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New Paltz, New York

Spurse

SPURSE is a creative design consultancy focused on social, ecological, and ethical transformation. They work to empower communities, institutions, infrastructures, and ecologies with tools and strategies for system-wide change. Drawing upon their diverse backgrounds in science, art, and design, SPURSE utilizes unique immersive methods to co-produce new ecologies, including public art, experimental visioning, strategic development, and alternative educational models. Founded in 2004, SPURSE is dedicated to designing innovations that address pressing environmental and social issues. By integrating scientific research, artistic exploration, and community engagement, SPURSE seeks to foster resilient, sustainable communities and enhance the quality of life for diverse populations across the United States​.

SPURSE is a dynamic organization with a multidisciplinary team from scientific, artistic, and design backgrounds. The small team of two full time staff undertake initiatives that enhance community engagement, ecological practices, and education, improving well-being and fostering long-term environmental health for urban residents, coastal communities, college campuses, and broader regional ecosystems​. Their work is supported by volunteers and funded by prestigious grants and awards such as the Fulbright Scholarship, Rose Architectural Fellowship, and Robert Rauschenberg Foundation SEED Grant. Extensive collaborations with institutions like the University of Maine and organizations such as the North Atlantic Marine Alliance and Riverkeeper bolster their efforts, ensuring projects are scientifically grounded, community-focused, and address environmental challenges. SPURSE is currently active in California, New Jersey, New York, and Texas.

Entangled Citizens consisted of a series of public conversations and workshops with several different constituencies, this photo features one of such conversations taking place near a stormwater drainage ditch in Southeastern, Ohio. Photo: SPURSE.

Contact
Matthew Friday, Educator, Writer, Multidisciplinary Artist
Climate impacts
Flooding (ocean, riverine, urban), Hurricanes/Tropical Storms
Strategies
Nature-based solutions and green infrastructure (example: wetland restoration), community farms/gardens, renewable energy, land trusts / conservation, political activism, including protests, petitions, and lobbying, art activism including murals, performances, photography, and videos, community organizing and education, risk mapping and/or monitoring e.g. flooding/contaminants etc
Environmental Justice Concerns
Superfund sites, hazardous/toxic sites, fracking/oil and gas development/pipelines, nuclear power plants, coal/coke plants and emissions, Industrial agriculture/animal waste, port/transit/highway contamination/noise, sewage/sewage treatment, groundwater contamination, fighting development/destruction of wildlife/extinction of species
501c3 Tax Deductible
Yes
Accepting Donation
No