Activate Rural Workshop: From Creative Spaces to Creative Ecosystems
Location: Virtual - Zoom
Date + Time: Wednesday, July 30, 2025, 12PM - 1:30PM CST
Join Department of Public Transformation (DoPT) for our next Activate Rural Workshop to hear from rural artists and activators share stories of how cultivating creative places of connection plant the seeds of a creative ecosystem for their communities. What are the impacts of creative places on their rural communities? How can local organizations, small businesses, and creative entrepreneurs work together to build a robust creative ecosystem? In this workshop, we will explore how creative places contributed to Granite Falls, MN’s creative ecosystem transformation over 10-15 years. Register below for an inspirational panel discussion moderated by Sarina Otaibi, Activate Rural Program Director, DoPT, with the following guest speakers from Granite Falls (pop. 2,685):
Tamara Isfeld is the Board President of the Granite Falls Area Arts Council. The nonprofit organization brings the community together by showcasing regional artists in the historic K.K. Berge Building, hosting seasonal Makers Markets and the Community Artist in Residence Program and supporting events like Squid Fest and the Meander Art Crawl. Tamara is also a painter, muralist, and the art teacher at the local high school.
Jessica Stolen is the Vice Chair of Bluenose Gopher Public House, a member-driven cooperative bar, eatery, and creative gathering place. It is a community hub for musicians, artists, and residents, and partners regularly on community events and initiatives. Jessica is also the editor of three local newspapers and a fine art photographer.
Nicole Zempel is the business owner of Wild Roots, and a natural world enthusiast providing guided foraging, nature exploration, and education for all ages. She is a long-time community advocate that understands ecosystems, and the need for connection and collaboration when it comes to creative ecosystems.
This virtual workshop is free, but registration is required. For workshop and registration questions, please contact Benjamin Domask-Ruh, Activate Rural Program Coordinator, at benjamin@publictransformation.org.
This workshop is a part of the Activate Rural Public Workshop Series, workshops and sessions designed to offer support, peer learning, and resources to creative entrepreneurs, artists, organizations and small business owners with creative physical places of connection based in rural Minnesota communities and the Native nations that share this geography, with a population of 20,000 or less. This program is supported, in part, by the State of Minnesota through a grant from The Office of Small Business Development, Department of Employment and Economic Development.