Spotlight Minnesota Arts & Events

02/11/2026

Announcing a new Friday highlight theme: this year, we will take you on a weekly journey to each of Minnesota’s 87 counties: from Aitkin to Yellow Medicine. Join us to learn about the history of these counties and view highlights from their collections in MDL.

Aitkin County was established in 1857, but it was not officially organized until 1871. It was named after William Alexander Aitkin, an influential fur trader with the American Fur Company who settled in the area in the early 1800s.

The Aitkin Public Library, shown here, was built in 1911 with funds from the Andrew Carnegie Foundation. It served its community until 1991 when a new library was built. Explore more counties in MDL’s regional map collection at z.umn.edu/MDLRegionalMaps.

Image Credit: East Central Regional Library collection, https://collection.mndigital.org/catalog/p16022coll54:43

07/30/2025

07/03/2025

FilmNorth is honored to announce the 2025 McKnight Media Artist Fellows: Emory Allen, James Christenson, Namir Fearce, and Katerina Munis.

These four artists exemplify a bold and forward-thinking approach to film and media arts, each with a distinct creative vision and commitment to their craft. Their work challenges form, deepens cultural dialogue, and contributes meaningfully to Minnesota’s artistic landscape.

We extend our gratitude to the McKnight Foundation for their steadfast support in advancing individual artists and strengthening our industry.

Learn more at filmnorth.org.