Activate Rural Storytelling Project: Spring Grove Cinema
Activate Rural Storytelling Project: Spring Grove Cinema
Beyond the Clock Podcast Episode with Nikiko Masumoto
In this first episode of the 2026 Beyond the Clock (BTC) season, Anna and Ash are joined by Nikiko Masumoto, this year’s BTC Resident Artist, farmer, and memory keeper who invites us to explore memory as a living practice. In this episode, we reflect on the quiet rituals (personal and public) that carry culture forward and how, across rural communities, artists and cultural workers are tending something essential: memory and imagination.
Ignite Rural: Where Are They Now? w/ Leticia Snow
Ignite Rural: Where Are They Now? is a storytelling series featuring alumni of the Ignite Rural Artist Residency, capturing a snapshot in time of what they’ve been up to since completing their residency. Leticia’s interview was conducted in Autumn 2025.
Ignite Rural: Where Are They Now? w/ Andrea V. Duarte-Alonso
Ignite Rural: Where Are They Now? is a storytelling series featuring alumni of the Ignite Rural Artist Residency, capturing a snapshot in time of what they’ve been up to since completing their residency. Andrea’s interview was conducted in Autumn 2025.
2025 End-of-Year Celebrations with DoPT Friends & Supporters
DoPT hosted in-person and virtual end-of-year holiday parties for our friends in urban and rural Minnesota, and further afield!
Reflections from November 2025 Beyond the Clock with Kyle Mesteth
Beyond the Clock Resident Artist Eliza Blue reflects on November 2025’s Beyond the Clock with Kyle Mesteth.
DoPT at the American Academy of Arts & Sciences
DoPT's CEO, Ash Hanson, was honored to be one of the invited guests brought together by the Academy's Local Democracy Working Group.
Reflections from September 2025 Beyond the Clock with Viktor le. Givens
Beyond the Clock Resident Artist Eliza Blue reflects on September 2025’s Beyond the Clock with Viktor le. Givens
DoPT at the Grantmakers in the Arts Conference
In October 2025, Ignite Rural Program Director Holly Doll and Creative Executive Officer Ash Hanson presented at the 2025 Grantmakers in the Arts Conference in Minneapolis, MN.
A Gathering for Creative Third Places
Activate Rural’s first virtual Summit brought together creative third place leaders, organizers, artists, business owners from across the state of Minnesota and the country over three days of insight, inspiration and connection.
2025 Radically Rural Summit
Ash co-presented a session called Rural Ritual with our friends Taneum Fotheringill from Rural Assembly and writer/artist Mai’a Williams, and one called Cultivating Civic Participation along with our friends from CivicLex and New Hampshire Listens!
Pie, Place, and Possibility: Celebrating Abundance in Granite Falls
Hosted in partnership with Rural Assembly Everywhere, Pie, Place, and Possibility brought together neighbors, artists, land stewards, organizers, storytellers, and dreamers for a full day of conversation, reflection, and, of course, pie.
If you had a magic wand in Spring Grove, Minnesota
In September, DoPT staff Sarina and Benjamin traveled to Spring Grove, MN (pop. 1,202) to facilitate an in-person Activate Rural Workshop. It was an inspiring full day with artists, community leaders, and business owners from 14 Southeast Minnesota communities connecting and exchanging ideas, resources, and stories.
Ignite Rural Program Director Reflection
In this reflection, Ignite Rural Program Director, Holly Doll, Anpao Win (First Light Woman), shares what she’s learned guiding three cohorts of rural artists through an eight-month residency.
Navigating 5 Activation Routes for Creative Places
In May, the 2023–2025 cohort celebrated two years of transforming, learning, and connecting. Reflecting on the activation routes each team navigated reveals lessons and alternative paths for individuals and organizations looking to activate their own creative places. Read on to explore the full blog post!
Press Release | DoPT Mellon Grant Announcement
Mellon Foundation Awards $1.5 Million Grant to Department of Public Transformation to Support Creative Rural Places
Reflections from June 2025 Beyond the Clock with Siricasso
Beyond the Clock Resident Artist Eliza Blue reflects on June 2025’s Beyond the Clock with Siricasso.
Reflections from April 2025 Beyond the Clock with Lacy Hale
Beyond the Clock Resident Artist Eliza Blue reflects on April 2025’s Beyond the Clock with Lacy Hale.
Reflections from February 2025 Beyond the Clock with Nancy X. Valentine
Beyond the Clock Resident Artist Eliza Blue reflects on February 2025’s Beyond the Clock with Nancy X. Valentine.
An Offal Revelation
Beyond the Clock Co-Host Anna Claussen reflects on her time with Beyond the Clock Co-Host Ash Hanson and 2025 Beyond the Clock Resident Artist Eliza Blue during the Offal Fashion Show at the Denver stockyards.