Art Shanty Projects

05/28/2026

COMMUNITY ASK: we need leads on a new storage option for our beloved shanty infrastructure! (Welcome Shanty, stage, kicksleds, mailboxes, etc.)

We’re currently spending ~$8000 annually on a single storage unit. OUCH! We’re looking for more affordable options.

Maybe you have a garage you’re not using? Or know of a warehouse or other large space that has a corner for our infrastructure? We are responsible people and have insurance! We’re willing to cobble 2 options together!

Ideal specs:
✨has a garage door (not a small pedestrian door)
🚚 has drive-up access for trucks and trailers (no tight turns, no spaces embedded deep into a building)
🔑🔑 has a combo entry or multiple keys
📍 relatively near the lake (no faraway suburbs)

Thanks for considering it!

Please send a message to [email protected] with any leads. THANK YOU!

05/28/2026

See ya at the Summer Snowcial!
Wednesday, June 17
6-8pm
At Sociable Cider Werks

❄️ Hang with fellow shanty supporters, staff, board and artists
🍺 Sip cider
🍧 enjoy  FREE SNO CONES with home made syrups
🐟 Last chance for live printing of our 2026 fishie design by Sishir Bommakanti (byo-item to print on)
🏆Pick up any items you won in the auction!

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The Shhh-anty (silent) Auction runs online June 2 - 15. Scope items now, bidding opens at noon on June 2. Support public art & keep Minneapolis winters weird & wonderful!

05/27/2026

Coming soon: the 3rd annual Shhh-anty (silent) Auction! Scope it out now - bidding starts next Tuesday, June 2 at noon!

Link in bio (IG) or comments (FB)

We’ve once again got an array of quirky, artsy, practical, and downright delicious items donated by our artist community and local businesses. Some items are back by popular demand! Some are new! All invoke the spirit of Art Shanty Projects - connection, creativity, and engagement with the world and one another!

Books! Getaways! Tattoos! Adornments! Beer! Tickets! And more! Starting bids range from $2 - $800, there’s something for everyone!

Feeling extra generous - we have a number of ‘pay for items’ to help cover our program costs, too.

TELL ALL YOUR FRIENDS!

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05/08/2026

WANNA PLAY WITH US YEAR ROUND? JOIN OUR BOARD!

Meet Mike (he/him)! Mike is a proud public educator during the day and outside of working hours he loves to cook, hike, play board games, and take road trips. He’s a former shanty artist (Northern Star Film Studios) and joined the board in 2025 to “feel as deeply connected and involved as I possibly could in this organization that had become so important to my life in Minneapolis.” WE LOVE IT!

On why public art is important to him: “Bringing people together to experience beauty, creativity, and joy is the best way I know to push back against the forces of loneliness, cruelty, and materialism we can sometimes feel in the world.”

On what it’s like to be on this particular board: “It’s not a wine-and-cheese board for rich people. It’s the kind of board where you’re rolling up your sleeves, problem-solving, and getting out there to help make the project a success.”

Wanna work with Mike and make our beloved community-based program happen? JOIN THE BOARD! We’re looking for new members as we begin planning for next year…especialy a past shanty artist like him!

LInk in bio (IG) or comments (FB) for more info & to submit your interest form.

04/30/2026

Join shanty artists Cali Mastny, Gwen Law and Olivia Mackall for a hands-on workshop that takes you through the shanty design process! These three shanty artists (most recently recognized as aliens in the 2026 program’s Vibrance Research Station) have years of experience and insight from their many collaborative projects. Together they’ll guide participants through the key elements of what it takes to do a shanty! Topics include audience participation, structure, logistics, environment, community, resources, and more!

Attend just for fun, or to help you put together a project idea for next winter.

Our open call for proposals will be coming up in summer! This is a great workshop to flesh out an existing idea or come up with new ones.

SO YOU WANNA ART SHANTY?
community workshop
Sunday, May 17
2-4pm
at Modus Locus
3500 Bloomington Ave
Minneapolis, MN 55407

FREE + OPEN TO THE PUBLIC!

This workshop is intended for adults 18+

This Cultural Districts Arts Fund activation is funded, in part, by the City of Minneapolis Arts & Cultural Affairs Department.

❄️🐟🔬🧘🏿‍♂️👽 🔬🔥🤠👩🏾‍🎤🌱🚲🪩🧙🏽‍♀️🛸🎻

04/27/2026

Can’t get enough of the Art Shanty community? JOIN OUR BOARD!

Meet Neal (they/he)! He’s an accessibility professional and enjoys making art, playing tabletop games, and biking around the city.

Prior to joining the board, Neal was not very connected to the art community. Since joining the board, they have befriended so many artists and art facilitators. They also comment, “now I have this to look forward to in winters, and the honor of helping people find joy. We need places to gather now more than ever. Creating art today is resistance to power, in all shapes and forms.” Neal has also learned a lot about leadership and what it means to represent an organization. They say, “It’s an experience that I’ll use in other parts of my life.”

Are you inspired by Neal? JOIN OUR BOARD! We’re looking for new members as we begin planning for next year…

LInk in bio (IG) or comments (FB) for more info & to submit your interest form.

04/20/2026

We're honored to be awarded this grant from the City of Minneapolis Department of Arts & Cultural Affairs to present artist-led community events bookending next years' shanty season! Congrats to all the other awardees, we're in great company. Full list is in their link.

Now in its third year, the Cultural Districts Arts Fund is giving out 69 awards to artists, cultural groups, and community leaders in the city’s seven Cultural Districts.

The funding supports projects that are led by artists, arts advocates, and arts and culture organizations. The arts activities are open to the public and bring neighbors together. These projects encourage creative placemaking and help build safety, connection, and community pride in the Cultural Districts.

The seven Cultural Districts in Minneapolis are:
38th Street
Cedar Avenue South
Central Avenue
East Lake Street
Franklin Avenue East
Lowry Avenue North
West Broadway

A full list of award recipients and the Cultural District activity is available the CDAF program page on the ACA website: https://mplsartsandculture.org/cultural-districts-arts-fund

02/24/2026

Shout out to our latest Art Shanty members! Thank you for showing up, stepping up, and supporting connection through art in public space! YOU MAKE ART HAPPEN!

One sweet gift was in honor of:
☀️ Richard Parnell

We’re a people-powered organization. Over 50% of our income is by way of modest gifts from many individual donors (and over 80% of our budget goes towards PAYING PEOPLE!).

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The Art Shanty Projects 2026 program (our 22nd year!) was January 17 - February 8, 2026 on Bdé Umáŋ / Lake Harriet, MPLS. Thank you to the 18,000+ people who visited us this season!

🖤 Public art is not neutral
💚 Connection is an act of resistance
🩷 Gathering is community care
🧡 JOY IS DEFIANCE!

02/20/2026

Shout out to our STAFF members! ALL TOGETHER, THEY MAKE ART HAPPEN!

3 directors work YEAR ROUND! 4 production team members work SEASONALLY! During the program run we are joined by a photographer, medics, an ASL interpreter and an audio describer! Plus, a team of Accessibility Consultants just started working on a special project for next year!

Syd! Pamela! Erin! Ches! Karly! matt! Sashi! Drew! Quinn! Cal! Austin! Michelle! Sequoia! Jennings!

Photos of 2026 staff members by ASP staff!

❄️🐟🔬🧘🏿‍♂️👽 🔬🔥🤠👩🏾‍🎤🌱🚲🪩🧙🏽‍♀️🛸🎻

The Art Shanty Projects 2026 program (our 22nd year!) was January 17 - February 8, 2026 on Bdé Umáŋ / Lake Harriet, MPLS.

🖤 Public art is not neutral
💚 Connection is an act of resistance
🩷 Gathering is community care
🧡 JOY IS DEFIANCE!

Thank you to the 18,000+ people who visited us this season! If you value what we do, please consider making a donation to support our artists & organizers. These people get PAID to do the very cool work they do! Link in bio (IG)

02/18/2026

Shout out to our BOARD MEMBERS! They rocked the gate in style! They held down the Welcome Shanty! They worked year round to bring this monthlong project to life!

Nipinet! Mike! Katie O! Summer! Neal! Kate! Jeff! Darren! Katie E!

PS Wanna join them? We’re looking for board members to help plan our 2027 season, link in bio (IG) and comments (FB) for info.

Photos of 2026 board members by Erin!

❄️🐟🔬🧘🏿‍♂️👽 🔬🔥🤠👩🏾‍🎤🌱🚲🪩🧙🏽‍♀️🛸🎻

The Art Shanty Projects 2026 program (our 22nd year!) was January 17 - February 8, 2026 on Bdé Umáŋ / Lake Harriet, MPLS

🖤 Public art is not neutral
💚 Connection is an act of resistance
🩷 Gathering is community care
🧡 JOY IS DEFIANCE!

Thank you to the 18,000+ people who visited us this season! If you value what we do, please consider making a donation to support our artists & organizers. Link in bio (IG)

02/14/2026

Shout out to our VOLUNTEERS!

They greeted you! They offered kicksleds! They secured your ski tags! They collected your dollars to ensure artists and staff get paid! They supported survey taking! We’re grateful for them.

🖤 Public art is not neutral
💚 Connection is an act of resistance
🩷 Gathering is community care
🧡 JOY IS DEFIANCE!

Photos of 2026 volunteers by Erin! Not all are pictured.

❄️🐟🔬🧘🏿‍♂️👽 🔬🔥🤠👩🏾‍🎤🌱🚲🪩🧙🏽‍♀️🛸🎻

Art Shanty Projects 2026 was January 17 - February 8, 2026. It was our 22nd year!