TOOLKIT AND BIBLIOGRAPHY

As mentioned in our book, Northern Lights.mn From Agency to Wonder, here is a collection of downloadable templates and examples for anyone to use.

NL staff crafted these resources over the years based on best practices from the field, including resources from other institutions and grassroots projects in which the staff worked. We are happy to pass these along! Feel free to adapt.

Keep scrolling for our select bibliography with links.

TOOLKIT (Folder link is forthcoming.)

Budgeting
-Artist Project Sample Budgets
-Organizational Budget Template

Conflict Resolution resources

Contracts and Letters of Agreement

Event/Project Planning Playbook

Invoices

Open Call examples (PDF only)
-Jury tracking spreadsheets
-Artist Commission Acceptance and Rejection emails

Production and Promotional Support Forms (PDF only)
-Promotional Information form for artists (used to gather project descriptions, images, credits)
-Production Information form for artists (used to gather technical, spatial, and production needs)

Waivers
-Assumption of risk, Contract Staff, Right to Record, Volunteers, etc.

Select Bibliography 

Northern Spark Artist Council Publication, Relationships and Reciprocity: A Guide to Making Northern Spark, 2020

Steve Dietz, “Interview with Piotr Szyhalski,” Gallery 9, Walker Art Center, 1997.

Susannah Schouweiler, “Stay Up All Night with Andrea Stanislav, Piotr Szyhalski, and Wing Young Huie,” mnartists.org, May 24, 2011. 

Marianne Combs, “The Reviews Are In for Northern Spark,” Minnesota Public Radio News,  June 7, 2011. 

Priscilla Frank, “The Kuramoto Model (1000 Fireflies) to Coordinate Citywide Synchronized LED Light Network via Bicycle,” Huffington Post, May 21, 2012.

Sheila Regan, “Art(ists) On the Verge at the Soap Factory,” City Pages, May 8, 2013.

Michael Tortorello, “Burning Down the House,” New York Times, June 9, 2013. 

Molly Priesmeyer, “Northern Spark: Kickstarter as the First Stop in a Community Gathering,” Star Tribune, May 7, 2014.

Claude Peck, “Kids in the Hall,” Star Tribune, June 16, 2014. 

Michael Rietmulder, “Fourth Annual Northern Spark Was Wet and Wild,” Star Tribune, June 16, 2014. 

Amy Carlson Gustafson, “Northern Spark Returns with 70 Art Experiences in Six ‘Zones,’” Pioneer Press, June 8, 2015. https://www.twincities.com/2015/06/08/northern-spark-returns-with-70-art-experiences-in-six-zones/

Chrissy Sarinske, “Northern Spark to Light Up the Night June 13,” Minnesota Monthly, June 10, 2015. 

Sheila Regan, “What to See and Do at Northern Spark: Part 2,” City Pages, June 10, 2015.

Corina Bernstein, “Wander, Explore, Illuminate, Together at This Year’s Northern Spark,” Twin Cities Daily Planet, June 11, 2015. https://www.tcdailyplanet.net/wander-explore-illuminate-together-at-this-years-northern-spark/

Allison Herrera, “Syrian Portraits Evoke Humanity, Dignity and Resilience amid the Ruins,” Twin Cities Daily Planet, June 11, 2015. 

Euan Kerr, “Northern Spark Art Festival Takes All-night Gaming to a New Dimension,” Minnesota Public Radio, June 12, 2015.

Mary Abbe, “Northern Spark Will Light Up Minneapolis with an All-night Art Party,” Star Tribune, June 13, 2015. 

Sheila Dickinson, “A Nighttime Journey through Minneapolis in Search of Art,” Hyperallergic, June 19, 2015. 

Amy Bartner, “Two-day Interactive Light Festival to Spark Up the Canal,” IndyStar, June 30, 2016. 

“The Uncompromising Hand: An Interview with Andrea Carlson,” Northern Lights.mn Public Address blog, September 27, 2017.

Andrea Carlson, “On the Uncompromising Hand: Remembering Spirit Island,” Open Rivers Journal 9 (Winter 2018).

Savannah Simms, “The Things They Carried On: A New Public Art Humanizes Immigration,” MPLSart.com, May 16, 2018.

Russ White, “An Uncommon Experience: A Preview of Northern Spark,” MPLSart.com, June 14, 2018.

Pamela Espeland, “Northern Spark 2019 Theme Is ‘We Are Here,’” MinnPost, October 24, 2018.

“Illuminate the Lock: Returning the River, an Artist Interview,” Northern Lights.mn Public Address blog, September 12, 2018.

Alicia Eler, “Northern Spark Co-director/founder Leaving the Organization,” Star Tribune, May 3, 2019.

Leah Lemm,  “Minnesota Native News: Collaboration Brings Arts Festival to The Ave,,” Minnesota Native News/Ampers, June 3, 2019.

Sheila Regan, “Northern Spark Expands, Public Functionary Returns, and Other Art Happenings This Week,” City Pages, June 11, 2019.

Kathy Berdan, “Night Arts Fest Northern Spark Will Shine in Rondo and Minneapolis This Weekend,” Pioneer Press, June 13, 2019.

Marianne Combs, “Art Hounds: Northern Spark Lights Up the Night,” Minnesota Public Radio News, June 13, 2019.

Alicia Eler, “With a Theme of ‘Resilience,’ Northern Spark Flies into Rondo and Franklin Ave. Neighborhoods,” Star Tribune, June 13, 2019.

Euan Kerr, “Northern Spark 2019 Shines Spotlight on Native American Community,” Minnesota Public Radio, June 14, 2019.

Suenary Philavanh, “Resilient: Searching for Connections through Waves,” Northern Lights.mn Public Address blog, February 17, 2021.

“On Madweyaashkaa: Waves Can Be Heard with Moira Villiard,” Open Rivers Journal 18 (Spring 2021). 

Alicia Eler, “Northern Spark Returns with Its Original All-nighter Format,” Star Tribune, June 9, 2022. 

Jenna Ross, “All-night Northern Spark Arts Festival Announces End,” Star Tribune, January 30, 2023.

Alicia Eler, “All-night Twin Cities Arts Festival Northern Spark Says Goodbye,” Star Tribune, June 6, 2023. 

H. Jiahong Pan, “A Night with the River Marks the End of Annual All-night Arts Festival,” Spokesman-Recorder, June 7, 2023.