Photo by Duane Atter
Held for the second year in a row at North Commons Park, this year’s Spring Art Party (SAP) on June 9 attracted 500 people on a most beautiful day. There was art from local artisans, live music, dance, storytelling, community groups and art-making fun under some of the most beautiful trees in our Fair City. The Northside Arts Collective (NAC) partnered with the Jordan Area Community Council and Mpls Park & Rec Board, with sponsors and supporters such as Franklin Bank, Senator Linda Higgins and Council Member Barbara Johnson.
A new addition to this SAP was a free raffle with prizes like a DVD Player donated by Comcast Cable, a bicycle donated by Kim Carlson of Allied Waste, gift certificates donated by The Warren, Camden Dairy Queen, Papa’s Pizza & Pasta, Rix Bar & Grill, Office Max, Penco and the Bean Scene along with music CDs from our performers, artwork by NAC members and books from Free Spirit Publishing! Thanks to all these gifts, 55 people became lucky winners that day.
With help from Plymouth Christian Youth Center students, we surveyed 300 of our guests and learned that 63 percent came from the 55411 or 55412 zip codes and 37 percent from as far away as Chicago! Most people heard about the Spring Art Party either through their neighborhood organization or from a friend, 15 percent read about it in the newspaper and the rest heard about it from NAC, saw something on TV, one of our posters, flyers or signs, or through some other means.
Art being a major feature of this event, we learned that 20 percent of our guests had already purchased artwork when we spoke to them and that another 41 percent intended to make a purchase before they left! Live music and storytelling attracted 83 percent and 35 percent took advantage of the free art making activities. Food provided by the Camden Lions and Osito’s Taquitos proved popular to 71 percent of our guests.
And the final question: “Did being here today improve your perception of North Minneapolis?” While 40 percent of our guests responded that they already love it here, 56 percent said they had an improved perception of North Minneapolis as a result of this event. Hooray!
With that, we owe a debt of thanks to all the people who were part of the planning and organizing, artists, exhibitors and vendors, volunteers at the park that day, the people and businesses who donated raffle prizes, cash and other goods - because 171 people have a new attitude about our community.
Our goal is to move this festival around to bring attention to other Northside parks and neighborhoods. Mark your calendar for Saturday, June 7, 2008 at Folwell Park for the next Spring Art Party in partnership with Folwell Neighborhood Association. For Northside Arts Collective info contact 612-643-2050 or nacarts@earthlink.net, or visit www.nacarts.org.