St. Paul, MN—Some of St. Paul’s most talented youth and professional artists are participating in the sixth summer of COMPAS’ ArtsWork program. The arts-based program is employing 35 St. Paul-area youth, ages 14 to 21, as apprentice artists from June 19 to July 28. The apprentices were selected by an application and interview process. This summer COMPAS will again employ economically disadvantaged youth using the services of the St. Paul Youth Job Corps under contract with the City of Saint Paul.
Soli Hughes’ group is playing, improvising, and composing music, and performing each Friday at noon at Ecolab Plaza in downtown St. Paul; Kirk Sklar is teaching apprentices to design and make wearable works of art, which are sold in the ArtsWork Store on Ecolab Plaza; and apprentices working with Sharra Frank are learning the basic and advanced skills needed to create mosaics. Participants will produce a large-scale mixed media installation that will be on permanent display in a public space. The ArtsWork Store on Ecolab Plaza, which offers a variety of artworks created by apprentices, is open for business from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. each day.
The artist-led groups are working in two Saint Paul locations: Ecolab Plaza (jewelry and mosaics), and Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists (music). In addition to these partners, COMPAS is working with Saint Paul Connections (school credit for apprentices who complete the program), and Landmark Center (site for activities and performances), and St. Paul Parks and Recreation (Ecolab Plaza site for tents and performances).
ArtsWork has the following goals:
· Provide meaningful employment for young people.
· Provide mentoring by professional artists.
· Raise public visibility of downtown Saint Paul and build community outreach.
· Create an environment that reflects and honors the diversity of the community.
Under the tutelage of professional artists, apprentices will learn about art forms while developing skills, such as resume writing and interviewing techniques, that will prepare them for future employment. Throughout the six-week program, ArtsWork will transform downtown Saint Paul into artists’ studios with Apprentice Artists working 25 hours a week. The public will be able to view apprentices at work, buy finished art works at the ArtsWork store, and enjoy performances on Ecolab Plaza.
Corporate and foundation support is from Comcast, Creative Integration and Design, Saint Paul Pioneer Press, Ecolab, St. Paul Travelers, Lawson Software, Bremer Financial, Target Foundation, and Opus.
Opportunities for adults and companies to be ArtsWork sponsors and volunteers are available. Contact Ms. Beck at (651) 292-4313 for more information.
COMPAS strengthens people and communities in Minnesota by engaging them in creating art. Formed in 1974, COMPAS is Minnesota’s most widely-used resource for artist residencies and community-building through the arts, each year engaging over 400,000 people in the arts in more than 100 Minnesota communities. For nearly three decades COMPAS has demonstrated artistic leadership through its arts education programs.
