CREATIVE Facilitation & Design
Kirstin Wiegmann is an artist, teaching artist and arts administrator, passionate investigator of organizational culture and structure. Along the way, she uncovered a love and obvious instinct for supporting people and bringing them together for positive and inclusive shared experiences. Kirstin's passion lies the support and definition of leadership for individuals, groups and institutions. Participation - in events and experiences - is foundational to her work.
Kirstin holds a bachelors in ceramics and design as well as a Master's in Arts Management from Saint Mary's Univerity of Minnesota where she presently teaches a course in Arts and Cultural Policy. Kirstin has amassed a pile of facilitation techniques from years of participating, co-leading and training with all kinds of leaders. Kirstin uses this foundation to design and create new approaches that complement each setting focusing on increasing participation and engagement.
Danette Olsen works in the realm of sustainable community development, using the arts and participatory learning as the most effective tools she knows to help organizations reimagine the future. Danette is a creative and tenacious civic leader who believes in the transformative power of the arts and the restorative qualities of nature to awaken, mobilize, and replenish people of all ages to be knowledgeable, active citizens who are committed to social and environmental justice. As a consultant, Olsen strives to uphold the civic principles that build human and organizational capacity to serve the common good. More at www.danetteolsen.com
Shannon Forney runs organizational infrastructure grant programs at the Metropolitan Regional Arts Council (MRAC) in St Paul, MN. MRAC is a part of a statewide arts council system that offers grants, management training, and advocacy for artists and arts organizations in the Twin Cities area.
As an emerging arts leader, she is interested in how the modern arts movement is being shaped by a shift towards audience participation, inclusion, and community wide partnering for more vibrant engagement. She holds a Masters in Nonprofit Management from Hamline University in St Paul, MN and a BA in Theater from Oberlin, OH. Shannon continues to perform clown and puppet shows on an ad-hoc basis.
Rachel Jendrzejewski is a playwright, performance maker, and arts administrator. She is active in exploring new flexible, sustainable, artist-driven structures for the evolving nonprofit arts sector. She serves as Development and Communications Associate at Upstream Arts and collaborates freelance with many other artists, ensembles, and organizations. Her multidisciplinary works have been produced across the U.S. and internationally. She has taught courses and workshops at Brown University, Augsburg College, Creative Arts High School/Forecast Public Art, and Pillsbury House Theater, among other venues. Honors include a Playwrights’ Center Jerome Fellowship and MSAB Artist Initiative Grant. MFA Playwriting, Brown University. More at www.rachelka.com
True to the belief that collaboration makes everything stronger, Kirstin regularly works with others, a few of whom are featured below.
Keegan Xavi Keegan Xavi is a collage artist, photographer, producer and youth arts educator with a focus on social justice and protest art. Her passions lead her to being a grassroots community connector, working with other artists and activists to change systematic oppression while celebrating the beauty of our collective cultures. Xavi is currently on the Board of Patchwork Quilt, an after school program in North Minneapolis and is a part of the City of Minneapolis’ Creative City Roadmap project artist engagement team. She has produced many events and projects, from hip-hop shows to media health campaigns. Xavi is also a member of Tantrum Art Collective - urban artists bonded by resilient experiences, challenging society as it is through experimental arts, community education, relationships, and action.
