Creativity Festival

Students sitting around a table doing creative activities with markers and paper.
Students working on projects at a table with various crafting materials.
Teacher instructing three young students in a classroom. Caption reads, "Every year has been so impressive.
Children drawing colorful pictures on black paper at a table, using pastel crayons.
Child working on a project in a classroom with a quote about teamwork at the bottom.
Children painting with watercolors at a table, with a positive quote from a Creativity Festival Teacher below.
2026 Creativity Festival Flyer
2025 Impact Report
Register

Join us for an inspiring one-day field trip for students in grades 3-5 at the University of Minnesota’s Ted Mann Concert Hall. This event expands your students’ imagination, develops their creativity, and strengthens their problem-solving skills. Be a part of this exciting festival where students work side-by-side with STEM and arts professionals during three outstanding breakout sessions following a dynamic opening performance. Review the Minnesota Academic Standards alignment for the Creativity Festival.

Registration

Registration fees are based on BrightWorks membership status. To find out if your school/district is a member, please see the updated membership list.

Limited space is available. Please contact Betsy Narr to learn more.



2026 Opening Performance: Afrocontigbo

Afrocontigbo is a Minnesota-based West African dance company dedicated to preserving and sharing both traditional and contemporary African dance forms, particularly from the founder’s Igbo tribe of Nigeria. Their work blends movement, music, storytelling, and community engagement to uplift and celebrate African heritage within both diasporic and local communities.

They teach dance classes and perform throughout the Twin Cities. The music is invigorating, and the moves are joyful—get ready to join Afrocontigbo on the dance floor!

Silhouette of a woman with "Afrocontigos Dance Therapy" written in her hair and body.
Eight dancers in colorful dresses perform energetically on stage with arms raised.

2026 Sessions Include:

Crop Art
Dance Theater
Entomology
Board Game Design
Opera

Advertising
Sustainable Farm Design
Wet Weather Bridge Design
Bengala Mud Dyeing
Zip Line Challenge

Supporters

SparkPath would like to thank the following organizations, whose support helped make the 2025 Creativity Festival a fantastic day of learning for Twin Cities students:

APWA logo with a Minnesota state outline and text: "Minnesota Chapter, American Public Works Association.
Blick Art Materials logo with bold black lettering on a white background.
BrightWorks logo featuring a gear icon and the text "BrightWorks, A Minnesota Service Cooperative" in blue and gray.
Logo with "Department of Transportation" text and stylized "M" in blue and green.
Minnesota State Engineering Center of Excellence logo with a white star design on blue.
Minnesota State Southern Agricultural Center of Excellence logo with a star and "M" icon.
Spark-Y logo with green leaves and text "Youth Action Labs" underneath the main title.
A cup with planets inside, red dice, and text that reads "STUDIO BIG.

At the Creativity Festival, students learn…

Creativity is a skill that can be practiced and strengthened.

Creativity is necessary for higher education and all careers.

Creativity is an essential part of problem solving.

Questions?

For more information on how your students can participate, contact Betsy Narr at 612-638-1550. If you are interested in presenting, contact Katie Wenzel at 612-638-1554.

White text including an "S" and "P" intertwined and an upright pointing arrow to the left

© 2025 SparkPath, Inc.


SparkPath@brightworksmn.org
612-638-1500
2 Pine Tree Drive, Suite 101
Arden Hills, MN 55112
EIN: 41-1948020

SparkPath is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that presents its programs in collaboration with BrightWorks, a Minnesota Service Cooperative. BrightWorks member districts/schools save 30-50% on SparkPath registration fees. For more information, visit www.brightworksmn.org.

white text "brightworks"