There are moments in a classroom that every teacher waits for, so alive they feel magical. Like when a student who has been quiet all year suddenly raises a hand to share a poem, or when the student who “hates writing” asks to read their story out loud.

There are moments in a classroom when the power of creativity becomes visible. The energy feels electric as students begin to build something of their own.

That same spark filled the fourth- and fifth-grade classrooms at Brandon–Evansville Elementary recently when COMPAS Teaching Artist Deacon Warner arrived to teach stop-motion animation.

COMPAS is thrilled to announce the launch of Creativity on Tap Concerts, a new live series that brings together some of the most in-demand artists and performers in Minnesota (who just happen to be COMPAS Teaching Artists!) for evenings filled with music, poetry, art, and dance.

Under the summer sky in downtown Saint Paul, something magical was happening.

At Harriet Island Regional Park, young hip hop performers stepped onstage and gripped the mic, nervous at first, then steady, then unstoppable. In the audience, peers nodded, mentors leaned in, and the crowd heard powerful stories told in a new way, by new voices.

Are you planning a summer camp?

If so, imagine one led by a concert guitarist who’s played for royalty, an improvisational jazz beatboxer who brings rhythm to life, and a performance artist who crafts giant puppets.

Are you planning a summer camp?

If so, imagine one led by a concert guitarist who’s played for royalty, an improvisational jazz beatboxer who brings rhythm to life, and a performance artist who crafts giant puppets.

Are you planning a summer camp?

If so, imagine one led by a concert guitarist who’s played for royalty, an improvisational jazz beatboxer who brings rhythm to life, and a performance artist who crafts giant puppets.