As the Executive Artistic Director for the African Arts Arena in Grand Forks, North Dakota, Hamzat Koriko is bringing nuance to the conversation about what it means to be a new American, particularly within the arts.
As Executive Director of Heritage Works in Detroit, Michigan, Rhonda Greene has spent decades connecting folks to West African cultural traditions through youth programs, community programs, and placemaking efforts. Arts Midwest spoke with Rhonda about cultural reclamation, placemaking, skill sharing, and the moves we need to memorize for a brighter future.
Over the course of seven days and nine time zones, Finnish band Kardemimmit joined Minnesota’s New York Mills community in celebrating its Scandinavian heritage.
Mushrooms, multi-use spaces, murals, and more? Explore an often-overlooked corner of the Midwest with local writer Elisabeth A. Fondell, and discover how the Driftless Region is delicious, distinctive, and utterly creative.
What happens when Wisconsin winter meets Brazilian carnaval celebration, all during a pandemic? You get a new music video for Brazilian artist Paulo Padilha’s song, “Outro Carnaval,” featuring students and faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Stout playing alongside musicians in São Paulo.
How a book about the humorous and difficult parts of aging connected Ohio residents during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Community is core to the mission, purpose, and activities at the National Museum of Mexican Art. Learn how this Chicago-based organization is investing in its community and keeping people connected despite the distance between us.
Before I arrived in Locust Grove, Oklahoma, I knew this small town of less than 1,500 was rich in one particular thing: creativity. I was visiting to experience the final events of their NEA Big Read, to meet the organizers, to gauge how the program added to the creative economy, and see how it afforded the residents some new and unique creative opportunities.
Universidad Ana G. Méndez hosted an NEA Big Read featuring Julia Alvarez’s novel, In the Time of the Butterflies. Through conversations and events with the author, the community of Gurabo, Puerto Rico heard reflections on Alvarez’s, the craft of storytelling, and the importance of literature in building compassion.