A Busy CEO’s August Update

August has been unusually hot this year, to the point that the impact of “corn sweat” on humidity levels in Minnesota has been discussed on the porch and backyard on more than one occasion.

The heat has given me the opportunity to catch up on good conversations, experiment with making the perfect Arnold Palmer drink (do you lean more lemonade or iced tea?), and taking time to enjoy some good summer reading.

Speaking of reading, we launched a series of children’s books this month – the Native American Lives Series – with an event at MHC. We were honored by the presence of Lieutenant Governor Peggy Flanagan who shared a few words about the importance of these books and making sure that children see themselves and their communities within the books that they read. The first four of an eventual 12 in the series tell the stories of Ella Cara Deloria, Charles Bender, Peggy Flanagan, and Carrie Cavender Schommer. Visit the Native American Lives Series program page to learn more about the books and how you can purchase them for personal or classroom use.

Also this month, Sketches of Minnesota, a partnership between MHC and Danger Boat productions, returned for another year of barnstorming improvisational comedy throughout the state. Sketches performances allow people to enjoy a good meal with one another, talk with their neighbors, learn something about their community, and enjoy some laughs together. In August alone, Sketches of Minnesota hits the road and makes stops in Braham, New Ulm, Rochester, and at the great Minnesota get together – the Minnesota State Fair! Please register to attend a Sketches performance on MHC’s website or drop by and see us at the State Fair!

We are also launching the 2025 MHC Statewide Tour this August. During the tour, I will share information about:

• Grants amounting to more than $20+ million that MHC will distribute over the next two years,
• Our statewide programs such as Sketches of Minnesota, We Are Water MN, and Many Fronts: Veterans and Community Voices, and
• Future programs such as Spark! which MHC is bringing to Minnesota in partnership with the Smithsonian.

I will also share some perspectives and insights as to how arts and cultural organizations such as MHC are responding in the moment. Last week, the State Humanities Councils were able to obtain a preliminary injunction against the National Endowment for the Humanities. This was a good first step to restoring funding to Councils such as MHC.

The MHC Statewide Tour will be coming to the following Minnesota communities:

July 14 – Henderson, St. Peter, and New Ulm

August 28 – Rochester

September 13 – St. Paul

October 2 and 3 – Fergus Falls

October 9 and 10 – Duluth

November 6 – Red Wing and Winona

We Are Water MN made quite an impact in Minneapolis at this year’s Aquatennial festival. If you did not get a chance to see the Minneapolis exhibit last month and the first few days in August. Watch a KARE 11 feature story on the initiative. This month, the We Are Water MN exhibit moves to the Ney Nature Center in Henderson where it can be enjoyed between August 14 – kicking off our MHC Statewide Tour – through October 5.

As someone who supports MHC, your voice is important to us. Your ideas help us shape future programming, grant lines, and partnerships that we pursue in the future – we hope to see you soon.

As always, thanks for your support!

Kevin