The Minnesota State Arts Board is a state agency that stimulates and encourages the creation, performance, and appreciation of the arts in the state. From 2025-2026, Wilder Research partnered with the Minnesota State Arts Board to conduct an evaluation with eight grantees who engage children and youth in arts and cultural experiences.
From 2025-2026, Wilder Research partnered with the Minnesota State Arts Board to conduct an evaluation with eight grantees who engage children and youth in arts and cultural experiences. Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota asked young people to create a dance about what they learned in their dance program. This document shares one of the dances created by the students.
This summary presents aggregate findings on youth development outcomes across eight Minnesota State Arts Board grantee organizations that engage young people in arts and cultural activities. Results show that grantees effectively contributed to outcomes related to youth’s emotional wellness, caring relationships with adults, interest in the arts, and understanding the historical or cultural significance of art.
Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Minnesota is a Minnesota State Arts Board grantee who engages children and youth in art activities. They asked young people to create a dance about what they learned in their dance program, and this document shares one of the dances created by the students.
Wilder Research used this dance-based method to help evaluate youth development outcomes of arts programming. A creative dance activity is followed by documentation and sharing. This brief provides an overview of the dance-based method, implementation instructions, and a worksheet.
Wilder Research used this poetry-based method to help evaluate youth development outcomes of arts programming, including art outcomes, social-emotional outcomes, and educational or career outcomes. In this activity, a creative writing activity is followed by documentation and sharing. This brief provides an overview of the poetry-based method, implementation instructions, and a worksheet for youth program staff to use.
Wilder Research used this drawing-based method to help evaluate youth development outcomes of arts programming. Common outcomes of youth arts programming include art outcomes, social-emotional outcomes, and educational or career outcomes. This brief provides an overview of the method, implementation instructions, and a worksheet that youth program staff can duplicate to engage young people.
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