The recent election revealed major rifts in our country – including a profound disconnect between urban and rural life. As an artist who straddles these two spheres, I was curious how other artists working with rural communities were navigating these geographic divides. So, I bought a little yellow school bus (named Gus!) and, in January 2017, set off on a highpaced, fact-finding mission. With a rotating cast of mobile artists in residence, I visited 24 communities in 20 states (all with populations under 10,000) to interview 127 artists over 6200 miles. This six-week cross-country road-trip documented the work rural-based arts and cultural leaders are doing to make their communities more vibrant, connected places to live. The information collected has been compiled into a mobile art exhibition currently on display at Art of the Rural’s space – Outpost Winona

Ashley Hanson holds an MA degree in Applied Theater from the University of Manchester, with emphasis on the role of theater in the sustainable development of rural communities. She calls herself a Freelance Arts Enabler, working with artists, city
departments, organizations and communities to bring abstract visions into concrete realities. She is the co-founder of PlaceBase Productions, whose site-specific work is focused on uniting communities and strengthening sense of place through exploring
collective narratives in accessible performances. She is also a musician whose recent album, The Kirkbride Sessions, explores the ‘under-belly of ruralness’ and was written and recorded as a part of a Hinge Arts Residency through Springboard for the Arts in Fergus Falls. Her place- and issue-based work strives to reconnect individuals with their shared values to inspire stewardship of their community; combining shared knowledge with collective action to move a community from “where they are” to “where
they want to be.”