We the Many
We the Many was a program that supported communities in the creation of their own unique artist residency experiences, encouraging the exchange of voices, cultures, and ideas relevant to each community context.
About We the Many
We the Many was a program of Arts Midwest that supported communities in creating artist residency experiences. It encouraged the exchange of voices, cultures, and ideas relevant to each community. From 2019-2024, Arts Midwest partnered with six communities across the Midwest. Community partners received funding to guide and develop artist residencies in their local areas.
We the Many was a project of Arts Midwest with generous support from the Mellon Foundation and in partnership with the Indiana Arts Commission, Iowa Arts Council, North Dakota Council on the Arts (2022-2024), and South Dakota Arts Council (2019-2021).
Arts Midwest is also generously supported by the Illinois Arts Council Agency, Indiana Arts Commission, Iowa Arts Council, Michigan Arts and Culture Council, Minnesota State Arts Board, North Dakota Council on the Arts, Ohio Arts Council, South Dakota Arts Council, Wisconsin Arts Board, 3M, Crane Group, and individual donors and partners.
Phase I: 2019-2023
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Art on the Prairie
Perry, Iowa
Perry’s We the Many spanned visual art, storytelling, community placemaking and more, encouraging local residents to tell their stories and come together.
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Honeywell Arts + Entertainment
Wabash, Indiana
Wabash’s We the Many brought programming directly into schools. Working alongside Chicago-based artist-in-residence, Ana Velazquez, students of color in Manchester Community Schools were able to express themselves and their creativity through theater classes and public performances.
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Sisseton Arts Council
Sisseton, Veblen & Agency Village, South Dakota
Sisseton’s We the Many spurred art shows, traveling galleries, pop-ups, art classes, and new albums of music.
Phase II: 2022-24
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Sacred Pipe Resource Center
Mandan, North Dakota
The mission of Sacred Pipe Resource Center is to address and support the social/cultural, emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical needs of Native people of all Tribes living in the Bismarck-Mandan and surrounding area in order to foster strong, self-sufficient individuals and families, and to provide liaison services between Native and non-Native people in order to foster a cohesive community
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For the Love of the Arts
Northwest Indiana
For the Love of the Arts, Inc. is a Northwest Indiana based non-profit organization that promotes more equitable access to the arts for all people.
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La Luz Centro Cultural
Hampton, Iowa
La Luz Centro Cultural, based in Hampton, IA, is a non-profit and 501(c)3 organization empowering individuals and families within the Latin community.
Explore What We Learned
From the beginning, We the Many was set up to embed decision making and resources in our community partners. Here’s what we learned along the way.
Read the We The Many Phase 2 Program Report
This report dives into the program’s process, impact, and lessons learned during We the Many’s second phase. It sheds light on the successes, challenges, and resiliency of creative community work.
Stories from We the Many
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March 12, 2024
A Sanctuary for Culture and Creativity in the Lake Traverse Reservation
By Mandy Shunnarah
Nis’to, a nonprofit serving Sisseton’s Indigenous youth, offers creative workshops that support mental health and education in ancestral cultural practices and language.
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Transforming Lives Through Art in Northwest Indiana
June 7, 2023
For the Love of the Arts uses creativity to help break the cycle of violence. Through their mental wellness education, social skills practice, and artistic courses, this unique organization provides a safe space for young people to grow and thrive.
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Art as a Catalyst: Indigenous Expressions in North Dakota
May 31, 2023
The Sacred Pipe Resource Center, a Native community center in Mandan, North Dakota, empowers Native artists to become catalysts for change to help heal their communities.
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A Light for the Latino Community in Iowa
May 22, 2023
Built on community, La Luz Centro Cultural provides a unique space for Latinos in rural Hampton, Iowa.
Basado en la comunidad, La Luz Centro Cultural entrega un espacio único para los latinos en Hampton rural, Iowa. -
Native-led Nonprofit Offers Dentalium ‘Shell Sesh’ as One of Many Community Projects
March 19, 2024
Sacred Pipe Resource Center aims to provide Native people a safe space to meet others and expand their circles.
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Artist Residencies Plant Seeds for the Future in Indiana
January 8, 2024
Painter Yemina Concepcion and photographer Daveed Holmes have been hard at work this last year at For the Love of the Arts, building positivity for young people by encouraging their creativity.
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Murals Bring Hampton, Iowa’s Latino Community Together
February 28, 2024
Marissa Hernandez invited young people from this small-town community to help paint murals that amplify culture and representation.
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Overcoming Addiction Sometimes Starts With a Meal and Art
January 22, 2024
How a community in Indiana is bringing creativity and other much-needed resources to adults in recovery, one meal and art class at a time.
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Connecting Bismarck’s Indigenous Community Through Culture, Art, and Kindness
March 20, 2024
Sacred Pipe Resource Center is a home away from home for many Indigenous peoples in Bismarck, North Dakota’s urban area.
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Tiny Town, Big Diversity: How One Rural Iowa Town is Celebrating Cultures
February 14, 2024
Young people in Hampton, Iowa, home to Latino immigrants and exchange students from around the world, hosted a unique event to celebrate diversity, difference, and culture.