News From The Cultural Center

Give to the Max Day November 13

End of Year Fundraising Kick-Off November 13 Give to the Max Day is the beginning of the Cultural Center's end-of-year fundraising. The Center has a funding gap of $50,000 that it must close by December 31, 2014 in order to start our new fiscal year in the best way...

The Spirits Within

Pastel work by Don Garey The Spirits Within exhibit of pastel work by Staples artist Don Garey is on display at the Cultural Center in the ground floor gallery. Opening October 18 and running through November 26, this exhibit by Don Garey fills the Cultural Center...

Zeitgeist and Nirmala Rajasekar November 12

Summer Rain: Indian classical music and Western classical new music Wednesday November 12 at the James Mann Center for the Performing Arts at the New York Mills Schools. 7:30 pm. Advance ticket reservations $12 or $15 at the door. $2 additional discount with a...

April Verch concert Saturday October 11

Fine singing, deft fiddling, and amazing step-dancing Concert Saturday October 11 at 7:30 pm. Call 218-385-3339 to reserve your tickets. Admission is $12 advance or $15 at the door. Bring a donation for the food shelf and receive an additional $2 discount! Free...

Workshop on identifying Minnesota birds

Dick Oehlenschlager to present workshop on Minnesota bird ID Dick has identified nearly 200 birds in Wadena county and he will be the featured presenter in a workshop focused on identifying the birds of Minnesota. Everyone is invited to this event on Tuesday,...

The Jacobite Harp

A concert with Ann and Charlie Heymann Friday, October 3rd at 7:30 pm “The Jacobite Harp” concert will present a show featuring the world renowned artistry of Minnesota’s own Ann & Charlie Heymann. Their dramatic harp music and poignant ballads are balanced by...

Visiting Artist Jill Kalz Poetry Reading

Visiting Author Jill Kalz will give a poetry reading, Wednesday October 1st from 7 to 8 pm at the Cultural Center. There is no charge for this event and everyone is welcome! Jill is the author of over 70 children's books and has also published...

Arts Retreat FREE ARTIST RESIDENCY – submissions due October 1, 2014

The New York Mills Arts Retreat is currently accepting applications for January - June 2015 artist residencies. The Arts Retreat program offers self-funded 2-6 week solo residencies for selected artists in all disciplines. A small house and studio access are provided,...

Fall 2014 Concert Series

Great entertainment this fall at your Cultural Center Admission $12 advance or $15 at door except as noted Concerts begin at 7:30 pm unless otherwise noted Click on the concert name to read all the details Friday Oct 3 the Jacobite Harp music of Scotland and...

One Good Turn – the woodturner’s art

Minnesota Lakes Woodturners make art out of the forest Exhibit open through Wednesday, October 15 Enjoy live woodturning demonstrations Friday, September 19 from 6 pm - 8 pm Local artists from Otter Tail, Wadena, and Becker Counties are featured in the Minnesota Lakes...

Senior / Gentle Yoga Classes

Starting on September 10th through November 12th, join us at the Cultural Center on Wednesday mornings from 9 to 10 a.m., for a gentle journey led by registered yoga instructor Ann Pate. Ann's class will build strength and flexibility through yoga and yoga flows. The...

Lost Towns of Northern Minnesota

Rhonda Fochs and the lost towns of northern Minnesota Author Rhonda Fochs will be discussing her book "Minnesota Lost Towns" this Thursday, August 28 at 7:30 pm at the Cultural Center. There is no charge for this event and everyone is invited to learn about the...

Online giving for the Cultural Center

Investing in the Cultural Center Like what we're doing? Click below to donate! We are a 501(c)(3) tax exempt organization, so your donation is tax deductible. We depend on the support of individual and businesses to continue our programming and to help us achieve our...

Open Mic Night

Looking for something different to do on a Tuesday night? Come to the Cultural Center every 4th Tuesday of the month at 7:00pm for our monthly Open Mic Night. Open Mic is always FREE and open to all. ALL are welcome - musicians, poets, writers, jugglers, comedians -...

New sculpture “uproot” at Sculpture Park

Morris, Minnesota Artist Gary Wahl introduces his sculpture “uproot” at the Sculpture Park Uprooted, a new sculpture at the Sculpture Park in New York Mills, will be introduced to the community by artist Gary Wahl on Saturday, August 2 from 4 pm to 6 pm. Everyone is...

2014 Puppet Pageant

Join us for two weeks of fun and creativity! Learn to walk with stilts, children & adults help to make large puppets and perform in our theatrical event! Workshop Schedule: For all participants August...

Margo McCreary Puppet Show

The Cultural Center brings a puppet show by extraordinary puppeteer Margo McCreary to New York Mills Farmers Market on Saturday, July 26 at 11am. The performance is free to the public, and is made possible, in part, through funding provided by the Minnesota State Arts...

Decoy Judging Results

The Annual Decoy Show will be on display in our gallery from July 9-July 19th. Stop in and take a look! Congratulations to all winners! Also, a special congratulations to Paul Sparks and John Peeters, who placed in all 3 categories! ...

Masks and Stone Sculptures by Simon Zornes

Simon Zornes show through Thursday, July 31 in the upstairs gallery Artist reception on Friday, July 11th from 2-5 pm Using native rock and wood, Simon Zornes creates powerful images expressive of his Anishinaabeg heritage. Here are three images that tell more about...

John House and annual decoy art exhibit

Wild nature, human nature, and fish decoys July 9 - 19 Meet John House on Friday, July 11 from 2-5 pm at his reception Renowned artist John House will fill the Cultural Center gallery with portraits of human nature and wild nature as part of the annual fish decoy show...

AmazonSmile program at the Cultural Center

AmazonSmile helps bring you the Puppet Pageant and the Think-Off If you buy goods from Amazon.com you can now help provide resources to the Cultural Center too. When you shop on Amazon just click on the following link to ask for Amazon.Smile. You will still be on...

Visiting artist Katie Rose Pipkin

Taking up residence in the Arts Retreat house during the first part of the summer of 2014 is visual artist Katie Rose Pipkin. During the early part of her residency, she has been focused on her drawings and has been quite productive amidst small town life in New York...

Little big year in Minnesota and at the Cultural Center

Little big year orientation meeting July 17th The Cultural Center will sponsor a "little" big year to begin August 1 and continue for 12 months. And on July 17th you are invited to join Alice Martin and others from around the state of Minnesota in a year-long quest...

Fish House and Decoy Auction Friday July 11

Fish house art and decoys July 11 The Cultural Center has commissioned four artists from the region to paint fish houses and fish decoys on July 11th as part of the New York Mills Summer Celebration. Kayleen Horsma of Menahga, Pam Robinson from New York Mills, Troy...

Texts of the final four essays from the 2014 Think-Off

Love motivates us more by Jennifer Nelson I couldn’t believe. I didn’t even realize I was bleeding. Adrenaline is a surprisingly strong force. As I shakily stumbled away from my demolished vehicle, I had no idea I was even injured, let alone that my injuries would be...

Jennifer Nelson wins 2014 Great American Think-Off

Enthusiastic audience chooses "America's Greatest Thinker" Jennifer Nelson of Morris, Minnesota won the annual Great American Think-Off philosophy contest on Saturday, June 14 before an enthusiastic crowd of 375 persons in New York Mills, Minnesota. Jennifer won the...

Jennifer Nelson wins 2014 Great American Think-Off

Enthusiastic audience chooses “America’s Greatest Thinker" Read the complete texts of the four finalists' essays on our Think-Off site. Jennifer Nelson of Morris, Minnesota won the annual Great American Think-Off philosophy contest on Saturday, June 14 before an...

Summer Yoga Classes

The Cultural Center is pleased to once again offer Yoga classes in our upstairs studio, with new instructor Melissa Lepper. There are two options for classes throughout the summer, described below. Cost is $11 per class for drop-ins, or $90 for a 10-class punch-card...

Art in your park for kids this summer

Art in your park in Mills, Perham, & Wadena All Art in your Park activities are free. The projects are for kids through 6th grade. Age 7 and under need to be accompanied by a parent or older sibling. Call 218-385-3339 with any questions. See you at the parks....

Collaborative Poetry Broadsides June 2nd

On Monday, June 2nd at 7:30pm, come to the Cultural Center to hear poetry, learn more about letterpress printing, meet both a local and a visiting artist, and have the chance to purchase one of an edition of 40 broadsides. Each broadside is hand-fed through an antique...

Farmers’ Market opens

Farmers' Market opens Saturday, May 24 The Farmers' Market opens on Saturday (9am to 1pm) for the first day of the 2014 season (located in the shelter on the east side of the Creamery). Colene Jacobson and Beverly Backstrom will be serving coffee and baked treats and...

Annual regional show – call for artists

Brad Wegscheid raku show and demonstration

As part of his current raku ceramics show at the Cultural Center galleries in New York Mills, Brad Wegscheid will give a free raku demonstration on Friday, May 30th in the parking area behind the Cultural Center. The demonstration begins at 6:00 pm. Brad has been...

FOB Minnesota Tour

FOB (Fresh Off the Boat) to be performed at Perham’s Jin Hu Restaurant June 7 & 8 Tickets at the Center (call 218-385-3339) or online at Brown Paper Tickets Minneapolis-based Mu Performing Arts and the Cultural Center in New York Mills bring David Henry...

Visiting Artist Alyse Knorr

Just a week and a half and more than 30 pages of new poetry after arriving from Anchorage, Alaska, artist-in-residence Alyse Knorr is settling in quite nicely. Alyse will be here until June 4th, and will spend her time both in writing new pieces and in editing past...

Final four debaters for this year’s Great American Think-Off

Tickets at the Center (call 218-385-3339) or online at Brown Paper Tickets “Love or fear: which motivates us more?” will be debated at the 22nd annual Great American Think-Off at the New York Mills School on Saturday, June 14th. The great debate will take place...

Final four for 2014 debate hail from Minnesota

Final four debaters for 2014 Great American Think-Off will debate on June 14th Tickets on sale at the Center (call 218-385-3339) or online at Brown Paper Tickets (click here) “Love or fear: which motivates us more?” will be debated at the 22nd annual Great American...

Norman Kennedy, balladeer and storyteller

Traditional Scottish songs and stories Thursday, May 8th Don't miss the opportunity to hear Norman Kennedy in concert at the Center on May 8th at 7:30pm. Admission is $15 on the night of the concert or $12 with advance reservation. Student admission is always $5. ...

Expressions of a Sami Heritage

Kayleen Horsma oil paintings "Expressions of a Sami Heritage", an exhibit of Kayleen's new oil paintings, opens on Wednesday, April 23 and continues through Saturday, May 31 in the ground floor gallery. A reception honoring Kayleen will be hosted by the Center on...

Annual Garden Party Fundraiser Thurs, May 1st

Live and silent auctions once again this year Help us shake off "the coldest winter in 30 years" with our annual Garden Party fundraiser on Thursday, May 1st, 2014 at 6pm at the Cultural Center. This year's event will once again include both a silent and live...