Central Square Arts & Cultural Center

07/22/2024

📆 Community Calendar Update

This Wednesday, July 24th marks our fourth class in our youth summer art program, Art Adventures!

This week, children in the morning class for ages 6–8 years will learn about symmetry, as they experiment with paint to create bug illustrations! Students in the afternoon class for ages 9-11 will learn about perspective art and create watercolor paintings, which they will transform into 3-dimensional water lily sculptures.

We hope to welcome your child to one of our upcoming art classes!

Learn more or register here: https://centralsquare.org/elementor-20395/

07/20/2024

😍 WHAT A NIGHT!

Thank you to all who attended the second show of our 3rd Annual Music on the Lawn! We feel so incredibly lucky to have had the opportunity to host acclaimed singer-songwriters, Charlie Roth, J Wagner, and Bill Poss, for another wonderful evening of original music and arts festivities.

A special thank you goes to our event sponsors, Lakes Catering and Glacial Ridge Health Systems. Their generous support makes community arts programming like this possible! We also thank the Minnesota State Arts Board for their support of this endeavor.

Lastly, we are so grateful to the hardworking teen volunteers from the Minnewaska Future Farmers of America (FFA) and Business Professionals of America (BPA) who dedicated their time and service to the success of this event.

Please join us for another exciting evening of live music, great food, and fun for the whole family on Friday, August 16th. Singer-songwriters Kelley Smith and Drew Peterson will join Charlie Roth in the Central Square courtyard for the final show of our mini summer music series.

We hope to see you there!

07/19/2024

07/18/2024

ARTIST SPOTLIGHT

We are excited to host another talented group of singer-songwriters during this month's Music on the Lawn event! Please join us as Charlie Roth returns with new guests, J Wagner, and Bill Poss, to perform at Central Square tomorrow evening–Friday, July 19th, for the second show of our 2024 summer music series!

Learn more about this event here: https://www.facebook.com/share/KrgreRvsfNnvnnSg/

Learn more about each musician's unique style and accolades below.

⭐️ J Wagner, a songwriter from Austin, TX, grew up in the deserts of New Mexico and was once a park ranger at Joshua Tree National Park. His music, inspired by desert landscapes, includes the song "If I Go, I'm Goin'" (Wagner/Isakov/Elliott), which has been covered by Bart Crow, the Denver Symphony Orchestra, and featured on TV shows like Californication, Teen Wolf, and The Haunting of Hill House. Dubbed "A number one best bet" by the Austin American-Statesman and awarded "Four Stars" by the Austin Chronicle, he was named the best Local Singer-Songwriter in 2014.

Learn more at Wagner’s website: https://www.jwagnermusic.com/

⭐️ Bill Poss and The Useful Tools deliver a unique blend of Americana and folk with heartfelt lyrics and a down-to-earth style. Bill Poss (AKA Bill Passalacqua) is a songwriter and performer from Effingham, IL, and founder of the Moccasin Creek Festival. Touring North America for two decades, first solo, then with the Ginn Sisters and Fred Eaglesmith, Poss captivates audiences with his authentic sound and engaging presence. Whether performing solo or with his five-piece band, he effortlessly shifts from folk and bluegrass to country and rock, using his years on the road as fodder for his songs and stories. Learn more.

Learn more at: https://www.facebook.com/BillPossMusic

⭐️ Charlie Roth is a highly respected Minnesota musician. Roth is a musician’s musician—he collaborates with some of the most celebrated musicians in the songwriting world. He organizes our summer series, bringing in talent that is truly top-notch. Charlie is a gem of a person and artist. Learn more at Roth’s website: https://www.charlierothmusic.com/

07/08/2024

📆 Community Calendar Update

We hope everyone enjoyed a safe and relaxing 4th of July with friends and family!

Our youth summer art program, Art Adventures, has finally begun, and Central Square’s halls are echoing with chatter and laughter! We are grateful to our art instructors, students, granting partners, and supporters who have allowed us to provide this engaging arts program for the children in our community. Enroll your child in our weekly classes for ages 6–8 and 9–11, for a summer of art, creativity, and adventure!

Learn more or register your child here: https://centralsquare.org/elementor-20395/

This month, we look forward to welcoming Minnesota singer-songwriter, Charlie Roth, back for our next Music on the Lawn performance on Friday, July 19th. Charlie has invited nationally renowned musicians, J Wagner and Bill Poss, to join him for our upcoming singer-songwriter music series.

Learn more here: https://www.facebook.com/share/PVaWWv8VNz7E26BR/

07/03/2024

📣 Stay Informed. Stay Connected.

Learn more about Central Square's latest news and upcoming programming and activities! Click below to see our July 2024 newsletter:

Subscribe to our e-news and be the first to hear of exciting updates and events: https://tinyurl.com/v755wdjp

In observance of Independence Day, our office will be closed on Thursday, July 4th and Friday, July 5th. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!

07/01/2024

📆 Community Calendar Update

In observance of Independence Day, our office will be closed on Thursday, July 4th and Friday, July 5th. We wish everyone a safe and happy holiday!

Our long-awaited youth summer art program, Art Adventures, will begin this Wednesday, July 3rd!

Enroll your child in our weekly classes for ages 6–8 and 9–11, designed to foster creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration in a fun, non-competitive environment.

Join us for a summer of art, creativity, and adventure! Learn more or register your child here: https://centralsquare.org/elementor-20395/

06/17/2024

📆 Community Calendar Update & Holiday Closure

We hope everyone enjoyed celebrating the special father figures in their lives this past Sunday!

This week our team is working hard to prepare for our upcoming Art Adventures youth summer art program, which starts in just over two weeks!

Art Adventures will run from Wednesday, July 3rd, through Thursday, August 22nd, with weekly classes for ages 6–8 yrs. from 9–11:00 am and ages 9–11 yrs. from 1–3:00 pm. Our program fosters creativity, critical thinking, and collaboration in a fun, non-competitive environment.

We invite you to bring your child to Central Square this summer for a fun and creative adventure!

Learn more and register today here: https://centralsquare.org/elementor-20395/

Please note that the Central Square office will be closed this Wednesday, June 19th, 2024, in observance of Juneteenth. We recognize this day as an important part of American history and encourage everyone to enjoy the day in a way that feels meaningful to them, whether it's spending time with family, enjoying good food, or participating in a local cultural event.

We thank you for your understanding and look forward to our return to the office on Thursday, June 20th.

06/17/2024

THANK YOU!

Thank you to all who attended our first show of Central Square’s 3rd Annual Music on the Lawn! We are fortunate to have the opportunity to host acclaimed musicians like Charlie Roth, Andrea Lyn, and PK Mayo, and we sincerely hope you enjoyed our event.

We look forward to welcoming you and this program’s leading artist, Charlie Roth, back for our next Music on the Lawn performance in July. Please join us for another exciting evening of live music, great food, and fun for the whole family on Friday, July 19th, as singer-songwriters, J Wagner and Bill Poss, join Charlie in the Central Square courtyard for the second show of our mini summer music series.

A special thank you goes to our event sponsors, Lakes Catering and Glacial Ridge Health System. Their generous support is what makes community arts programming like this possible!

We are also grateful to the hardworking teen volunteers from the Minnewaska Future Farmers of America (FFA) who offered their time and service to the success of this event.

06/14/2024

Show starts in an hour! 🎶 🎤

06/11/2024

Art Adventures still has space available for little artists! Classes run weekly from July through August here at Central Square.

It's hard to believe but July is right around the corner!

Limited scholarships are available. Sign up soon!

Call our office for details (320)634-0400 😊

06/10/2024

📆 Community Calendar Update

As another beautiful summer week unfolds, we are excited to invite you to our 3rd Annual Music on the Lawn this Friday, June 14th, at Central Square! This FREE event promises to be an evening filled with talented musicians, delicious refreshments, and fun for the whole family! We hope to see you there.

Please note that our office will be closed this Wednesday, June 12th for a staff enrichment community event and on Friday, June 14th, as we prepare for our Music on the Lawn festivities.

Learn more about our upcoming programs and events below.

🎸🎼 Music on the Lawn
We hope you will join us for this celebration of talented musicians who combine instruction and storytelling into their shows. There will be a singer-songwriter workshop before the live music performance, from 5:00–6:00 PM, for aspiring musicians to refine their skills and learn about life as a professional musician. Then attendees can enjoy hot home cooked food at concessions, free games and activities, and live music from 6:30–7 PM. Weather backup inside Central Square.

*New this year: We will also serve iced cold adult beverages, courtesy of Stacy Gerdes and Lakes Catering!

Learn more about our June performers:
Andrea Lyn: https://www.andrealyn.com/
PK Mayo: https://www.pkmayo.com/
Charlie Roth: https://www.charlierothmusic.com/

This event is generously sponsored by Lakes Catering and Glacial Ridge Health Systems

Location: Central Square: 105 2nd Avenue Northeast in Glenwood.

Learn more: https://centralsquare.org/event/2nd-annual-music-on-the-lawn-summer-music-series-3/

🎨 Art Adventures Enrollment Is Open!
Our youth summer art program for children (ages 6–11) will return this summer, and we are accepting registrants now! These classes inspire creativity and teach foundational skills in a fun, non-competitive environment. Led by licensed art teacher Carson Thorson, our classes encourage imagination and artistic exploration. Need-based scholarships are available; contact us for details.

Click here to learn more and register: https://centralsquare.org/elementor-20395/

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06/06/2024

📣 Stay Informed. Stay Connected.

Learn more about Central Square's latest news and upcoming programming and activities! Click here to see our June 2024 newsletter: https://tinyurl.com/mr262nhu

Subscribe to our e-news and be the first to hear of exciting updates and events: https://tinyurl.com/v755wdjp

The outdoor gardens are in full bloom, and as spring is coming to an end, the new season–along with our summer programming–is quickly approaching. Last month we had a wonderful time hosting University of Minnesota, Morris, English Professor, Joshua Johnson, for a 4-session creative writing works...

06/04/2024

✨ARTIST SPOTLIGHT✨

We are excited to host a highly accomplished group of singer-songwriters during this month's Music on the Lawn event!
Charlie Roth, PK Mayo, and Andrea Lyn will perform at Central Square on the evening of Friday, June 14th for the debut of our 2024 summer mini music series.

Learn more about each musician's unique style and accolades below.

⭐ Andrea Lyn is a Minnesotan-based award-winning musician, singer, and songwriter. She performs melodies and lyrics stemming from her life. She has shared the stage with legendary artists and performed her songs for thousands. With influences stemming from Sarah McLachlan, Indigo Girls, Merle Haggard, Gillian Welch, Emmylou Harris, John Prine, Marc Cohn, Bonnie Raitt, Lyn's performance is calming, authentic, and engaging.

Learn more at Lyn's website: https://www.andrealyn.com/
Listen to Lyn’s music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_KDZE4kgGhc

⭐ PK Mayo was born in the Minnesota mining town of Eveleth. Mayo got on the guitar train early and has stayed there, focusing on blues as the bedrock foundation while he puts his own muscular spin on it. Luckily, the guitarist knows where to take the sound from there, and when he goes spiraling off on solos, they always go to a new place.

Learn more at Mayo’s website: https://www.pkmayo.com/
Listen to Mayo’s music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DoHP1sK5oJo

⭐ Charlie Roth is a highly respected Minnesota musician. Roth is a musician’s musician—he collaborates with some of the most celebrated musicians in the songwriting world. He organizes our summer series, bringing in talent that is truly top-notch. Charlie is a gem of a person and artist.

Learn more at Roth’s website: https://www.charlierothmusic.com/
Listen to Roth’s music: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rvzhutiMwY

05/26/2024

"Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid. They have earned our undying gratitude."
– Harry S. Truman

In honor of Memorial Day, the Central Square office will be closed tomorrow, Monday, May 27th, and will reopen on Tuesday, May 28th at 9 am. We thank you for your understanding as we commemorate those who have lost their lives protecting and serving our country.

On Monday, May 27th, at 10 am there will be a Memorial Day service in the Central Square auditorium. The service will be followed by a parade, wreath laying at the French Cemetery, and a free-will lunch at the Village. This event is brought to you by our local veterans from the American Legion & Veterans of Foreign Wars, with support from numerous volunteers.

05/22/2024

🇺🇸 Memorial Day Service Announcement

On Monday, May 27th, at 10 am, there will be a Memorial Day service held in the Central Square auditorium. Following the service, there will be a parade, wreath laying at the French Cemetery, and a free-will lunch at the Village. See the full program details below.

Memorial Service Details

•Master of Ceremonies: Gordy Wagner

•Advance of Colors: American Legion & Veterans of Foreign Wars

•Pledge of Allegiance: Audience

•National Anthem: Audience

•Invocation: Reverend Yolanda Williams

•Welcome: Paul Gerde, Chairman, Pope County Board of Commissioners

•A Daughter’s Thoughts: Rebecca Webb

•Tribute to Services: Dan Winter

•“We’ll Meet Again”: Sierra Morton

•Keynote Address: Jim Thoreen

•Roll Call of Recently Deceased Veterans: Gordy Wagner

•“Bridge Over Troubled Water”: Morton Family Singers

•Announcements: Gordy Wagner

•Taps: Jerry Stein and Sam Morton

•Benediction: Reverend Yolanda Williams

•Retrieval of Colors: American Legion & Veterans of Foreign Wars

•Epilogue “Hymn to the Fallen”: John Williams


⏰ Central Square Office Hours

Please note Central Square’s office hours for the holiday below:
Friday, May 24th: 9 am –12 pm (Early Closure)
Monday, May 27th: Closed

05/21/2024

🎉Appreciation post!

Recently we received an Arts Education Grant from the Minnesota States Arts Board, and it served as a reflection point for us as we:

a) breathed a sigh of gratitude for their support and generosity that will allow us to continue our educational programming

b) look toward the future of our programming and seek ways to engage with patrons, audiences, and creatives

c) seek ways to raise awareness of what we, as an arts and community center, offer to YOU and our region!

How do we continue to bring access to the arts here at Central Square? How do we fund our programming, grow our roster of art classes and programs? How do we attract talent to Pope County? How have we developed a strong team to make it all happen?

These are the questions we’ve heard from community members, and we're happy to share the answers with you!

If you’ve been entertained by performances in our auditorium, learned how to create a drawing, painting, discovered the poet within, bravely stood on our stage during Open Mic Night to share your talent in a safe and supportive environment, or been moved by an art exhibit in our gallery, you have been a recipient of arts funding provided by the Minnesota State Arts Board (MSAB) and Lake Region Arts Council (LRAC), REA, Pope County Commissioners, and other generous donors.

The support we receive from the state of MN, our community, business leaders, political representatives, and YOU is what drives our team to continue working to deliver meaningful art experiences and engagement to our audiences and patrons.

As we–and you–look forward to the remainder of our 2024 Concert Series, our 2024 schedule of classes and workshops, and our summer music series, Music on the Lawn (or this year we might rename in Music in the Construction Zone!), know that you are the reason we do what we do, and we are deeply grateful for you all!

05/06/2024

Another wonderful performance went down in the books this past Saturday at Central Square. We are so grateful to all who attended the performance, “She Said, She Said,” with renowned ensemble, the Maud Hixson Quartet. We were delighted to host Maud for yet another velvety smooth rendition of classic hits from trailblazing female artists.

Thank you to our generous performance sponsor, Wangsness Ogdahl & Associates, for their ongoing support that helped make this event possible. We also thank Rolling Forks Vineyards for offering their beverage service to our show attendees.

And of course, we are deeply grateful to our many volunteers who contributed to this evening’s success. We appreciate you!

"This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Lake Region Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage fund."

Wangsness Ogdahl & Associates / Avantax Investment Services SM Rolling Forks Vineyards

04/21/2024

What a way to start our season! We are grateful to all who chose to share their night with us. We were blown away by Alice Wallace and her band and are so fortunate to share artists of this caliber with our audiences.

Thank you to our performance sponsor, FAST Global Solutions, and our gallery sponsor, Rolling Forks Vineyards! Their generous support helped make tonight’s show possible.

Thank you to all the art lovers who stopped by Jim Grafsgaard’s opening gallery reception! If you didn’t get to see Jim’s work, it will be in the gallery through next Thursday.

Finally, we give special thanks to all the volunteers who made the evening go so smoothly! We couldn’t have done it without you.

We look forward to seeing you at our next Concert Series event with the Maud Hixson Quartet on Saturday, May 4th, 2024, at 7 PM!

"This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through grants from the Lake Region Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the Arts and Cultural Heritage fund."

04/19/2024

✨COMING TOMORROW!✨

Please join us in celebrating our opening performance of our 20th Annual Concert Series with the Alice Wallace Band tomorrow—Saturday, April 20th, at 7 PM! Arrive early and attend a free gallery reception for artist-in-residence, Jim Grafsgaard!

Learn more below.

Alice Wallace is known for her powerful vocals and compelling storytelling. In our auditorium, she will bring a rich blend of country rock and folk that echoes her California roots. Known for her engaging stage presence, Alice has shared stages with renowned artists such as Willie Nelson and Wynonna Judd. This event is generously sponsored by FAST Global Solutions.

Secure your tickets for tomorrow's performance here: https://ticketpeak.co/centralsquare
or visit our office in Suite 108 at Central Square or call (320) 634–0400.

Help us give MN artist, Jim Grafsgaard, a warm welcome to Glenwood at his gallery reception, before Alice Wallace’s live music performance, from 5:30–7 PM. Grafsgaard will display his 30-foot painting, “Gathered in Moss,” sponsored by the Science Museum of Minnesota, and exhibited globally. This event is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there! Rolling Forks Vineyards, our gallery sponsor, will provide refreshments.

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