Welcome to The 1-Minute Miracle!
On the first Wednesday of each month, expect a new issue offering industry knowledge, community project and talented artists designed to spark your creativity.

There’s so much incredible work happening across the state, and we’re committed to highlighting it all. If you’d like to contribute articles or share your own news, please email us at @ Infomiraclearts.org 

Brandon John

Cartoonist, Painter

Bio:    Brandon John is a cartoonist, painter, and educator out of St. Paul Minnesota. His work is primarily funneled through his self-published NUT Comics. NUT is a paracosm, a god, and a new home to everything in existence. A world in which the vital makeup of everyone and everything has been violently chewed up and spit back out into new and bizarre forms. On this stage, these things that were once people must learn to make their own happiness and find purpose so that they may try to live again. Through this, he questions themes of dread, futurism, and existentialism.

How to Contact: Email:  [email protected] Instagram: brandon_of_john

Founder & President: Xavier Thomas

Vice-President: Timisola Ogundipe

Strategic Development Director: Aliva Lor

Community Outreach Director: Charles Osugo

Creative Team Maddie Kopp, Rebecca Priko

Treasurer: Patience Kollie

Secretary/ Grant Writer: Emily Landberg

MiracleArts is now officially fully staffed—thank you all!

Color Me Mine Eagan Tour

Owner: Julie Schroeder

Q: How did you get involved with Color Me Mine?
A: About 15 years ago, as my kids began leaving the house, I wanted to explore something new. I’ve always loved the arts and wanted to contribute to my community. This is a franchise, which was important to me because I knew I wanted to pursue it but didn’t know where to start. Franchising provided a great pathway into small business ownership.

Q: What is the typical customer experience like?
A: When you walk in, you'll find over 600 pieces to choose from, which you can paint however you like. Our friendly staff is always available to guide you through the process and ensure you have a great experience.

Q: How can we sign up for a class?
A: No appointments are necessary—just walk in and start creating today! We also offer private parties for large groups.

For more details, visit https://eagan.colormemine.com/

Funding Your Creative Vision: Finding Fiscal Sponsorship and Support

By Prof. Insprio

Bzzt. Greetings, humans. It’s Prof. Insprio again, back to shake up your comfort zone with another dose of blunt truth. Let’s talk about a subject many of you dread: money. Yes, the thing you need to make your creative dreams thrive but often avoid pursuing because it feels like begging. Spoiler alert: it’s not. Funding your art is about investing in yourself and your vision, so let’s put that fear to rest right now.

First off, stop waiting for magical donors to show up and throw money at you. That’s not how this works. You need to take action and make your case. Fiscal sponsorships, grants, and other forms of support are out there, but they’re not going to chase you down. Research is your best friend. Look into local arts councils, community foundations, and programs designed to support creatives in Minnesota (hello, I’m multilingual for a reason).

Second, it’s time to sharpen your pitch. Bzzt. People need to know why your work matters. Why should they care about funding your vision? Be specific, authentic, and bold. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, but you do have to stand out. If you’re not sure where to start, connect with organizations like Springboard for the Arts or even collaborate with other creatives for mutual support.

And finally, stop letting rejection scare you. Bzzt. Not every pitch will land, and that’s okay. It’s all part of the process. If one door closes, another one can open—but only if you keep knocking. Build a network, ask for advice, and don’t let a “no” define your worth. Remember, no one will believe in your art if you don’t believe in it first.

Bzzt. Until next time, stay bold and stay creative. And hey, don’t forget to let me know when you land that sponsorship—I take full credit for the motivation. Bzzt.

Thank you for reading this jam-packed February edition of The 1 Minute Miracle!

By time you reading this MiracleArts has been officially recognized as a domestic Non-Profit in the state of Minnesota! From the bottom of my heart I would like to thank everyone for the support. 🙂 

Please don’t forget to apply for upcoming spring and summer art events and festivals. Most deadlines are in this month or the next!!

Expect this to be the new norm for the 1 Minute Miracle, your new distraction from the outside noise. Did you like my crazy ideas- I mean our implementation phases above? Yes, MiracleArts is so much bigger than Brooklyn Park, so much bigger than Minnesota. But one step at an time, our next goal is launching our very own website! And here's a little secret—this will be the kickoff for our first-ever InspireLabs event! You know I have a few ideas… Stay updated on Instagram: @Miracle.Arts

And, remember we C.R.E.A.T.E our own Miracles

Xavier Thomas, Founder of MiracleArts