Art in Action: Four Seasons of Programming

May 15, 2025—Programs at Mia aim to make art accessible and encourage curiosity, exploration, and self-expression. From open studios, where visitors of all ages can experiment creatively, to performances and events that showcase the best of the local cultural landscape, Mia’s Programming team continuously finds new ways for people to engage with art. The museum partners with organizations, artists, and educators to create spaces for gathering and connection where everyone is welcome, always.

Here, we take a look back at programming over the past 12 months—a lineup that celebrated the vibrancy of our community while inspiring wonder through the power of art.

Summer 2024

The season’s programming took advantage of our glorious Twin Cities summers to bring the creativity and fun outdoors.

Family

Launched in late spring 2024, Mini Mia—a free program designed for our youngest community members (ages 0–5)—has been an undeniable success, with attendance of more than 600 so far. Families have made new friends, while their young ones have connected with the wonders of art in a comfortable, kid-friendly setting.

Mini Mia is held on the first Wednesday of every month. It offers a gallery tour tailored for caregivers and young children, a dance-based movement class with Young Dance, and a cozy story time. Find upcoming dates. 

Adult

Now in its second year, the Meet at Mia summer series in Target Park showcased an incredible array of Twin Cities talent. At Courtyard Concerts, attendees enjoyed live musical performances and art making with local artists, while Bike Night, in its 12th season, celebrated the biking community. Food trucks onsite at each event highlighted our region’s eclectic culinary scene. 

Community

Minneapolis parks are brimming with activity every summer. There are ice cream socials, outdoor movie screenings, resource fairs, community cleanup days, and cookouts. Through Art in the Park, Mia collaborated with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board to offer free art activities for all ages at these citywide events. 

Bridgerton Days, a two-day event, transformed Mia into a fictional Regency-era London, reminiscent of the setting of the popular Netflix series Bridgerton. Visitors dressed in costume and enjoyed art making in the studios, accompanied by music from Daniel the Violinist and Loring String Quartet in the lobby. Mia guides also donned period-appropriate attire and welcomed visitors throughout the galleries.

Fall 2024

As the days turned cool and crisp, Mia offered a programming lineup for all ages, including intergenerational gatherings and artistic experiences.

Family

The museum opened early for special Black Friday fun, welcoming visitors who traded the retail rush for a morning at Mia. “Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room: The Alice S. Kandell Collection,” “At the Moulin Rouge,” and “O’Powa, O’Meng: The Art and Legacy of Jody Folwell” opened at 8 a.m., and there were plenty of activities, including holiday card making, story time for the kids, and a raffle. 

Family Day programming included partnerships with Gyuto Monastery, the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota, Heart of the Beast Puppet Theater, the Textile Center, Zorongo Flamenco Dance Theater, Twin Cities Strings Academy, and others.

Adult

A themed Meet at Mia celebrated spooky season with a focus on “Dark Visions.” Visitors experienced the spine-tingling side of Mia’s collection, diving into the eerie art and mysterious minds of artists like Francisco Goya and William Blake while enjoying performances, floral arrangements, and talks.

Community

Art Play! offered visitors of all ages and abilities the chance to experiment—no prompts, no rules, just play. Following a successful launch in the fall, the program continues monthly, focusing on a different medium each time. Find upcoming dates.

A yearlong partnership with the Tibetan American Foundation of Minnesota guided the installation of “Tibetan Buddhist Shrine Room: The Alice S. Kandell Collection.” Mia welcomed more than 200 members from Minnesota’s Tibetan community to celebrate the room’s opening. More programming related to the shrine followed, including a poetry reading with Bhuchung D. Sonam and a screening of Kundun in celebration of Losar, the Tibetan New Year.      

Winter 2025

As the temperatures dipped, opportunities arose for continuous learning and sharing knowledge.

Family

Mia’s award-winning podcast, The Object, tells the surprising, true stories behind the art and artists in the collection. The podcast took to the stage with The Object LIVE!, a live-taping event. With a sold-out debut, it brought to life everything listeners love about the podcast. Find upcoming live tapings.

Adult

Leslie Wilson, Academic Curator and Director of Research Programs at the Art Institute of Chicago, spoke about the complexities of South African photojournalist Ernest Cole’s documentary work in the United States. Wilson curated the exhibition “The True America: Photographs by Ernest Cole.”

The Black Europe Film Festival of Minneapolis/Saint Paul, a celebration of Afro-European cinema, debuted in the Twin Cities from January 30 to February 2. Mia hosted one of the screenings, which paired two films: Vanus Labor and We Were Here, exploring the representation of Black individuals in European art and culture. Afterward, directors Salad Hilowle and Fred Kuwornu joined the audience in a conversation. 

Mia launched Studio Sessions, art classes and workshops that offer experienced art makers and curious novices alike the opportunity to create projects inspired by the museum’s collection and special exhibitions. Each Studio Sessions class features a different subject or medium to explore, and visitors leave with expanded knowledge and skills, plus a personal work of art. Find upcoming sessions. 

Community

With City Hour x Mia, the museum hosted a three-week series of open mics, fronted by dancers Zhané and Lydia J. The program included a variety of art forms, from comedy to music to design.

Spring 2025

Spring was truly the season of creative renewal and fresh perspectives, as teens and young adults made Mia their own.

Family

Mia partnered with Public Functionary (PF) for a dynamic five-week Meet at Mia series tied to the special exhibition “Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.” After the opening-night program on March 20, PF designed each subsequent week’s programming to correlate with a theme of the exhibition: Becoming Giants, On the Shoulders of Giants, Giant Conversations, and Giant Presence.

Each program included music, film screenings, live performances, tours led by the PF Curatorial Cohort, and more. The PF Curatorial Cohort drew on their established relationships within the community to partner with and feature local artists throughout the series. 

Adult

Vision and Voice, Mia’s first program designed for college-age adults, debuted with performances, games, and free access to the new special exhibition, “Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys.”

Community

Teen Perspectives, a partnership between Mia and the Center for Racial Health and Equity at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, returned for its fourth year. The program facilitates collaboration between student artists and artists in the community, culminating in an exhibition. This year’s show is entitled “Teen Perspectives: Minneapolis As Monument.” It features paintings, drawings, and prints reflecting on the last five years in Minneapolis.

Taking inspiration from “Giants: Art from the Dean Collection of Swizz Beatz and Alicia Keys,” students were encouraged to see themselves as giants. Artists Kprecia Ambers, Leslie Barlow, Graci Horne, Lissa Karpeh, and Akiko Ostlund worked with the students during multiple visits to create a vital body of work, which opened May 10, 2025, in the Katherine Kierland Herberger Gallery, Community Commons.

Mia continues to broaden its programming efforts to reach diverse audiences. As the “people’s museum,” we’re dedicated to creating spaces where every member of our community can see themselves represented.

Looking for Something to Do This Summer?

Check out the Meet at Mia: Summer Series 2025, featuring live music, art making, special programs, and unique food and drink. All the events are free—no registration or secret handshake required.