Mission
In the belief that the visual arts are indispensable to a healthy community, it is the mission of the Minnetonka Center for the Arts to provide teaching excellence, quality exhibitions and cultural enrichment for people of all ages, interests and abilities.

The Art Center
From its beginning, the Minnetonka Center for the Arts' purpose has been to help a diverse group of Minnesotans -particularly families and children-make art a part of everyday life. We believe in the value of art making and art appreciation. Art not only transforms materials-wet clay and paint, dry canvas and dusty marble, molten bronze and gold-it transforms lives. We see it in children who go on to higher education in art; start doing better in school; gain self esteem from the experience of creating; and turn around troublesome behaviors and attitudes. We see it in adults who discover talents they never knew they had; enrich their lives after retirement; find new meaning in life despite debilitating illnesses; and become part of a community where the common bonds are individual expression and love of beauty.

The Minnetonka Center for the Arts was born out of the enthusiasm, confidence, creativity and determination of a small group of people who agreed to take a summer painting class in someone's basement and see where it might lead. That was more than fifty years ago. By the time it was incorporated on June 17, 1952, the Art Center had a reputation for quality programming on a shoestring budget.

For its first three decades, the Center thrived, outgrowing a series of rented spaces. In the early 1970's, the community took a leap of faith in purchasing its first permanent home, the former Hill elementary school on North Shore Drive in Wayzata. The gymnasium became the main gallery, classrooms became studios and an art store. The organization added a painting studio, ceramics studio and sculpture studio with a metal pouring foundry. The Art Center still has the only publicly accessible foundry in the upper Midwest outside of a university setting.

In 1997, when a feasibility study showed that the building was structurally unstable and even extensive renovations could not bring it up to current building codes or improve its functionality to an acceptable level, the community took an even larger leap of faith and started a capital campaign for funds to build a new building on the same site as the old one. They were warned that they could never raise the $4.9 million of the original estimate. By the time the building was finished, the construction costs had risen to $6.3 million and the organization had raised all but $30,000.

On February 28, 2002, the last class was held in the old building. Over the weekend a team of volunteers helped the staff move. On March 4, classes started in the new building. With 30% more room, spaces designed for their intended functions, and a secure, climate-controlled gallery space, we will serve our community even more professionally.

Education in Visual Arts:
The Art Center offers classes year round, six days a week, daytime and evening in drawing; painting; sculpture in stone, clay and bronze; ceramics; fiber arts; photography; glass and associated arts. Classes are taught by a faculty drawn from a group of approximately 100 working artists who are also experienced teachers. Fees are reasonable. In addition, scholarships that cover 50 to 75% of tuition are available for individual classes. Summer Arts Camp provides visual arts and cultural education for children ages 5 through 12 in age-appropriate classes. The kids learn through doing, enhance their creativity, improve coordination and work cooperatively while having fun. Scholarships are available for campers.

Our Community
Our students are people from age 5 through 95, beginners to very skilled. Most students are from the Twin Cities area, but some come from as far as 250 miles away. We have more than 4,000 enrollments a year. Many are talented, experienced artists; many take their first art course with us. All enjoy the creative energy of making art with other artists.

Importance of Contributions
Together, our efforts touch more lives through art. The Art Center prides itself on being well run and financially sound.

The Art Center Annual Report 2010-2011.

Your support is appreciated...

Development and Membership
Contributions, Corporate gifts, Memorials, In-kind gifts, new and renewing member, Become a member

Executive Director:
Roxanne Heaton
952.473.7361, ext. 15
rheaton@minnetonkaarts.org

Recent Contributions and Renewing Members

The Minnetonka Center for the Arts is a nonprofit organization. We are committed to making our programs accessible to as many students as possible so we keep tuition low and do not charge for opening receptions and most events. Our tuition and fees only cover about half our expenses, so we need the financial support of people who appreciate how important the visual arts are to the well-being of our community.

Contributions are accepted with gratitude.
We accept Visa and Mastercard for memberships and donations as well as for tuition
and fees.

Please send your contribution check
or credit card information to:

Executive Assistant
Minnetonka Center for the Arts
2240 North Shore Drive
Wayzata, MN 55391

Or rheaton@minnetonkaarts.org.

Your contribution does these important things:
Keeps class fees affordable to all individuals.
Provides scholarship and financial assistance.
Supports outreach programs to youth and schools.
Promotes Art Center activities and community exhibits.
Helps us to maintain and improve Art Center facilities.
Nurtures talented young people and emerging artists.

We Value Your Membership!
Thank you for making our membership renewal mailing a success!

At the end of February we developed and mailed a membership renewal request letter to a group of valuable members who we had not heard from in a while. Our goal was to raise $6,000 in additional membership fees and reconnect with some folks we hadn’t heard from in a while. To date (and we’re still going) we’ve raised $4,300 and we’re pleased to welcome back these renewing members. We value each and every membership – thank you for your support!

Become a Member
We keep tuition and fees reasonable so we are accessible to more people, but they do not cover our costs. Membership fees and donations are an important source of support.

Membership Levels and Benefits
$50 Basic Household Membership ($45 with Senior Discount)
• Member discounts on classes for all family members
• Invitations to special exhibit openings and events
• Eligibility to enter Members’ Show and exhibits at Ridgedale Center
• Higher commission rates on sold art
• Free wireless internet access at the Art Center
• $5 discount on membership at the Walker Art Center
$100 Friend Membership. All above privileges plus:
• Coupon for free coffee and muffin in the Café
$250 Sponsor Membership. All above privileges plus:
• Coupon for free lunch for two in the Café
$1000 Patron Membership. All above privileges plus:
• Free use of the Henrietta Murphy Room once a year
• Acknowledgement on our Patron’s plaque

All gifts of $150 a year or more are acknowledged in the newsletter and the annual report. All donors of a cumulative total of $1,000 or more during the year are honored on the Patron’s Plaque in the main lobby.

Walker Art Center members receive a $5 discount off Minnetonka Center for the Arts membership, and Art Center members receive a $5 discount on a Walker Art Center membership.

To join, renew or check your membership status call 952.473.7361, ext. 16.

Volunteers
Help make it happen, and have fun!
We're not completely about art, we're also about building community. Here are just a few of the ways our volunteers keep the Art Center humming along. If you're interested in becoming a volunteer call 952.473.7361, ext. 16.

Our Volunteers:

• Set up exhibits
• Help with mailings
• Answer phones
• Staff booths or give demos
  at a community events
• Greet our guests at openings and functions
• Play music at our openings
• Help with refreshments
• Work at fundraising events like
  Holiday House or Arts in the Garden
• Generate publicity
• Write articles and news releases
• Coordinate volunteers
• Help with our web site

Board of Dirctors
Chair:
Maryalice Brenk
Vice Chair:
Gary Vars
Secretary:
Lisa Erickson
Treasurer:
Jay Hammond

Members at large:
Sara Fenlason
Andria Fullerton
Tom Hull
Alex Johnston
Helen Jones
Barbara McBurney
Jim Schwert
Andrea Stein

Laura Miles, Director Emeritus

Administration
Executive Director: Roxanne Heaton
Controller: Mary Larson
Adult Program Director: Holly Nelson
Children and Youth Program Director: Leah Hughes
Communications Director: Bruce Camp
Exhibits Director: Robert Bowman
Executive Assistant: Vacant

Registrars:
Lindsay Gerardy
Sue Hnastchenko

Studio Managers:
George Hagemann
Lee Persell

***

Art Center Building Hours.
(See the GALLERY Page for holiday gallery hours.)

Mon. Fri. & Sat: 9 AM - 5 PM; Tuesday - Thursday: 9 AM - 9:30 PM; Closed Sunday
Building closed November 24; December 24 - January 1
Registration lines open 9 AM - 5 PM, December 26 - 30
952 473 7361, ext. 16

***

Café Hours
Monday - Friday 9 AM - 2 PM Coffee & Tea
Monday - Friday 11:30 AM - 2 PM Full lunch menu

Please call us at 952.473.7361, ext. 20

Jana and Dustin Graham

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