News From The Cultural Center

Death is the mother of beauty (for Wallace Stevens)

Charles Matson Lume's light installation opens January 15 in the ground floor gallery Artist reception Monday, February 2nd from 4 pm - 6 pm with presentation by the artist at 5:30 pm Minnesota artist Charles Matson Lume spent two weeks in early January this year in...

2015 Great American Think-Off question is here

Does Technology Free Us or Trap Us? Submit your 2015 essay no later than April 1, 2015 Winners will be notified no later than May 1, 2015 The 2015 debate will be held in New York Mills on Saturday, June 13 NEW YORK MILLS, Minn. – The 2015 Great American Think-Off has...

2015 Great American Think-Off question

Does technology free us or trap us? Submit your 2015 essay no later than April 1, 2015 Winners will be notified no later than May 1, 2015 The 2015 debate will be held in New York Mills on Saturday, June 13 NEW YORK MILLS, Minn. – The 2015 Great American...

Stamping Made Simple

Make your own gift tags and unique wrapping...

Longest Night Music Festival Sunday Dec. 21, 2014

Listen to musicians from around the region at this annual free concert Join us for this free concert as the world turns toward the longer days of spring. A bevy of artists (including Lisa Winter, Fr. Peter Kirchner, John Perry, Dave Virnala, Tyson Cavalier, Todd Voss,...

Holiday concert with Tim Sparks

The Nutcracker Suite - Saturday December 13 Hope you can take time this holiday season to enjoy Tim Sparks' playing of his arrangement of Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite here at the Center on Saturday, December 13 at 7:30 pm. Admission is $12 by advance...

Community Art Show in December

Opening December 5th in the ground floor gallery Do you have a special painting, photograph, or other work of art in your home that you would like to see on display at the Cultural Center’s ground floor gallery this December? Will you share that work with the...

Yoga with Mel – Fall/Winter Classes!

Yoga instructor Melissa Lepper is BACK to keep you warm this winter with Yoga classes $11/Class or $90 for a 10 class punch card The schedule for yoga is as follows Monday at 6:00-7:00pm Yoga Sculpt A fun class that combines yoga and strength training. Set to fun...

Holiday Silent and Live Auction Fundraiser

Annual Cultural Center fundraiser Thursday, December 4th at the New York Mills City Ballroom Bid on 80 great gifts for this holiday season in the silent auction from 6 pm to 8:45 pm Live auction with Rod Mursu calling the sale of 10 special items beginning at 7:30 pm....

Annual Holiday Artist Bazaar and Stock-Up Sale

Unique gift choices from local artists Dec. 9-13 Annual Stock-Up Sale Dec. 12 from 6-9 pm Work by over 100 local artists and artisans will be featured in the annual Artist Bazaar this year. 5 days of holiday shopping plus the great Stock-Up Sale on December 12 from...

Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker Suite

Tim Sparks - Solo Fingerstyle Guitar Guitar wizard Tim Sparks plays the Nutcracker Suite in New York Mills on Saturday, December 13 Join Tim as he plays one of his signature pieces at the Cultural Center at 7:30 pm. Admission is $12 advance reservation or $15 at the...

World music, dance, and song from Spain

"Las Flamencas" dance, music, song November 22nd "Las Flamencas" unravels the iconic appeal of flamenco women and their legendary art form. Join this journey in and out of satire, sorrow and celebration, inspired by the power, vulnerability, and strong self-identity...

Madhatter’s present “Don’t Hug Me”

November 14 & 15 at the Creamery Tickets are available at the Cultural Center for the November 14 & 15 performance at the Creamery. Mills Lanes is catering the dinner with their famous burgers, chicken fillet sandwich, and wildrice/black bean burgers. ...

Visiting Artist: Staci Schoenfeld

Staci R. Schoenfeld received an MFA in creative writing from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale and is Managing Poetry Editor at Revolution House. A recipient of grants from the Barbara Deming Memorial Fund and the Kentucky Foundation for Women and residencies...

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...