This region is home to some of Minnesota’s great writers and artists. Find a folk art school in the middle of the prairie and take a class, attend a concert, play, or take part in other cultural events. You can explore the Minnesota River Valley by visiting historical sites, and reading stories. Discover the essence of our area through our history, culture, and art.
Famous Meander Art Crawl
Free self-guided tour of artist studios featuring over 40 local artists from the Upper Minnesota River Valley. The Meander is a great “trip on a tank full” for those seeking beautiful art, authentic culture, rich history, and scenic vistas. Visit the Meander website to learn more.
Milan Village Arts School
At the Milan Village Arts School, students of all ages gather to take folk art classes in a wide variety of offerings from watercolor painting to artisan bread-baking to Norwegian traditional knife-making! Milan Village Arts School hosts a variety of events and classes held throughout the year. Read more.
Dawson-Boyd Arts Association
At Memorial Auditorium in Dawson, performances are sponsored by Dawson-Boyd Arts Association nearly once a month – dance, music, theater – all quality events at affordable ticket prices! Check their website to see what’s next. They provide opportunities for local musicians to perform and local artists to exhibit. They also offer professional performances, master classes and workshops for students. Learn More.
Appleton’s Riverside Park Concert Series
Appleton’s ’52 Wing Auditorium presents several concerts throughout the year. Come summer, catch one of the eight Tuesday evening outdoor concerts in Riverside Park. While there, visit the Appleton Memory Trail and community art mosaic project.
Granite Falls Arts Council
Granite Area Arts Council (GAAC) has monthly exhibits at the KK Berge Gallery, larger performance events throughout the year and a summer art camp for both kids and adults. The GAAC owns and operates the building which hosts a different regional artist every six weeks in the main gallery and the emerging artist gallery and gives artists a venue to sell their artwork in Makers on the Minnesota . They also host events inside and out of their building located right next to the Minnesota River. Learn More.
Prairie Arts Center
The beauty of the building alone invites you in. There is history here. Once a Lutheran church, the Prairie Arts Center now serves as the Community Theater in Madison, MN. For over 30 years, this building has hosted theatrical events, providing opportunities for involvement in and exposure to the performing arts for both children and adults. As you enter, the pictures covering the walls attest to this history, showing small one act plays, children’s theater, large musical productions and more. The renovated sanctuary now houses a stage and seating for up to 230 people. The setting is intimate, allowing the audience to fully enter in to the productions. We welcome you to experience the richness that community theater can offer at the Prairie Arts Center in Madison, MN. Come for a show or join us on the stage. Learn More.
Montevideo Arts Project
MAP, or the Montevideo Arts Project is a volunteer, community based organization that aims to increase the use of public art in our community. They’ve installed four pieces of public art in Montevideo: a painted train car, a mural in the center of downtown, and the stained glass tractor, and a painted staircase.
