Each week, we highlight a different artist and designer, exploring their background, inspiration, and unique artistic journeys. This week we interview MCAD student and Niriqatiginnga volunteer Ellis Anderson.
Ellis, alongside fellow arts and design students from the Minneapolis College of Art and Design will be presenting for the 2024 Arctic Congress 29 May to 3 June 2024 in Bodø, Norway. The Congress includes high-level plenary sessions, several parallel sessions, network activities, and social and cultural events. It also brings excellent opportunities for researchers, policymakers, businesses, and students to increase their connectivity and knowledge exchange on Arctic issues. IASSA and UArctic will also hold their assemblies.
What are you studying at MCAD?
“I am a senior comic arts major.”
What is your favorite food?
“My favorite food is salmon!”
What is one goal you hope to accomplish?
“I hope to inspire curiosity in the natural world through education. I love all things science and want to show people how many weird and cool things there are in the world.”
What tips do you have for someone who may be replicating the workshop you designed?
“For replicating the foraging workshop, I encourage looking into the specifics of wherever it is taking place as well as any region-specific laws. Foraging is a very experiential skill to cultivate, so it’s better taught by showing rather than telling.”
From all of us at Niriqatiginnga, we’re thankful to Ellis and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design for contributing to the success of our projects. As a small and grassroots, locally and regionally-focused program, it’s through volunteers like these emerging artists, academics and food sector entrepreneurs coming together that really makes the difference. The students and youth have demonstrated exemplary work and leadership for this international, collaborative pilot project.
About the Creative Entrepreneurship Program
Artists, designers, and business leaders need creativity, imagination, and technical skills to make an impact. Creative practices are increasingly contributing to the overall economy, meaningful employment, sustainability jobs, and innovative businesses. To add real value, creatives need to address economic, environmental, and social complexities emerging from globalization. The growth of jobs in sustainability and mission-driven businesses calls for leaders who are adaptable, collaborative, innovative, and action-oriented.
In this program, students get hands-on experience to develop their creative and entrepreneurial skills. Using teamwork and collaboration, they gain the confidence to apply creativity to a project or business with transformative economic, social, and environmental results. As MCAD’s only Bachelor of Science degree, and the region’s only art and design college with this type of major, the program offers opportunities to work on real client or community-based projects. It’s also the first in the nation to offer a concentration in climate entrepreneurship, an exciting practice of engaging stakeholders, refining their designs, demonstrating success in the market, and then deploying solutions for greater global impact.
Click here to learn more about the MCAD Bachelor of Science in Creative Entrepreneurship.
