University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
IN-4: Innovation 4

The Institute on the Environment at the University of Minnesota houses a sustainability-themed art gallery, which is a unique space that serves as an area where the University community can gather for meetings or events as well as a location to display artistic works that celebrate the environment and sustainability. The vision for the Commons: Meeting & Art Space is to highlight the intersection of science and the arts by hosting exhibits that break down barriers between the two. This space brings together different communities at the University together and support the Institute on the Environment's mission to foster interdisciplinary relationships.

Since its inception in December of 2012, this unique space within IonE has brought new people, new ideas and vibrant artistic energy into the center of academic work on sustainability and environmental challenges within the University of Minnesota - Twin Cities. Now on the eleventh art exhibit at IonE, the Commons: Meeting & Art Space has provided new visions for sustainability to over one thousand students, faculty, staff and community members who participate in events in the space, who spend time working with partners in the space or who come to the Institute specifically for shows and for opening events. The Commons Meeting & Art Space has led to new collaborations in music and climate change, which have been grant funded for further work, and to interdisciplinary courses involving artists and scientists.