gain higher levels of empathy in others, which they carry with them into adulthood? This article from KQED News summarizes some of the research around the benefits of creative education. 

You can’t use up creativity – the more you use, the more you have. – Maya Angelou