Celebrating the Vibrant Diversity of Our Community

Mia prioritizes including community expertise in museum collections and programming, partnering with organizations that promote representational diversity and broaden accessibility. These partnerships ensure that every voice in our diverse community is heard and valued.

In the fall of 2024, Mia opened “Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room: The Alice S. Kandell Collection.” On view through September 14, 2025, the exhibition features more than 200 objects—including gilt-bronze sculptures, paintings, silk hangings, and carpets—created in Tibet and Mongolia between the 1300s and early 1900s. The exhibition’s opening presented an incredible opportunity for Mia to connect with the Tibetan community in the Twin Cities, the largest U.S.-based Tibetan community outside New York City. 

Mia partnered with Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota (TAFM) to plan Year of Tibet, a programming lineup designed to share Tibet’s arts, culture, and history with museum visitors over the course of the exhibition’s run. TAFM is a nonprofit organization committed to preserving and promoting Tibet’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage and has been invaluable in developing Year of Tibet. For more than a year, Mia staff met with a cohort of TAFM members to build a partnership and understand what the community would like to see in terms of programming and events. 

“Co-creation is such a valuable part of museum programming,” said Anna Dilliard, Mia’s programming manager. “While Mia staff are experts regarding the ins and outs of the museum, we rely on input from the communities we’re uplifting to enable them to feel ownership over Mia. When you can share with your friends and family that you were involved in co-creating this thing, that’s powerful. We’re not a monolith; we’re a reflection of our community.”

Tenzin Lhamo, president of TAFM, understands the broader significance of TAFM’s partnership with Mia.

“Museums play a powerful role in bridging cultural divides and fostering religious and social harmony,” said Lhamo. “TAFM’s partnership with Mia is a celebration of our shared humanity through the lenses of art, tradition, and spirituality.”

As repositories of history and culture, museums have the unique ability to present complex ideas in an educational and accessible way. Lhamo is grateful for the opportunity to partner with Mia in promoting and supporting “Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room” and related programming events throughout the community.

“The partnership between TAFM and Mia is unique in that we’ve established a genuine relationship that allows us to collectively harness and work toward our common goal to promote Tibetan culture,” said Lhamo. “I am elated that such an authentic partnership could grow between a larger and smaller organization to ensure the voices and experiences of the Tibetan community are heard.”

A key priority for Mia is reaching diverse audiences who delight in seeing their own cultures reflected in the museum’s programs, exhibitions, and events. By building relationships with key community partners, Mia strengthens its role as a cultural hub that reflects and serves the diversity of its broader community. 

Year of Tibet features a range of events and activities, including a screening of Kundun in celebration of Losar, the Tibetan New Year. This screening is free, but  reservations are required. All are welcome.