FEE: 4-Use CAC Studio Rental Punch Card: $36.00 / $28.00 - Member price
12-Use CAC Studio Rental Punch Card: $84.00 / $60.00 - Member price

Open Ceramic Studio*

Every Wednesday, 5-8 pm

*PENDING NEW LOCATION

Open Ceramic Studio is a series of dedicated sessions for the community and AOTL Members to use the ceramic studio in the Creative Arts Center. Open Ceramic Studio is for artists to work individually on personal ceramic projects. Participants will need prior ceramics background, as no formal instruction will be given. Kristi Everts and other ceramic artists will be available during the Open Ceramic Studio hours, for questions and assistance if needed.​

Equipment: Pottery wheels, bats, project boards are available. Tools are available for purchase or artists may bring their own tools. Limited tools are also available for use.
  
Supplies: 25# of clay are available for purchase for $35 which includes the cost of clay, firing and glaze.  No outside clay can be used unless approved prior to use with documentation of type and cone. We bisque at cone 06 and glaze at cone 6.  

• Commercial glazes are available for use. No outside glazes can be used without approval prior to use with documentation of cone from original container.

Purchase a Punch Card for studio access
Choose the CAC Maker Studio Punch Card that best fits your needs and your schedule. 

• Only in the area for a short while? Just need a few days of work to finish a project? Choose the 4-Use option.

• Here for the season or year-round? Have a bigger project in mind? Choose the 12-Use option.

Each Punch Card gives you access to any of the Maker Studios at the CAC during hours of operation, subject to availability.

FEE: Free

Fergus Falls Writers Group

2nd & 4th Thursdays of each month @ 11:00 am - 1:00 pm

This group shares and critiques their writing. Meets the second and fourth Thursdays of each month. This is a community-member-led group.

FEE: Free

Fiber Arts Group Meeting

Wednesdays at Art of the Lakes Gallery

Join fellow makers every Wednesday from 2–4pm at Art of the Lakes in Battle Lake. Whether you knit, crochet, weave, stitch, or simply enjoy creating in good company, all are welcome. Bring your project, meet new friends, and get inspired!

FEE: Free

Sew Unique

3rd Thursdays @ 9:00 am - 1:00 pm

All types of sewing projects are welcome. Bring your projects, cutting tools and sewing machine. Several irons and boards will be provided. Meets the third Thursday of each month. This is a community-member-led group.

FEE: Free

Sunday Socials @ AOTL Gallery

Starting January 4 — Sundays — 2-4pm

Sunday Socials are your chance to get out of the house, beat the winter blahs, and connect with others who love the arts. They're a casual drop-in time for anyone and everyone - members and non-members alike. Bring a project, or just join in the conversation. Sundays, 2-4pm in the Gallery.

FEE: Free to apply

Artist Resources & Relief: Minnesota

In response to ongoing community disruption and its impacts on artists and creative workers across Minnesota, this evolving resource list brings together emergency relief funds, creative business recovery support, calls for artist-led community projects, mutual aid networks, toolkits, and legal resources.

Compiled by Springboard for the Arts in collaboration with arts organizations and community partners statewide, these resources are intended to support artists through immediate challenges and longer-term healing, recovery, and connection. Offerings include emergency and small business relief, opportunities for community-based creative action, mutual aid and solidarity networks, training resources, and practical toolkits.

This list will continue to be updated as new resources become available.

FEE: Free— Registration required

Creative Power, Civic Purpose:
How Artists Strengthen Democracy

Six-Part Virtual Series | 2026

Creative Power, Civic Purpose is a six-part virtual series exploring how artists and culture bearers strengthen civic health, deepen democratic participation, and help renew the civic fabric of communities nationwide. Grounded in civic health frameworks and national conversations around democratic renewal, the series combines field-framing dialogue with practical learning for artists, cultural leaders, civic partners, funders, and community practitioners.

Across six sessions, speakers and facilitators examine the role of arts and culture in civic infrastructure, public understanding of systems, belonging and trust, artist–government collaboration, and funding creative civic work. Registration provides access to all sessions, including calendar holds, Zoom links, updates, and recordings.

Dates & Times (all sessions):
Thursdays, 12:00–1:30 PM (CT)

• Feb 26, 2026

• Mar 26, 2026

• May 28, 2026

• June 25, 2026

• Sept 24, 2026

• Oct 29, 2026

Format: Virtual
Registration: Single registration covers the full series; individual sessions also available

FEE: Free

Wiwahokichiyapi: They Promised Things to Each Other

April 25, 2026 – February 7, 2027 | Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND

Treaties are living documents that continue to serve as legally binding agreements shaping the political relationship between Native Nations and the United States government. These agreements established land boundaries, resource rights, and reservations; they determine Tribal Nation citizenship and outline mutual obligations. The influence of treaties, and the policies surrounding them, has had a profound impact on traditional and contemporary Indigenous life, art, and ways of making and knowing.

By pairing treaties with historical and contemporary images and art objects, this exhibition explores how treaties continue to impact Native people and reverberate through Native creativity and expression.

Wiwahokichiyapi: They Promised Things to Each Other provides an overview of treaties in the United States, with a focus on those connected to our region. The exhibition was developed in collaboration with the National Museum of the American Indian and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. Plains Art Museum partnered with Lakȟóta Archeologist Tyrel Iron Eyes and the Giiwedinong Treaty Rights & Culture Museum team, including Logan Monroe, Don Wedll, and Winona LaDuke, whose research and expertise helped shape the exhibition. Students from Concordia College’s Digital Design class also contributed to the exhibition panel design.

This exhibition, and all exhibitions at Plains Art Museum, are free and open to the public.

FEE: Free & Open to the Public

Printmaking Art Table with Paul Johnson

April 25 – November 7, 2026 | Various Viking Library System Locations

Presented by Kaddatz Galleries in partnership with the Viking Library System, the Printmaking Art Table invites community members of all ages to explore the creative process of printmaking through a series of free drop-in workshops across the region.

Participants will design and carve their own personalized print using soft linoleum (adults) or create prints using impressed styrofoam techniques (youth). This fun and approachable activity introduces participants to reductive printmaking, inking a plate, registering prints, and experimenting with creative design in a welcoming community setting.

Workshops are led by artist and educator Paul Johnson, former Communication Art and Design instructor at Alexandria Technical & Community College. Johnson is the creator of Paul Johnson Design & Illustration, muralist for the Concordia Christmas Concert, and former corporate artist for Banner Health System in Fargo, North Dakota.

Workshop Schedule:

Saturday, April 25, 2026 | 11:00 AM – 1:00 PM
Pelican Rapids Public Library, Pelican Rapids, MN

Saturday, May 16, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Douglas County Library, Alexandria, MN

Saturday, June 6, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Wheaton Community Library, Wheaton, MN

Saturday, June 13, 2026 | 12:30 – 2:30 PM
Morris Public Library, Morris, MN

Saturday, July 18, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
Perham Area Public Library, Perham, MN

Saturday, August 22, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Glenwood Public Library, Glenwood, MN

Saturday, September 19, 2026 | 10:30 AM – 12:30 PM
New York Mills Public Library, New York Mills, MN

Saturday, November 7, 2026 | 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Thorson Memorial Library, Elbow Lake, MN

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through the Lakes Region Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.

FEE: Suggested Donation $5–$10

Adult Art Club

1st & 3rd Tuesdays of Each Month | 5:00–7:00 PM

Connect with fellow creatives at Adult Art Club, a welcoming community gathering for adults ages 18 and older. Bring your own creative project—or start something new—and enjoy an evening of making art, sharing ideas, and building community in a relaxed, social atmosphere.

Artists, makers, and hobbyists of all kinds are welcome, including those who knit, crochet, draw, paint, collage, journal, embroider, bead, write, mend, or work in any creative medium. Limited art supplies are available through the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center, and participants are encouraged to contact the Center in advance if they are interested in working with a specific medium.

Co-sponsored by the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center and Continental Divide Brew Pub. A limited food menu will be available during the event.

2026 Dates:

• June 2 & 16

• July 7 & 21

• August 4 & 18

• September 1 & 15

• October 6 & 20

• November 3 & 17

• December 1 & 15

Location:
Continental Divide Brew Pub
32 N Main Avenue
New York Mills, MN 56567

FEE: $15 per person | $75 Season Pass (10 dances)

Lakeside Dance Club

June 14, 2026 – April 18, 2027 | Lakeside Ballroom, Glenwood, MN

Enjoy an afternoon of dancing, live music, and community at the Lakeside Dance Club. Held monthly from June through April (with no dance in December), each event begins with a free, beginner-friendly ballroom dance lesson followed by a social dance featuring live music.

Whether you're new to ballroom dancing or an experienced dancer, Lakeside Dance Club offers a welcoming environment to learn new steps, meet fellow dancers, and enjoy an afternoon on one of Minnesota's most historic dance floors.

Schedule for Each Dance:
• 2:00 PM – Free Ballroom Dance Lesson
• 3:00–6:00 PM – Social Dance with Live Music

Location: Lakeside Ballroom, 180 South Lakeshore Drive, Glenwood, MN 56334

Admission:
• $15 per person per dance
• $75 Season Pass (includes admission to all 10 dances)

Information:
(218) 851-2116
lakesideballroom.org

Lakeside Dance Club hosts dances once each month from June through April, providing opportunities for dancers of all skill levels to enjoy live music, social connection, and ballroom dancing in a beautiful lakeside setting.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from Lake Region Arts Council, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

FEE: Free

Threads of Offering | Thương Hoài Trần

June 27, 2026 – January 24, 2027 | The Ruth and Seymour Landfield Atrium & Xcel Energy Gallery at Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND

Threads of Offering presents the work of interdisciplinary Vietnamese American artist Thương Hoài Trần, whose creative practice explores identity, family history, displacement, memory, and diasporic connection through processes of weaving and unweaving.

Bringing together two major bodies of work — Ông Bà and Made in Vietnam — the exhibition examines the emotional and cultural complexities of immigration, generational disconnect, and labor. In Ông Bà, Vietnamese for “grandparents,” Hoài Trần creates monumental woven portraits honoring their family members. Each strand of yarn is hand dyed before being woven into large-scale portraits and partially unraveled, symbolizing fragmented memories, unspoken histories, and complicated familial relationships. Standing between seven and eight feet tall, the works evoke the presence of ancestors towering over viewers in the Ruth and Seymour Landfield Atrium.

Displayed in the Xcel Energy Gallery, Made in Vietnam features garments labeled “Made in Vietnam” that the artist collected, altered, and investigated through various material interventions. One featured work documents Hoài Trần painstakingly disassembling garments thread by thread over more than 24 hours, condensed into a one-minute video critiquing the hidden labor and exploitation embedded within fast fashion production. The work also functions as a self-portrait reflecting on diasporic identity and cultural inheritance.

Born in Tây Ninh, Vietnam and raised in Emporia, Kansas, Thương Hoài Trần holds degrees from Emporia State University and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Their work has been exhibited nationally at institutions including the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, The Center for Craft, and the Studios at MASS MoCA.

Gallery admission is free every day of the week.

Generous support is provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program; the North Dakota Council on the Arts; the Arts Partnership; the McKnight Foundation; The FUNd at Plains Art Museum; Giving Hearts Day donors; Spring Gala sponsors; and Plains Art Museum members.

FEE: Museum Admission

Americana: Objects that Reflect Us

July 4, 2026–January 3, 2027

Explore 250 years of American history through the stories told by everyday objects in Americana: Objects that Reflect Us. This exhibition examines how Americans have understood their nation, communities, and identities through themes of democracy, conflict, opportunity, belonging, and culture.

Featuring artifacts that reflect the evolving American experience, the exhibition invites visitors to consider how ordinary people have helped shape the nation's history and culture over the past two and a half centuries.

This exhibition was made possible through a donation from Stenerson Lumber of Moorhead and the generous support of museum members.

Location:
Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County
Hjemkomst Center
202 1st Avenue North
Moorhead, MN 56560

FEE: Free

Creative Community Coffee Club at Springboard for the Arts

Third Friday of Every Month
10:00 AM–12:00 PM

Connect with fellow creatives during Creative Community Coffee Club at Springboard for the Arts in downtown Fergus Falls. Held on the third Friday of each month, this informal gathering offers a welcoming space for artists, makers, writers, and creative entrepreneurs to work alongside one another, share ideas, and build community.

Bring your laptop, busy work, sketchbook, craft project—or simply stop by for conversation. Coffee, light refreshments, and good company are provided.

No registration is required.

Location:
Springboard for the Arts
201 West Lincoln Avenue
Fergus Falls, MN 56537

Coffee & Light Refreshments:
Provided by Stumbeanos Coffee Roasters

FEE: Free | Call for Artists

Emerging Artist Exhibition Opportunity

Submissions Accepted Now

The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center and Continental Divide Brew Pub invite emerging artists from rural Minnesota to submit artwork for exhibition and sale at the Continental Divide.

This opportunity is designed to help artists expand their audience, build their exhibition experience, connect with fellow creatives, and become part of a growing regional arts community. Artists are encouraged to submit samples of original artwork along with a brief exhibition proposal for consideration.

To Apply:
Submit artwork samples and a brief exhibition proposal to:

• Megan Shirley-Ross, Artistic Director: megan@kulcher.org

• Cyrus Bickell, General Manager: cyrus@cdbpnym.com

Continental Divide Brew Pub
32 N Main Ave, New York Mills, MN 56567

FEE: Free

Clear as Mud | Annie Lee-Zimerle and Brian Zimerle

August 1 – November 29, 2026 | Starion Bank Gallery at Plains Art Museum, Fargo, ND

Clear as Mud brings together the work of Annie Lee-Zimerle and Brian Zimerle, two artists whose practices explore memory, materiality, and the quiet complexities of everyday life while reconsidering the promises and contradictions of the American Dream.

Drawing from backgrounds in printmaking, book arts, painting, drawing, and ceramics, the artists create works that reflect on domesticity, cultural mundanity, memory, and transformation. Annie Lee-Zimerle’s narrative-driven pieces examine her experiences growing up between South Korea and the American Midwest, while Brian Zimerle’s sculptural ceramics investigate the fragility of meaning through replicated objects shaped by history and material change. Together, their work invites viewers to consider what is preserved, altered, or lost over time, offering a layered meditation on belonging, cultural inheritance, and collective identity.

Annie Lee-Zimerle received her BFA and MFA from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is held in numerous public and private collections. Brian Zimerle holds an MFA in Ceramics from Cranbrook Academy of Art and has exhibited nationally while collaborating with archaeologists and institutions on historically informed ceramic recreations.

Gallery admission is free every day of the week.

Generous support is provided by Art Bridges Foundation’s Access for All program; the North Dakota Council on the Arts; the Arts Partnership; the McKnight Foundation; The FUNd at Plains Art Museum; Giving Hearts Day donors; Spring Gala sponsors; and Plains Art Museum members.

FEE: Free

Life Drawing – Open Studio

Fridays | 10:00–11:30 AM

Artists of all experience levels are invited to Life Drawing – Open Studio at the Historic Holmes Theatre in Detroit Lakes.

Life drawing, also known as figure or gesture drawing, focuses on drawing the human form in a variety of poses and levels of detail. These informal Friday morning sessions offer an opportunity to practice your skills, connect with other artists, and learn alongside Artist Facilitators from the Holmes Artist Collective.

Bring your own art supplies. All mediums and experience levels are welcome. No registration is required.

When: Fridays, 10:00–11:30 AM
Location: Holmes Art Cellar, located in the basement of the Historic Holmes Theatre
806 Summit Ave., Detroit Lakes, MN 56501

Free and open to all. No registration required.

FEE: FREE

Call for Artists: Lanesboro Arts Sales & Exhibition Galleries

Application Deadline: December 31, 2026

Lanesboro Arts is accepting applications from visual artists in Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin for two upcoming gallery opportunities: the 2027 Juried Sales Gallery and 2028 Exhibition Gallery. Artists working in all visual arts media, including both 2-D and 3-D work, are encouraged to apply.

The Juried Sales Gallery currently represents more than 80 artists, with a select number of new artists added each year to exhibit and sell their work. The Exhibition Gallery typically presents five solo or group exhibitions annually, with each exhibition running approximately eight weeks.

Artists are selected based on artistic vision, quality craftsmanship, thought-provoking qualities, diverse representation, and alignment with Lanesboro Arts’ organizational values. A regional artist jury will review applications in January, with applicants notified of decisions in March.

Deadline: December 31, 2026
Eligibility: Visual artists from Minnesota, Iowa & Wisconsin
Location: Lanesboro Arts, 103 Parkway Ave. N., Lanesboro, MN

FEE: Free to Apply

Call for Art: The M Triennial: Held Here

Application Deadline: Sunday, November 15, 2026 | 11:59 PM CST

The Minnesota Museum of American Art (the M) invites Minnesota artists to apply for the inaugural 2027–28 M Triennial: Held Here, a major exhibition bringing together contemporary visual art reflecting the vitality, diversity, complexity, and cultural landscape of Minnesota.

Centered on the theme Held Here, the triennial asks artists to consider connection and belonging at this moment in our shared history: What do we hold onto to heal, endure, thrive, and cultivate a hopeful future? What do we hold in our hands, bodies, histories, hearts, and imaginations—and how do we tend to one another?

Artists working across all media are encouraged to apply, including painting, drawing, printmaking, book arts, sculpture, photography, video, film, installation, performance, sound, textiles, ceramics, and interdisciplinary forms. Approximately 30–40 artists will be selected.

The call is open to visual artists at any career stage who currently reside in Minnesota or have lived in Minnesota during the past year. Artists with significant ancestral, familial, or cultural connections to Minnesota are also invited to apply and describe those connections. Artist teams are welcome.

Applicants may submit up to three completed works, works in progress, and/or proposed artworks. There is no application fee.

Selected artists will receive a $750 honorarium, professional documentation of their exhibited work, inclusion in the exhibition publication, transportation assistance as applicable, professional installation support, and opportunities to participate in related programming.

Call Opens: September 15, 2026
Application Deadline: November 15, 2026 | 11:59 PM CST
Artist Notifications: By February 1, 2027
Exhibition: September 16, 2027–July 30, 2028
Public Reception: September 23, 2027 | 6:00–8:00 PM
Application Fee: None
Questions: info@mmaa.org | 651-797-2571

FEE: $25 Non-Members | $20 Members

Morning with Megan: Fall Workshop Series

Second Saturdays | 10:00 AM–12:00 PM | September–December 2026

Get creative this fall with Morning with Megan, a monthly arts workshop series at the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center led by Artistic Director Megan Shirley-Ross.

Each workshop features a different hands-on project and is open to ages 16+. No Cultural Center membership is required to participate, though members receive discounted registration.

Fall 2026 Workshops:

• September 19: Wet Felted Vessels (rescheduled date)

• October 10: DIY Nichos — Create a personal decorative shadow box or shrine inspired by traditions surrounding Día de Muertos.

• November 14: Hanging Woodland Friend Ornaments — Transform wool balls, felt, and decorative materials into charming woodland creatures.

• December 12: Winter Village Accordion Books — Create a fold-out winter village using drawing, painting, collage, and mixed media.

Time: 10:00 AM–12:00 PM
Location: New York Mills Regional Cultural Center
Ages: 16+
Fee: $25 Non-Members | $20 Members
Registration: Advance registration requested | 218-385-3339

Accessibility note: Workshops take place in the upstairs studio, which is accessible only by stairs. Contact the Cultural Center at 218-385-3339 with accommodation needs.

FEE: Free to Submit

Call for Art: Small Works, Big Impact: An 8 x 8 Fundraising Show

Artwork Drop-Off Deadline: Thursday, November 12, 2026

The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center invites artists of all ages to participate in Small Works, Big Impact: An 8 x 8 Fundraising Show, a special exhibition celebrating creativity in a compact format while raising funds to support the Cultural Center.

Artists working in all media are welcome. Each artwork must measure exactly 8 x 8 inches in height and width, though depth may vary. All work must be original, suitable for public exhibition, ready to hang on a wall, and available for sale.

The exhibition will run concurrently with the Cultural Center’s Annual Artist’s Bazaar, offering participating artists additional visibility during the holiday season. As a fundraising exhibition, artists may choose to donate 50%, 75%, or 100% of the sale price of their work to the Cultural Center.

Artwork Deadline: November 12, 2026
Exhibition: November 14–28, 2026
Closing Reception: Saturday, November 28 | 1:00–3:00 PM
Location: New York Mills Regional Cultural Center
Eligibility: Artists of all ages | All media welcome
Questions: Megan Shirley-Ross | megan@kulcher.org | 218-385-3339

FEE: Free

Come, Go Back, Child | Aaron S. Coleman

September 26, 2026–May 30, 2027

Plains Art Museum presents Come, Go Back, Child, a solo exhibition of recent work by multi-media artist Aaron S. Coleman featuring densely layered prints, sculptural assemblages, and mixed-media installations.

Coleman’s work examines the intertwined histories of race, religion, and power in the United States, combining found imagery, historical references, pop culture graphics, and religious iconography to explore contemporary Black experiences and confront systems of white supremacy.

For this exhibition, Coleman also created new works responding to objects in the Plains Art Museum Permanent Collection, including racist caricatures, blackface imagery, and a photograph of a Ku Klux Klan figure. By altering and recontextualizing imagery and materials connected to the past, the exhibition asks viewers to grapple with the continuing legacies of racism and historical injustice.

The exhibition title draws from Dr. Saidiya Hartman’s Lose Your Mother: A Journey Along the Atlantic Slave Route and its exploration of slavery, ancestral loss, memory, and the challenge of confronting histories that have been erased or left unresolved.

Exhibition: September 26, 2026–May 30, 2027
Opening Reception: Saturday, September 26 | 6:00–8:00 PM
Location: William and Anna Jane Schlossman Gallery, Plains Art Museum | Fargo, ND
Admission: Free

The opening reception includes light refreshments, an opportunity to meet Coleman, and a chance to explore what Plains Art Museum describes as the largest exhibition of the artist’s print work to date.

FEE: Free

Office Gallery Exhibition: Dar Eckert

Solo Exhibition - Dar Eckert: Ceramic Works
September 28 – December 15, 2026
Lake Region Arts Council Office Gallery | Fergus Falls, MN

The Lake Region Arts Council is excited to welcome regional ceramic artist Dar Eckert to the LRAC Office Gallery for a solo exhibition of her distinctive ceramic vessels and sculptures.
Known for her raku-fired ceramics, Dar’s work is inspired by nature, the environment, politics, relationships, and her lifelong love of working with her hands. Her pieces often explore environmental and social themes through black, unglazed clay and intricate textural forms.

One of the defining elements of Dar’s practice is her open-weave ceramic “fabric,” representing the fabric of relationships, life, and the environment. Her delicate forms reflect the fragility of nature and the interconnectedness of the world around us.
Dar has also recently begun creating larger sculptures from numerous individual ceramic pieces. These works explore how people, ideas, and organizations can come together to create something larger and stronger than the individual parts.

Join Us for the Opening Reception & Artists Talk!

The LRAC is excited to celebrate this exhibition with a joint opening reception featuring the 18 artists from the group exhibition in the Main Gallery and Dar Eckert’s solo ceramic exhibition in the LRAC Office Gallery.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
5:00–6:30 PM
Artists Talk: 5:30 PM

Meet the artists, explore the exhibition, and hear directly from artists about their creative processes, ideas, and experiences behind the work.

Refreshments will be served. The reception is free and open to the public!

Gallery Hours:
Monday–Thursday | 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Closed Friday–Sunday

We hope you’ll join us and discover the many ways artists answer the question:
What does it mean to see—and be seen—as ourselves?

FEE: Free

Main Gallery Exhibition: "Self-Portraiture: Reflections of the Self"

Regional Juried Exhibition | 18 Artists | 27 Works
September 28 – December 15, 2026

Lake Region Arts Council Main Gallery | Fergus Falls, MN
The Lake Region Arts Council invites you to experience “Self-Portraiture: Reflections of the Self,” a regional juried exhibition exploring the many ways artists see, interpret, and express themselves.

A self-portrait can be much more than a recognizable likeness. It can be intimate, symbolic, playful, conceptual, realistic, surreal, or completely imagined. Through painting, drawing, photography, printmaking, sculpture, mixed media, and more, 18 regional artists explore identity, memory, emotion, personal experience, place, and the stories that shape who we are.

Who am I?
How do I wish to be seen?
What stories, emotions, or symbols shape my identity?
What lies beneath the surface of a portrait?

The exhibition features 27 works by 18 artists from communities throughout west central Minnesota:
Trudy Pendergast • Jennifer Aranda • Joan Jarvis • Kary Janousek • Jodi Peterson • Rebecca Krueger • Thom Tammaro • Valerie Hanson • Pamela Magnuson • Sharon Scapple • Emma Strommen • Amy Schmidt • Anna Fremont • Les Skoropat • Kaylyn Ness • Felicia Curley • Maren Kostrzewski • Eric Santwire

Join Us for the Opening Reception & Artists Talk!

The LRAC is excited to celebrate this exhibition with a joint opening reception featuring the 18 artists from the group exhibition in the Main Gallery and Dar Eckert’s solo ceramic exhibition in the LRAC Office Gallery.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
5:00–6:30 PM
Artists Talk: 5:30 PM

Meet the artists, explore the exhibition, and hear directly from artists about their creative processes, ideas, and experiences behind the work.

Refreshments will be served. The reception is free and open to the public!

Gallery Hours:
Monday–Thursday | 9:00 AM–3:00 PM
Closed Friday–Sunday

We hope you’ll join us and discover the many ways artists answer the question:
What does it mean to see—and be seen—as ourselves?

Bold and Playful Exhibition

EXHIBITION DATES: September 29–October 31, 2026
ARTIST RECEPTION: Thursday, October 15 | 5:00–7:00 PM
LOCATION: Red Door Art Gallery | 418 Dakota Avenue, Wahpeton, ND
FEE: Free Admission

The Red Door Art Gallery presents Bold and Playful, a group exhibition featuring works by six artists: Dr. David Clardy, Della Conroy, Phyllis Joos, Jodi Peterson, Ellen Sturdevant, and Laura Von Bank.

The exhibition brings together a variety of artistic perspectives, celebrating creativity, color, and playful expression through the work of these talented artists.

ARTIST RECEPTION: The public is invited to a reception on Thursday, October 15, from 5:00–7:00 PM. Visitors can explore the exhibition and enjoy a special 15% discount on exhibition artwork purchased during the reception day.

Bold and Playful will remain on view through October 31, 2026. Exhibition artwork can also be viewed online.

FEE: $18 per class

Fall Yoga with Bobbi Jo Hamilton

Fridays, October 2–November 20, 2026 | 10:00–11:00 AM

The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center continues its partnership with local instructor Bobbi Jo Hamilton of Northwoods Velvære Studio for an eight-week fall yoga series.

This welcoming, all-levels practice offers space to move, breathe, slow down, and reconnect with your body. Come as you are and move in the way that works for you.

Classes are held every Friday morning from October 2 through November 20.

Fridays: October 2–November 20 | 10:00–11:00 AM
Series: 8 weekly classes
Fee: $18 per class
Location: New York Mills Regional Cultural Center

Accessibility Note: The yoga studio is located on the upper level and is accessible only by stairs. Participants with accommodation needs are encouraged to contact the Cultural Center.

Third Saturday Yoga

Additional Saturday classes will be offered on the third Saturday of each month from 9:00–10:00 AM:

October 17 | November 21 | December 19

Saturday classes combine flowing movement with intentional holds to build strength, balance, and mobility while creating space to connect with the body and breath.

FEE: Free

4 Points of Light Exhibition

October 2–31, 2026

Four Points of Light brings together four neighboring artists whose studios are only minutes apart, yet whose creative voices are distinctly their own.

Working across contemporary abstraction, expressionism, mixed media, photography, impressionism, and landscape, each artist approaches the world through a different lens. What connects them is a shared passion for creativity and self-expression—and a belief in art’s ability to bring light into the world.

Exhibition: October 2–31, 2026
Location: Evansville Art Center
111 Main Street, Evansville, MN 56326
Admission: Free
Phone: 218-948-2787

FEE: $80–$100 per 8-week session | Scholarships Available

Youth Ballet Classes

Fall 2026 & Spring 2027 | Wednesdays

Youth Ballet returns to the New York Mills Regional Cultural Center with instructor Leona Cichy! Designed for children from Pre-K (age 4) through 3rd grade, these classes introduce young dancers to basic ballet techniques in a positive, creative, and encouraging environment.

Through music, movement, imaginative activities, and structured instruction, students will develop strength, coordination, flexibility, gross motor skills, and confidence while discovering the joy of dance.

Class Times & Fees:
Pre-K–Kindergarten: 4:00–4:30 PM | $80 per 8-week session
Grades 1–3: 4:30–5:15 PM | $100 per 8-week session

Fall Session: October 7–December 2, 2026 | No class November 11
Spring Session: February 10–April 7, 2027 | No class March 17

Each eight-week session concludes with a short recital. Class sizes are limited to 12 students per age group, and full session payment is required to reserve a spot.

Scholarships: Two full-scholarship spots are available in each class. Contact leona@rwfsmn.org for scholarship information.

Location: New York Mills Regional Cultural Center | Upstairs Dance Studio
Please note: The studio is accessible only by stairs.

Register for Fall 2026 or Spring 2027 Youth Ballet

FEE: Free to apply

Call for Applications: 2027 McKnight Printmaking Fellowship

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Sunday, November 15, 2026 | 11:59 PM CST
INFORMATION SESSION: Thursday, October 22, 2026 | 8:00 PM (Virtual)
FELLOWSHIP BEGINS: February 1, 2027
AWARD: $25,000 per artist | Two fellowships available
ELIGIBILITY: Mid-career Minnesota printmaking artists

Highpoint Center for Printmaking is accepting applications for the 2027 McKnight Printmaking Fellowship, recognizing outstanding mid-career Minnesota artists who demonstrate sustained accomplishment, commitment, and artistic excellence in printmaking.

Two selected artists will each receive an unrestricted $25,000 award, along with one year of access to Highpoint’s professional printmaking facilities, technical support, professional development opportunities, a $500 class credit, and participation in a fellowship exhibition, artist talk, and reception.

The fellowship is open to Minnesota artists working in traditional printmaking techniques, including intaglio, lithography, screenprinting, monoprinting, and relief. Artists throughout Minnesota, including rural communities and those outside the Twin Cities metro area, are encouraged to apply. Proximity to Highpoint is not required.

Applicants must be beyond emerging status and demonstrate a sustained commitment to printmaking. Application materials include artwork samples, an artist résumé, and a statement of artistic practice. No project proposal or budget is required.

Learn more and apply:
2027 McKnight Printmaking Fellowship Application

Questions: Josh Bindewald, Director of Artist Programs
josh@highpointprintmaking.org | 612-871-1326

FEE: Free to apply

Grant Opportunity: Leslye Orr Fund for Artists with Disabilities

APPLICATION PERIOD: October 7, 2026–April 6, 2027
DEADLINE: Tuesday, April 6, 2027 | 11:59 PM
AWARD: $2,000 per artist | Five grants per funding cycle
ELIGIBILITY: Minnesota artists with disabilities
SELECTION PROCESS: Randomized drawing of eligible applicants

Springboard for the Arts is accepting applications for Cycle II of the Leslye Orr Fund for Artists with Disabilities, providing direct financial support to Minnesota artists with disabilities to create new work, develop their artistic practices, and invest in their careers.

The fund awards five $2,000 grants per funding cycle, with recipients selected through a randomized drawing rather than a competitive review process. Cycle II applications are open through April 6, 2027, with recipients notified by April 30, 2027.

Established in honor of Leslye Orr (1955–2025), a Minnesota playwright, performer, educator, and disability advocate, the fund celebrates her belief in “the possibilities of disabilities.” Throughout her career, Orr championed inclusion, creativity, and opportunities for artists of all abilities to share their stories.

The fund continues her legacy by supporting artistic expression, accessibility, and community connection among Minnesota artists with disabilities.

FEE: See ticketing information

Frankenstein by Nick Dear

October 9–November 1, 2026
Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 PM | Sundays at 2:00 PM

Directed by Matthew Dryburgh, Nick Dear’s Frankenstein brings Mary Shelley’s iconic story to the stage from the perspective of the Creature.

Childlike in his innocence but grotesque in form, Frankenstein’s bewildered Creature is cast out into a hostile world by his horror-struck maker. Met with cruelty wherever he goes, the increasingly desperate and vengeful Creature sets out to find his creator and strike a terrifying deal.

Performance Schedule:
Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 PM
Sundays at 2:00 PM
October 9–November 1, 2026

Location:
Theatre B
215 10th St N,
Moorhead, MN 56560

ASL Performance & Sunday Salon: TBD

FEE: $12 Adults | $11 Seniors | $10 College Students | $8 Youth 5-17 & Children under 5 are Free.
HCSCC members get in free | Admission is also free every Tuesday night 5-8pm.

Bearing Witness Art Quilt Exhibit

October 10 - December 27, 2026
Hjemkomst Center

Opening Oct. 10, Historical and Cultural Society of Clay County will display 40 art quilts called Bearing Witness, produced by Studio Art Quilts Association. The theme of the exhibit is “deliberate attempts to eradicate specific populations due to differences of culture, religion, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender expression, and race. Often motivated by those in power, collective trauma and tragedy are part of our past and present.

This exhibition will educate viewers about the perils of antisemitism, racism, homophobia, sexism, and inequity. Our challenge is to remember and learn from the history of The Holocaust and other global genocides and to amplify our shared humanity. Preserving our humanity is at the center of all diversity, equity, and inclusion work, invoking the core of our experiences” (SAQA website).

The exhibit will show at the Hjemkomst Center in Moorhead Oct. 10 through Dec. 27, 2026. This exhibit will no doubt startle viewers who may be expecting their grandmother’s traditional quilts. Images and artist statements share the artists’ reflection on global atrocities in an art form that expands the tradition of quilt making to include found objects, sculpture, photo transfer, embroidery, and beadwork.

This activity is funded in part by Joe and Muriel Richardson, the FM Quilters (thank you!), the voters of Minnesota through grants through MN State Arts Board and Lake Region Arts Council from a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund, the FM Area Foundation, Alex Stern Family Foundation, and The Arts Partnership with support from the Cites of Fargo, Moorhead, and West Fargo.

Pinprick: Kara Jelinek + Tobias Zikmund

EXHIBITION DATES: October 13–November 14, 2026
RECEPTION: Saturday, November 7 | 4:00–6:00 PM
LOCATION: New York Mills Regional Cultural Center | 24 Main Avenue North, New York Mills, MN
FEE: Free Admission | Reception Free and Open to All

The New York Mills Regional Cultural Center presents Pinprick: Kara Jelinek + Tobias Zikmund, an exhibition featuring new and recent work by two Fargo-based artists exploring connections between material, place, memory, identity, and the natural world.

Working across tufted textiles, painting, sewing, sculpture, and mixed-media objects, Jelinek and Zikmund transform familiar materials and processes into unexpected forms.

Kara Jelinek is a textile artist whose creative project, Soft Spot, explores physical and emotional softness, memory, and connections to the natural world through tufted rugs and sculptural textiles.

Tobias Zikmund is a painter and public artist whose work examines the agricultural landscapes of North Dakota and the relationship between human intervention and the natural environment. For Pinprick, he expands his practice into sewing, quilt-inspired works, sculpture, and other media.

Together, the artists offer distinct but complementary approaches to how materials can carry personal and collective meaning.

GALLERY RECEPTION: The public is invited to a free reception on Saturday, November 7, from 4:00–6:00 PM. Light refreshments will be served.

Teen Art Studio with Anna Lassonde

DATES: Mondays, September 21 – November 23, 2026

TIME: 6:00–8:00 PM

LOCATION: Holmes Art Studio | 806 Summit Avenue, Detroit Lakes, MN

FEE: $200 for All 10 Sessions | $20 per Individual Session

AGES: 13–18 | 12-Year-Olds Welcome

REGISTRATION: Advance Registration Required

Young artists are invited to explore their creativity at Teen Art Studio, a 10-week program led by local artist and educator Anna Lassonde of Jollybird Studio at the Holmes Art Studio in Detroit Lakes.

Each Monday evening, participants can work on a planned art project or bring their own creative ideas to life with guidance and encouragement from Anna. Designed to foster artistic exploration and self-expression, these sessions offer a welcoming space for teens to develop new skills, experiment with different mediums, and connect with other young artists.

All art materials are provided at no additional cost, and snacks and beverages will be available for purchase. Students can register for the full 10-week series or attend individual sessions. While the program is designed for ages 13–18, interested 12-year-olds are also welcome.

Anna Lassonde is a multidisciplinary artist, illustrator, and educator whose work includes watercolor, acrylic, drawing, clay, and mixed media. Through her teaching and creative practice at Jollybird Studio, she encourages artists of all ages to explore their creativity in an accessible and supportive environment.

All registrations are final sale unless the event is canceled.

FEE: $45 Member, $50 Non-Member | $40 Member, $45 Non-Member by Nov. 2
$10 materials fee payable to instructor at class

Easy Clay Christmas Ornaments

with Terry Shaw
November 16 & 23, 4:00 - 5:30 PM
First Lutheran Church (gym), Battle Lake

Join Terry Shaw as she teaches you to make & personalize clay Christmas ornaments. This 2-part class is for all skill levels, beginner to advanced. On November 16, the first part, we will begin with the basics of rolling out the clay, then use cookie cutters and tools to create one-of-a-kind ornaments which Terry will fire in her kiln. In part 2 on November 23, Terry will provide a variety of glazes to finish our projects and do another firing. Items can be picked up November 30 or after. Art of the Lakes will provide tools and materials. Terry will have a few cookie cutters, but feel free to gather a few of your own!

Participants should bring an old cookie sheet, old apron, towel, and any cookie cutters that you may want to use. Please wear clothing that can get messy.

FEE: See ticketing information

I Never Asked for a GoFundMe by Jayne Deely

November 27–December 20, 2026
Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 PM | Sundays at 2:00 PM

Directed by Charlie Williamson, I Never Asked for a GoFundMe is a sharp contemporary comedy about identity, assumptions, small-town gossip, and the unexpected consequences of good intentions.

Millie and her partner Avery have returned to Millie’s hometown of Mobile, Alabama, while Avery recovers from gender-affirming top surgery. Things quickly spiral out of control when a nosy evangelical family friend mistakes Avery’s surgery for a battle with breast cancer and starts a GoFundMe for the couple.

Suddenly flooded with donations they never asked for—and at the center of small-town gossip—Millie and Avery must decide what to do with the money and whether being unapologetically themselves comes with a price tag.

Performance Schedule:
Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 PM
Sundays at 2:00 PM
November 27–December 20, 2026

Location:
Theatre B
215 10th St N,
Moorhead, MN 56560

ASL Performance & Sunday Salon: TBD

Dance & Dessert: A Holiday Dance Performance

DATES: Saturday, December 5 & Sunday, December 6, 2026

TIME: 2:00 PM Both Days

LOCATION: A Center for the Arts | 124 W Lincoln Avenue, Fergus Falls, MN

ADMISSION: $25 Adults | $12 Students

Celebrate the holiday season with Dance & Dessert, a beloved Fergus Falls tradition now in its 31st season! Presented by A Center for the Arts, this festive production features talented, auditioned dancers from the Fergus Falls School of Dance.

Enjoy an afternoon of dance and holiday cheer as young performers take the stage for a special Christmas celebration.Following each performance, audience members are invited across the street to the Fergus Falls Senior Center fordelicious desserts, adding a sweet ending to this seasonal favorite.

With two performances to choose from, Dance & Dessert offers a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the season while supporting local performing arts.

FEE: $20

A Christmas Carol…More or Less

December 10–13, 2026

Celebrate the holiday season with Prairie Wind Players' production of A Christmas Carol…More or Less, a fast-paced comedy that puts a hilarious twist on Charles Dickens' beloved Christmas classic.

When a Christmas Eve snowstorm strands the entire cast of A Christmas Carol, struggling married couple Sarah and Charlie are left to perform the entire production on their own. As they race through lightning-fast costume changes, forgotten lines, and dozens of characters—including Ebenezer Scrooge, Bob Cratchit, and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Future—the result is a laugh-out-loud holiday adventure celebrating love, second chances, and the spirit of the season.

Perfect for audiences of all ages, this festive comedy is a joyful addition to the holiday season.

Admission: $20

More Information & Tickets:
https://prairiewindplayers.org/event/a-christmas-carol-more-or-less/

FEE: Adult $26 | Student $15 | President's Box: Additional $12 per Ticket

Ugly Seasonal Sweater Soiree

Friday, December 18, 7:30pm

Saturday, December 19,  2:00pm

Ugly Seasonal Sweater Soiree is a hilarious and heartwarming holiday original musical comedy, featuring a live band and packed with festive fun. This brand-new production takes a playful look at the quirks of our favorite December traditions – because let’s face it, it’s not all fun and reindeer games! With treasured seasonal songs, holiday cheer, and plenty of festive fashion, it’s an event full of music and merriment the whole family will love!

An AC4TA Community Theatre Production!