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.
The Saint Paul Get Down: Where Young Voices Take the Mic
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.
October 1, 2025
Voices in Action, Creativity in Bloom: A Summer Camp to Remember
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.
September 4, 2025
We Stand With Annunciation. We Grieve as Minnesotans.
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.
August 27, 2025
Create a Summer Camp Kids Won’t Stop Talking About
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.
August 20, 2025
Creativity in the Age of AI: A Conversation About Resilience, Curiosity, and Courage. And kids.
The world is moving fast. AI tools are rewriting how we work, create, and communicate, and for many people it is both exciting and a little unnerving. But what happens when you are not just navigating this change yourself, you are helping the next generation navigate it too?
August 15, 2025
What Happened When 500 Kids Found Their Voice
It’s an eternal question: How do you make elementary school kids more excited about being at school than on vacation?
Many would say there is no answer, or that it’s a trick question, but thanks to Liz Collin, a teacher at Barton Elementary School in Minneapolis, an answer has finally been discovered: You bring COMPAS teaching artist Kashimana Ahua into your school to lead a songwriting residency.
August 7, 2025
Folk Songs and Freighters: Charlie Maguire’s Journey Across Northern Minnesota
What happens when a COMPAS Teaching Artist, who also happens to be a singing ranger, revered folk musician, master storyteller, and true Minnesota legend, hits the road for a tour of Greater Minnesota? In the latest episode of the COMPAS Creativity on Tap podcast, COMPAS TA Charlie Maguire chats with host Frank Sentwali about his recent tour of northern Minnesota for his show Going to Bartalina. This blog post shares a few highlights from their conversation. Check it out, and then listen to the podcast for all the music, memories, and meaning. (Also on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.)
July 30, 2025
