Founded in 1985 by the grassroots work of local citizens, the Coleman Center for the Arts has evolved into a contemporary arts organization that uses art to foster positive social change, answer civic needs, build local pride, and use creativity for community problem solving. By nurturing and facilitating partnerships between artists and community we strive to create the vision and the means for a creative and sustainable society. Our mission is to integrate contemporary art into education, civic life, and community development throughout our region. Our work is done through five main programmatic arms: arts education for area youth and adults; a community-based artists’ residency that produces socially engaged public art projects and events; exhibitions that feature the work of regional artists; a free, public community garden that promotes small-scale food production; and Pop Start, a storefront space for artists-community experimentation.