Introducing Bloomington's First Director of Placemaking and Community Engagement



Position Will Help Use the Arts to Transform Bloomington’s South Loop



The City is excited to announce Alejandra Pelinka was selected as its first Creative Placemaking and Engagement Director. Ms. Pelinka will facilitate the work of a new Creative Placemaking Commission and work with the City’s nonprofit partner, Artistry, and a diverse group of stakeholders to implement and evaluate a Creative Placemaking Plan adopted by the City and Artistry in 2015.

Alejandra will help the City identify the art, culture and design investments that will best support the evolution of a distinctive, walkable, urban neighborhood in Bloomington’s South Loop and build its regional brand. She will also work to build community connectedness and engagement throughout Bloomington using a range of community outreach strategies.

Ms. Pelinka previously served as the Executive Director of Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA), where she was responsible for the general management of the organization and NEMAA’s regionally acclaimed events, including Art-A-Whirl®, the largest open studio tour in the country. She has also worked for the Ames Center (previously known as Burnsville Performing Arts Center) as Art Gallery Director and for Intermedia Arts in Minneapolis as Volunteer Coordinator.  Mpls. St. Paul magazine named her one of 26 local Scene Shapers, “integral to making the [Minnesota art] scene tick.”

“We had applicants nationwide for this unique, innovative, and first-of-its-kind position. It was a competitive process with great candidates, which made our decision difficult,” Elizabeth Tolzmann, Bloomington’s Assistant City Manager said. “Ms. Pelinka’s experience in community leadership, arts and nonprofit administration, marketing and public relations, and connecting arts and business interests make her uniquely qualified for this role. We are excited to have her join our Bloomington team.”

Ms. Pelinka will start her new role on June 6, as a member of the Bloomington City Manager’s Office.