For Arts Midwest, as for so many others, 2021 was a year of change.
Disruptions brought on by the pandemic continued to impact our communities and our programs. At Arts Midwest, we deepened our commitment to helping our region recover, disbursing more than $3 million in direct relief aid to Midwest creative organizations on top of our normal granting initiatives. In November 2021, we welcomed a new Board Chair, and in March 2022, we moved into new offices in our hometown of Minneapolis.
In what was perhaps the biggest change of all, Arts Midwest, along with our five sister Regional Arts Organizations, received a historic gift from MacKenzie Scott in June of 2021. We were honored and grateful to be among the 286 recipients of Ms. Scott’s generosity.
Throughout all of these changes, Arts Midwest has not wavered in our commitment to creativity in the Midwest and beyond. In our 2021-22 Annual Report, you’ll read about key accomplishments from the past year: the grants we’ve awarded to bolster organizations across our region, the artist residencies we’ve produced that brought people together virtually and in person, and the stories we shared that highlight the creative work taking place in Midwestern communities.
Along the way, we’ve been supported by strong partners, donors, advisors, and constituents. They’ve shared their ideas, resources, and feedback to support us in advancing creativity. We are grateful to them, and we are grateful to you.
Torrie Allen, President & CEO
Brian Tiemann, Board Chair
