From her office in St. Paul, Laura Zabel is creating tools to help artists across the country better connect with their communities and get resources. The Community Supported Art program, for example, operates like Farm Share - except that instead of people buying shares of fruits and vegetables they get a bushel of locally-produced art. With a toolkit produced by Zabel’s Springboard for the Arts, CSA is helping introduce artists to new collectors in dozens of communities. And just this week, Springboard is launching a toolkit, which will help community groups figure out ways to get artists access to healthcare. It’s another project she's trying to replicate across the country. We spoke with Zabel recently about her views on how the arts create a sense of place and her ideal future for artists, and what’s on her plate in coming months. Did you always know you wanted to work in the arts? L.Z.: Pretty much. Growing up, I always felt most at home in the arts. I have a degree in theater and even in high school I was already interested in how the arts contribute to community (although I never imagined this particular work!) Other than a fantasy life where I own a really great sandwich shop, I can’t really imagine doing anything else.
