CAPONI ART PARK

Helping People Reconnect with Creativity and Nature

Over 30 years ago, sculptor, philosopher and professor-emeritus Anthony Caponi began developing Caponi Art Park and Learning Center in response to the rapid changes in American society. He recognized an important connection was being lost between people, creativity and nature.

A child at heart, he identified with the impact on children of being cooped up in highly structured classrooms, spending hours a day in front of televisions and computer screens and constantly being told “don’t touch!”

Caponi Art Park began as an extension of Caponi’s college teaching which emphasized the role art, creative expression and the natural environment play in the well-being of the individual and community. The Art Park has since grown into one of the most prominent cultural destinations in the south metro area where all forms of art are presented and fostered in a natural setting. Caponi Art Park opened to the public in 1987 and has been presenting cultural activities since 1994.

At Caponi Art Park, we believe that the best way for people to access their own sense of creativity is through the universal appreciation of nature.

Caponi Art Park’s mission is to make art accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. The 60 acre art park brings people together with art and nature to restore, nurture and maintain the basic unity of the human spirit.

In keeping with its mission to make art accessible, Caponi Art Park and its programs are offered free of admission fees. The park’s inviting, natural setting removes the barriers of traditional arts venues, including ticket prices and stark walls, in order to foster the enjoyment and participation in the arts. The natural and man-made beauty of Caponi Art Park serves as a welcoming and unique setting for art performances and arts education programming.

Features

Caponi Art Park and Learning Center encompasses 60 acres of rolling woodlands in Eagan, dotted with over 30 sculptures and is home to The Theater in the Woods outdoor amphitheater.

All are invited to explore the sculpture garden, experience a performance under the oak trees and find serenity on the walking paths.

Programs

• Guided tours and workshops for schools and community-based organizations
• Creative Adventures @ the Art Park provides arts education free of charge to underserved youth
• Summer Performance Series feature a wide range of performing art forms presented by top artists from the region.
• Family Fun Tuesdays is a weekly series for families to experience a variety of art forms and learn about world cultures.
• Shakespeare Festival is a weekend celebration of classic theater.
• Medieval Fair features interactive demonstrations of period arts, armored combat and hands-on activities in a Medieval Village.
• Poets in the Park includes literary arts workshops and poetry slam for teens and young adults.
• Annual Photo Contest and Exhibition is a juried exhibition of photographs taken at the Art Park that concludes with an exhibition of select photos displayed at the Eagan Community Center.

Caponi Art Park and Learning Center inspires exploration and discovery in all ages! www.caponiartpark.org