Department of Public Transformation (DoPT) is an artist-led nonprofit organization that works to develop creative strategies for increased community connection, civic engagement, and equitable participation in rural places. DoPT’s 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. DoPT has its homebase at The YES! House in Granite Falls, MN.

DoPT was founded in 2018 by Ash Hanson based on a deep foundation of rural arts practice, a ten-year relationship with Southwestern Minnesota communities, and a 2017 investigative cross-country road trip to better understand the role artists play in connecting and supporting rural communities. DoPT is committed to working with arts and cultural workers to illuminate and transform systems that have historically maintained inequitable access to leadership, civic participation, and community engagement for rural residents. The four key program areas advance the organization’s mission by:

• Supporting early career rural arts and cultural workers—“at home” in their own communities and in exchange with other communities—through artist residency programs, communities of practice, and professional development
• Connecting rural municipalities and artists by amplifying the value of municipal + artist partnership and working with artists on civic initiatives
• Activating rural community assets with artist-led, people-centered engagements for imagine/design/build/program processes
• Nurturing the rural arts and culture field through networking, storytelling, and resource sharing, as well as advocating for geographic equity in philanthropy

Jerome Foundation supports two of Department of Public Transformation’s programs: Ignite Rural Artists Alumni Support and River Valley Ripple Artist Residency program. Ignite Rural is an “at-home” artist residency and support program focused on uplifting and supporting early-career, rural artists who engage in social/civic work. To be considered for the program, artists must reside in rural communities with a population of 20,000 or less within the colonial state borders of Minnesota, North Dakota, South Dakota, and the 23 Native Nations that share that geography. Jerome supports MN-based artist participation in the Ignite Rural Alumni program, which includes the “Where Are They Now” Series and Alumni workshops and gatherings. Holly Doll, Anpao Win (First Light Woman) is the Ignite Rural Program Director. River Valley Ripple (RVR) Artist Residency is dedicated to uplifting and supporting early-career Southwest Minnesota rural artists by offering time, space, funds, and resources to deepen and expand their creative practice and audience. RVR offers early-career, rural artists a two-week close-to-home residency at The YES! House in Granite Falls, MN, to focus on dedicated time to create, reflect, and/or invest in their professional and artistic development. Artists are able to grow their regional connections and audiences while showcasing their work during a public Artist Salon event. Luwaina Al-Otaibi is The YES! House Program Director.