TRCSTR: Transformational Creative Strategies Training Cohort Application

Transformational Creative Strategies Training (TRCSTR) is Hope Community's community artist training program. Each year, a cohort of 8 participants is supported over the course of 4 months by individual and collective mentorship of an 8-person advisory group and works collectively to create public projects during the program. TRCSTR is led by artists and organizers, and centers on building personal and collective capacity for bringing transformational change through creative work. TRCSTR offers spaces to grow and practice skills, build connections, share food, questions, and ideas. We explore cultural and creative strategies that prioritize relationship, healing, curiosity, identity, and process. We welcome artists age 18+ of all mediums/forms to apply. Our leadership team for 2024 consists of Hope Community staff Olivia Levins Holden and Samie Johnson, and program facilitators Marcela Michelle and Rupa Shenoy-Thadhani. As a program we center LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC community members in all of our spaces.

The application period for the 2024 TRCSTR Cohort will close April 29, 2024. We hope to see your application come through and share with others who may be interested!

In creativity,
Olivia, Samie, Rupa, Marcela
TRCSTR Leadership Team

PROGRAM OVERVIEW

• Cost and Stipend: TRCSTR is FREE. Cohort members will be paid a participation stipend of $1,100.
• Commitment: (Appx 15 hours/ month).
  • Cohort Sessions will take place bi-weekly, Thursdays 4:00-6:30pm. Dates: Cohort Orientation May 23 3:00-7:00pm. Cohort sessions June 6, June 20, July 11, July 25, Aug 8, Aug 22, Sept 5, Sept 19. Snacks provided.
  • Monthly TRCSTR Circles will take place one Thursday evening per Month, 5:00-7:30pm. These gatherings will bring together the Cohort and Advisory group for conversations and workshops. Dates: June 27, July 18, Aug 15, Sept 12. Meal + childcare provided.
  • Cosecha (Harvest) Public Showcase Thursday, Sept 26 (timing TBD).
• Program Dates: May 23-Sept 26, 2024.
• Location: Gatherings and sessions will take place at Hope Community (611 E Franklin Ave, Mpls, MN 55404). We may take field trips with advance notice. We will take care to address COVID safety and access needs.
• Cohort: The Cohort is the group of 8 participants in the training.
• Advisory: The Advisory is a group of 8 experienced Mentors/ Advisors who guide and support the program and participants.
• Mentorship: Cohort members will be paired with experienced mentors with whom they will connect throughout the program. Cohort can expect to connect with their mentor during TRCSTR Circle gatherings and one-on-one, and 2-4 times one-on-one outside program spaces. These pairings are intended to support growth and build relationship.
• Cohort Project: TRCSTR includes practice projects to apply and experiment with ideas and techniques. We have embraced this project process based on our assumption that project-based learning provides growth for most people. It is intended as an opportunity to support you to test your own growth edge in a hands-on way. All projects will be presented at the Cosecha Public Showcase. Cohort members will receive a $500 stipend to support project needs (in addition to participation stipend).
• LGBTQIA+ and BIPOC centered space.

*TRCSTR was developed in partnership between Hope Community and Minneapolis Institute of Art. Beginning in 2022, it is a program of Hope Community.

Application Submission Deadline

Complete application here and/or have all application materials submitted via email to arc@hope-community.org by Monday, April 29, 2024. If you have any questions or need any support or assistance in applying, please reach out at arc@hope-community.org.

We are holding an Info Session on Tuesday, April 16th from 5:30-7:00pm on Zoom if you want to learn more or have questions about the program or application. Register here to receive the zoom link: https://hope-community.ourpowerbase.net/civicrm/event/info?reset=1&id=1935