Celebrating five decades of Minnesota artists and their voices at Mia
December 4, 2025
Minneapolis—December 10, 2025, marks the 50th anniversary of the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP), the artist-driven initiative founded in 1975 to spotlight the work and perspectives of Minnesota-based visual artists. Housed at the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia), MAEP is one of the longest-running programs of its kind in the nation, with more than 200 exhibitions and 3,000 artists featured over five decades.
MAEP’s anniversary arrives as the program opens its latest exhibition, “Amy Usdin: After All,” on view now through February 22, 2026. Usdin’s work will be celebrated again this winter during her artist talk on January 25, 2026, and through her inclusion in the “2024/25 MCAD–Jerome Fellowship Exhibition” at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design (MCAD), opening Friday, January 16, 2026.
That same MCAD exhibition will also feature the next MAEP artist, Nik Nerburn, whose project “The Milkman” debuts at Mia on March 21, 2026. The back-to-back presentations at both institutions highlight a meaningful collaboration between MCAD and Mia, connecting Twin Cities audiences to voices in Minnesota art.
“Since 1975, Mia has proudly supported Minnesota’s artists to achieve their next step through our exhibitions and programs,” said Nicole E. Soukup, MAEP Supervisor. “Anniversaries invite both celebration and reflection, and this milestone feels especially energizing. As we look toward the program’s next evolution, I’m excited by the possibilities ahead—opportunities to continue supporting artists at every stage of their careers.”
Founded in 1975, MAEP was conceived by a group of Minnesota artists and museum collaborators who envisioned an artist-driven program that would bring regional perspectives into Mia’s galleries. Its inaugural exhibition, “State: State of the Art / Art: Art of the State,” featured 21 artists—many of whom were also instrumental in shaping the program’s founding mission. Today, MAEP continues to be guided by a five-member advisory committee of practicing Minnesota artists who select each exhibition through an open call. Selected artists receive $13,500 to realize their vision and are supported by a public program, such as an artist talk or performance.
Throughout its history, MAEP has elevated artists who have elevated the region’s cultural landscape, including George Morrison, Kinji Akagawa, Seitu Jones, Warren MacKenzie, JoAnn Verburg, Alec Soth, Andrea Carlson, and Pao Houa Her. The program also pioneered experimental approaches that have since become standard in museums, including performances and film series, as well as community-driven projects. Its decennial “Foot in the Door” exhibition remains a beloved statewide tradition.
As MAEP celebrates this milestone year, Mia honors the thousands of artists, community partners, and visitors who have built and sustained the program since its founding, and looks ahead to the next 50 years of creative collaboration across Minnesota.
Learn about MAEP’s 50 years: https://new.artsmia.org/hub/community-partnerships/maep-50-years.
For more information on MAEP and upcoming exhibitions, visit www.artsmia.org.
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About the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP)
The Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP) is an artist-led program at Mia. Founded in 1975 as a yearlong partnership between the museum and regional artists, it has become a unique, ongoing relationship lasting 50 years. Today, the MAEP presents exhibitions in the 2,500-square-foot U.S. Bank Gallery. Support for MAEP is provided by RBC Wealth Management.
About the Minneapolis Institute of Art
Home to more than 100,000 works of art representing 5,000 years of world history, the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) inspires wonder, spurs creativity, and nourishes the imagination. With extraordinary exhibitions and one of the finest art collections in the country—from all corners of the globe, from ancient to contemporary—Mia links the past to the present, enables global conversations, and offers an exceptional setting for inspiration. Learn more about Mia in our latest Impact Report.
General admission to Mia is always free, but some special exhibitions charge a nominal fee.
For more information, call + 1 612 870 3000 or visit www.artsmia.org. Everyone is welcome. Always.