Strengthening rural economies through creativity and connection
The Creative Economic Development Summer Workshop Series is a three-part learning experience designed for economic development professionals, chamber leaders, tourism staff, and community champions across Southwest Minnesota.
Participants will leave with practical tools, rural-focused examples, and an action plan and resources for designing and implementing a creative economic development project in their own community.
Join a cohort of Southwest Minnesota community leaders for a combination of virtual sessions and an in-person workshop exploring how arts-based, asset-based, and community-driven strategies can:
Activate underutilized spaces and downtowns
Support local businesses and entrepreneurs
Attract and retain residents
Increase community engagement and participation
Strengthen creative capital and a vibrant arts and culture ecosystem
Build stronger, more resilient local economies
Enhance community health and strengthen quality life
The Creative Economic Development Workshop Series is offered by Department of Public Transformation, in partnership with Southwest Minnesota Initiative Foundation.
The series is offered at no cost, and participants are encouraged to attend all three workshops.
Registration is required and limited to forty participants, on a first-come basis.
Series Overview:
Workshop 1 (Virtual)
Introduction to Creative Economic Development
Explore the foundations of creative economic development, including arts-based and asset-based approaches, the role of arts and culture in local economies, and strategies for increasing community engagement and quality of life.Tuesday, June 16 | 12 – 1 PM CT
Workshop 2 (In-Person Deep Dive)
From Ideas to Action: Designing Creative Economic Development Projects
Dive deeper into creative strategies for economic development through hands-on exercises, examples, and peer learning. Participants will begin developing a creative economic development project or initiative tailored to their community. Participants will conclude the workshop with conversation and networking at Bluenose Gopher Public House.Wednesday, July 22 | 11 AM – 4:30 PM CT
At The YES! House, 726 Prentice Street, Granite Falls, MN (Lunch provided)
Workshop 3 (Virtual)
Refining and Sustaining Your Work
Reconnect with peers to reflect on progress, strengthen your project plan, and explore strategies for sustaining and resourcing your work moving forward.Tuesday, August 18 | 12 – 1 PM CT
Who Should Attend:
Economic Development Professionals
Chamber of Commerce Leaders
Tourism / CVB Staff
City & County Staff
Nonprofit and Community Development Professionals
Community Development Champions (Elected Officials, Volunteers, Board Members)
This workshop series is open to folks working in small towns and rural communities across the 18-county Southwest Minnesota Initiative Foundation region.
What You’ll Gain:
A deeper understanding of creative economic development strategies
Tools for activating spaces and engaging community members
Examples from rural communities doing this work successfully
A peer network of fellow community leaders
An action plan for a project in your community
Optional 1:1 coaching support with DoPT staff
Please reach out to vivian@publictransformation.org with any questions.
About Department of Public Transformation and Engage Rural
Department of Public Transformation (DoPT) believes that rural people and places have the answers they need to address challenges and opportunities. We champion art and artists as vital contributors to economic, community, civic, and social life, and we support rural communities in leveraging creative, cross-disciplinary, and asset-based approaches to build resilient rural futures.
DoPT’s Engage Rural program provides resources, guidance, and connection for rural community artists and leaders as they develop creative strategies for civic engagement. Such strategies can break down barriers to civic participation and strengthen local leadership.
Check it out! DoPT is currently accepting applications for the 2026-2027 Civic Arts Cohort. Through a twelve-month cohort experience, selected community teams will receive $12,000 in project funding, curated technical assistance, and peer learning as they design and implement creative civic engagement strategies. Applications are due June 17th.
Presenter Bios
Ash Hanson (DoPT) has 20 years of experience working with rural communities to activate stories, connect neighbors, and exercise collective imagination. She is the Creative Executive Officer (CEO) of Department of Public Transformation and the founder of PlaceBase Productions, a theater company that creates original, site-specific musicals celebrating small-town life. She was an Artist-in-Residence with both the City of Minneapolis and the Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership, where she employed creative community engagement strategies for equitable participation in urban and rural planning processes. She was named both an Obama Foundation and Bush Foundation Fellow for her work with rural communities. She holds an MA in Applied Theater with a focus on Rural Community Development (University of Manchester (UK)).
Vivian M. Cook (DoPT) serves as Engage and Amplify Rural Program Coordinator with Department of Public Transformation and Community Engagement Director with The EcoTheatre Lab. A producer and curator of interdisciplinary and cross-sector arts initiatives, Vivian’s practice is at the intersection of storytelling, asset-based community development, and social and environmental sustainability. She holds a BA in Performing Arts and MS degrees in Community Development and Sustainable Agriculture, with her research focusing on how the arts can strategically contribute to environmental communication and civic engagement. Over the past decade, Vivian has worked in theatre direction and performance, arts education and curation, community development, interdisciplinary and cross-sector project management, climate justice and regenerative agriculture, and program development.