Compas

Creative community Compas delivers creative experiences that span a wide range of performing, visual, literary, digital, and musical disciplines. The 120+ teaching artists and ensembles who make up our roster deliver in-person and virtual community programs in Minnesota (shelters, libraries, youth centers, nonprofit organizations that center people with disabilities and/or mental health challenges, justice programs, older adult centers, etc.). Teaching artists represent more than 40 different cultural and racial backgrounds and bring years of experience that ignite participants' creativity whether programs are workshops, performances, or longer residencies. No matter the length of the program, Compas ensures that each participant fully experiences the artform and is exposed to its context and history instead of being passive audience members. Creative community: creative programming is brought into all types of community. Specialized skills and training enable our teaching artists to partner with sites to develop actively creative experiences that buoy their unique needs and interests.example programs: youth programs: teens create a brighter future through creative programming, mentorships and employment programs designed with and for youth.artful aging: older adults experience joy and satisfaction from hands-on, therapeutic, artistic activities. People discover new talents, rekindle old interests, banish isolation & create stunning art. Delivered by art kits - virtually and some in-person.anyplace arts: creative programming at libraries, community centers, shelters, festivals and other sites stretch participants' creative muscles and open their eyes to what they are truly capable of. Access arts: through the arts, adults living with intellectual, physical or mental health disabilities are empowered to be creative, connect with others, and thrive. Justice arts program: women in county jails build creative writing skills and develop a powerful tool for reflecting on their lives for understanding and healing. Compas serves people, including youth, who are incarcerated or in alternative justice-related programs. Teaching artists use an artform to facilitate a process for participants to use creative expression to reflect on and communicate about their experiences and share their reflections with their peers, family, and other community members with the goal of greater understanding and healing. Total number served: 29,821

Creative classroom: more than 36,000 students from kindergarten through 21 years of age are offered the opportunity to work directly with a professionally trained Compas teaching artist to learn an artform that is selected by educators and students to best meet their needs. The range in artforms includes performing, visual, literary, digital, and musical disciplines and is often connected to state curriculum guidelines. Compas' teaching artists work within educational settings (traditional and non-traditional), after-school programs and summer school programs. Students develop their own artmaking abilities while participating in making an original piece of art in their school setting. This process helps participants advance their critical thinking abilities and builds community among students and educators.