Creative Ideas, People, and Projects in the Midwest and Beyond
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Minnesota Theatre Now Casting: Exactly Who You Are
June 10, 2026
BOLD-choice Theatre puts community actors on stage, giving voice to authenticity, agency, and acceptance.
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Women’s Sports x Local Art Collab? Minnesota Says Goal!
Creativity and athleticism aren’t mutually exclusive. This soccer team worked alongside an art museum and designer on its new jerseys—for a win on and off the field.
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No Tuition, All Heart: This Chicago Music School Hits the Right Note
Started in 1976 in a former beauty parlor, The People’s Music School has welcomed thousands of students through their doors. None of them have had to pay a cent.
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The Creative Potential of Grandma’s 632 Wool Skirts
Artist Mae Colburn, whose grandmother collected all of them, is figuring out that answer—through cataloguing, repurposing, and pondering.
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Fired Up for Fringe: Explore Midwest’s Wacky, Wonderful Theatre Fests
From Minneapolis to Cincinnati, Green Bay to Kansas City, fringe festivals focus on variety, accessibility, and community to bring artists and audiences together.
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Sunraising: An Experimental Labor Exchange Helps Fund Art Studio Space
These Chicagoans needed money for their graphic art practice. They didn’t look to loans, but to their community. And it (mostly) worked.
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Yoop and Behold: The Creative Energy and Endeavors of Bugsy Sailor
This artist, entrepreneur, and “Official Unofficial Ambassador to the U.P.” is on a mission to uplift the Upper Peninsula through quirky creativity and human connection.
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Men’s Sheds: Retooling Community, ‘Purpose’ for Older Iowans
This is the first group of its kind in Iowa. It’s for guys who love lifelong learning, community service, and picking up projects.
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Learn MoreAbout Our Storytelling
Welcome to Arts Midwest’s storytelling work (previously known as the Creativity News Desk).
We amplify Midwestern creativity and the voices of diverse Midwesterners from all backgrounds. Our goal is to help reshape the narrative of the Midwest, moving far beyond “flyover country,” by showcasing our region’s innovation, art, and creativity.
Our stories are created by staff creators and a network of freelancers, and we’re always looking for new collaborators.
Arts Midwest retains full authority over editorial content to protect the best journalistic and business interests of our storytelling work. We maintain a firewall between our coverage decisions and sources of all revenue. Acceptance of financial support does not constitute implied or actual endorsement of donors or their products, services, or opinions.
We accept gifts and grants from individuals and organizations for the general support of our activities. Arts Midwest may consider donations to support coverage that aligns with the goals of the news desk and our organizational values. We will cede no right of review or influence of editorial content, nor of unauthorized distribution of editorial content.
We recognize the importance of transparency. We commit to disclosing the names of all donors who support this initiative.
The Creativity News Desk and the Creative Midwest Media Cohort were launched with the generous support of Good Chaos.
Our storytelling work is currently supported by Arts Midwest’s gift from MacKenzie Scott, an unrestricted contribution received in 2021; the National Endowment for the Arts; and the McKnight Foundation.
Questions about storytelling?
Our team is here to help. Get in touch with your questions.
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