Minneapolis Institute of Art (Minneapolis, MN)

The Minneapolis Institute of Art (MIA) in Minneapolis, MN is one of my go-to places when I have a free day! I love walking around the museum and taking in all my favorites – I particularly enjoy the impressionisms on the third floor – as well as seeing what’s new. It is so relaxing, and such an enjoyable experience! Come along as I share some history about MIA and all that’s available to experience during your visit.

In 1883, twenty-five citizens of Minneapolis founded the Minneapolis Society of Fine Arts, committing them to bringing the arts into the life of their community. More than a century later, the museum they created, the Minneapolis Institute of Art or MIA, stands as a monument to a remarkable history of civic involvement and cultural achievement.

Designed by the preeminent New York architectural firm McKim, Mead and White, the original building opened its doors in 1915. The museum expanded in 1974 with an addition designed by the late Japanese architect, Kenzo Tange, and in June 2006, the museum unveiled a new wing designed by architect, Michael Graves, called the Target Wing. The Target Wing was the result of a major renovation and expansion that included thirty-four new galleries, increasing exhibition space by 40 percent. The expansion included a new Lecture Hall, Photographs Study Room, Print Study Room, and an Art Research Library in a more visible location. The Graves design respectfully combined the neoclassical elegance of the original McKim, Mead & White 1915 building with the minimalism of Tange’s 1974 addition.

MIA’s permanent collection has grown from 800 works of art to more than 89,000. The collection includes world-famous works that span from about 20,000 before the current era (BCE) and represents the world’s diverse cultures across six continents. The museum has seven curatorial areas: Arts of Africa & the Americas; Contemporary Art; Decorative Arts, Textiles & Sculpture; Asian Art; Paintings; Photography and New Media; and Prints and Drawings.

More than a half-million people visit MIA each year, and a hundred thousand more are reached through the museum’s Art Adventure program for elementary schoolchildren. The museum’s free general admission policy (yes, MIA is a free museum!), public programs, classes for children and adults, and award-winning interactive media programs have helped to broaden and deepen this museum’s roots in the communities it serves.

As stated above MIA is a free museum operated for the benefit of the general public; however, major annual support for museum operations and programs is provided by individuals, families, and organizations who support the museum annually through memberships and contributions.

Besides the seven curatorial areas previously stated, the MIA also has exhibitions on display throughout the year – most are free, but some do have a charge. For example, a couple of  the current exhibitions currently happening for free are Fragments of Epic Memory (the exhibition presents more than 100 photographs from the Art Gallery of Toronto’s Montgomery Collection of Caribbean Photographs alongside paintings, sculpture, and video works by modern and contemporary Caribbean artists) and German Prints in the Later 1400’s (the origins of printmaking are obscure, but two principal types flourished in the 1400s: woodcuts and engravings). An upcoming exhibition that does have a charge is Eternal Offerings: Chinese Ritual Bronzes, in which MIA’s Chinese art curator, Liu Yang, and world-renowned art director and film designer, Tim Yip (Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon), will create an experiential exhibition that engages the senses with some 150 Chinese bronze objects from MIA’s collection. The museum offers so many more exhibitions, so check them out to see which one’s interest you!

From tours to classes, films to Family Days, you won’t run out of ways to engage with the art at MIA. The museum offers many programs for teachers, students, families, artists, and art lovers! For pre-kindergarten to twelfth grade teachers and students, MIA offers learning resources, engaging programs, interactive tours, lesson ideas, and professional development. For families, MIA’s Family Center is a drop-in space for families to enjoy kid-friendly books and toys or just let out a little energy. For artists and art lovers alike, the MIA offers book tours to join lively discussions of art works related to popular books, facilitated by a museum guide. I’m definitely going to check into the book tour – it sounds like so much fun! There are definitely a lot of fun programs and activities for everyone!

Feeling a bit hungry or needing a drink after all that walking around the museum? Enjoy a treat, meal, coffee, cold-pressed juice, wine, or craft beer from MIA’s locally owned restaurant partner, Agra Culture Coffee Shop and Café. Agra Culture Coffee Shop and Café is located in the main lobby and open during museum hours. Enjoy happy hour from 2:30pm to 4:30pm Thursday through Sunday, with 50% off tap beer and house wine.

How about a souvenir to remember your visit to MIA? Visit The Store at MIA for art books, prints, mugs, t-shirts, art supplies, jewelry, and so much more!

Do you have a special event coming up and need to rent a venue? Weddings to work parties, board meetings to brainstorms—there are many reasons to hold an event at MIA, and many one-of-a-kind spaces to choose from. MIA offers versatile indoor and outdoor event spaces, spectacular views of the iconic Minneapolis skyline, full-service technology in state-of-the-art rooms, and one of the finest art collections in the country—from Rembrandt to van Gogh, Monet to Matisse, Asia to Africa—all within a beautiful, historic campus.

Lastly, but definitely not least, MIA believes in making art accessible to all people. The museum aims to provide a safe and welcoming space by removing barriers to participation and fostering an inclusive environment.

I absolutely love going to the MIA! There is so much to see! Be sure to give yourself plenty of time to see all the art displayed on all three floors including the first-floor library and studies. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!