Vibe over at the Maple Grove Government Center for the 'Business of Art' program, a nifty little collaboration with the Maple Grove Arts Center that's turning a stuffy government lobby into a gallery space for local artists. According to the City of Maple Grove's Facebook announcement, this initiative has been dressing up the lobby with fresh artwork for years.
It's not every day you see a government space taking a genuine interest in the arts—usually, those walls are reserved for historical photos or inspirational quotes attributed to founding fathers. But every quarter, the Maple Grove Government Center shakes things up by switching out the displays to feature new pieces by artists.
In a world where being a working artist often means scrapping for both attention and money, the 'Business of Art' is giving these creators a platform that they may otherwise lack. Maple Grove Arts Center emphasizes this point, touting the program as an opportunity to "support talented local artists." It's a win-win—public servants get to enjoy an ever-evolving collection of fine art while sipping their morning coffee, and local artists get their work exposed to a wider audience.
What we're looking at here could be a model for other cities and towns—integrating art into public spaces, especially the less assuming ones, offers an array of benefits. For one, it supports the local art scene, but it also opens up conversations and connections between government workers and the artistic community.
