Mission
Department of Public Transformation is an artist-led nonprofit organization that works to develop creative strategies for increased community connection, civic engagement, and equitable participation in rural places.
Vision
Our 150-year vision is one where rural communities across the country acknowledge, support, and integrate art and artists as vital contributors to economic, community, civic, and social life.
We believe that rural people and places have the answers they need to address community challenges, but economies of extraction and narratives of deficit have fragmented many of our communities. This prevents us from reimagining our rural spaces and sharing the knowledge, skills, and resources we have to dream and build an equitable and just future. We seek to support rural communities in identifying and leveraging resources through artist-led, creative, cross-disciplinary, and radically inclusive programs. We believe in celebrating rural culture and cultural workers by uplifting small-town stories and connecting people to each other and their places. In doing so, we are working to shift damaging dominant narratives of what it means to live and work in rural America.
Our Work
Department of Public Transformation uses these four key strategies to address rural challenges and achieve our mission:
→ Activate rural community assets
→ Connect rural municipalities and creative strategies
→ Support rural arts and cultural workers
→ Nurture the rural arts and culture field
We support rural communities through creative, cross-disciplinary, and cross-sector initiatives that celebrate and build on existing efforts while inspiring new ideas, approaches, and ways of thinking.
Our work sits at the intersections of economic development, community well-being, democracy and civic engagement, and arts and culture. Through piloting and building programs and networks with bird’s-eye-view fieldwork, we operate as connectors and pollinators, encouraging creativity and ideas to grow. We also operate as an intermediary, distributing funds directly to artists and communities.
DoPT is a multi-centered organization that works in Minnesota, the Upper Midwest, and nationally across the United States.
Our Values
Core Values
Accessible Play
We believe play is an essential tool to build connections, break down barriers, make room for vulnerability, and inspire creativity. We utilize the power of play to inspire meaningful connections, cultivate untapped creativity, and provide platforms for challenging conversations. We believe opportunities to be playful and curious should be accessible to all.
Deep Compassion
We work from deep compassion for the people and places that we work with; we meet people where they are; we strive for critical self-awareness; and we work to be responsible stewards of the land and her stories.
Reciprocal Exchange
We view our work as a reciprocal exchange and not an extraction or dissemination of knowledge, skills, or resources. We work with, and we work together.
Intentional Representation
We strive to provide intentional, intergenerational opportunities for all. We lift up women, non-binary people, people of color, LGBTQ2IA+, New American, and Indigenous community members to work towards equitable representation in artistic and civic leadership. We do this work to intentionally honor all our communities and identities.
Guiding Principles
Build Trust
We believe in leading with accountability to and for the people we serve. We understand rural cultural work is slow, generational, and relational, and we strive to move at the speed of trust.
Prioritize Connections
We believe in being good neighbors and bringing good times to connect with each other across differences. We illuminate unexpected connections between people, places, and ideas.
Cultivate Creativity
We believe engaging our creativity leads to happier, fuller lives and more vibrant, resourced, and welcoming communities.
Shift Narratives
We believe that the story of rural communities must be told by people who live and work in rural communities. We believe geography must be considered in the national conversations around equity and access to resources. We believe rural-urban solidarity is vital to moving forward together.
Lead with Love
We believe in cultivating supportive, creative spaces and welcoming environments; we value collaboration over competition.
Disclosures
The First Four Years Report (2018-2021)
To view tax information and public disclosures, please visit our GuideStar profile.
Nondiscrimination Policy
DoPT prohibits discrimination against any artist, volunteer, independent contractor, employee, applicant, and/or visitor because of race, color, national or ethnic origin, age, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, veteran status or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state, or local law.
All individuals responsible for designing and implementing the organization's programs or activities are expected to actively uphold this policy. They must also promptly and appropriately address any concerns brought to their notice regarding potential discrimination.