Curated by the American-Scandinavian Foundation, this traveling exhibition features stunning works by 24 artists from the Upper Midwest.

Highlighting innovations to and variations on traditions, this exhibit presents artists’ works as living, malleable forms grounded in traditional skills rather than as static objects rooted in the imagined past.  The exhibition challenges the dominant “heritage model” of ethnic folklore by emphasizing that “all tradition is change.”

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Wool embroidery has offered needleworkers expressive texture on many types of textiles throughout history.

Learn about a few of its various iterations in this introductory class while stitching your own floral piece with yarn from the instructor’s sheep.

A kit is included in the class fee; students also provide some supplies. Each kit includes the tools and materials for one student. Kits will be available for pick up or can be shipped for an additional $10 fee. Suitable for ages 18+.

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Join Swedish textile artist and educator Kerstin in weaving a weft-facing repp band, a technique where the weft is given more space and a pattern is built up over time, much like a drawing or picture.

Using their band weaving loom and materials, students will develop skills in this intermediate-level class.

Suitable for ages 12+. Students provide their own materials and should be comfortable warping their small rigid heddle loom ahead of class; please see the full materials list link.

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Enjoy the relaxing art of needle felting while making a textile as pretty as a painting.

Using a piece of felt as the canvas and wool roving as the paint, students will work alongside textile artist Kayla Ann to create a 2-D folk-inspired floral bouquet in wool.

Suitable for ages 16+, the class fee includes a kit that has the tools and materials for one student.

Kits will be available for pick up at the American Swedish Institute starting January 22 or can be shipped for an additional $10 fee.

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Create a sweet felted chickadee inspired by Minnesota’s north woods in this afternoon-long class.

Students will follow step-by-step instructions to transform hand-dyed wool from the instructor’s own sheep into a small felted chickadee.

Class fee includes a kit. Each kit has the tools and materials for one student, including a needle felting base, felting needles, and wool roving.

Kits will be available for pick up at the American Swedish Institute or can be shipped for an additional $10 fee.

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Virtual class: Saturday, January 17 – Sunday, January 18, 10 am – 12 pm CST

Join Swedish textile artist and educator Kerstin to design and begin weaving a repp band, a style where warp threads tightly cover the weft threads.

Students will practice creating a pattern, warping, and starting to weave a repp band over two online sessions using their own small, rigid-heddle band weaving loom and materials.

Suitable for ages 12+.

Students provide their own materials, details in the link.

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This is a live virtual class.

Create a festive ornament using needle felting techniques alongside teaching artist Kayla Ann!

This fun project utilizes cookie cutters to create a felted ornament with clean lines, even shape, and adorable details. This class is ideal for beginners.

Kits are included in the fee and include wool and felting tools for one student (cookie cutters not provided). Kits will be available for pick up starting 12/4, or can be shipped for $10. Registration closes on 11/24.

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The American Swedish Institute is one of the leading museums and cultural centers in Minnesota offering transformative arts and culture experiences centered around learning, reflection, and collaboration. Explore our historic Turnblad Mansion, Minnesota’s only castle—a must-see gem on the National Register of Historic Places.

Discover Nordic art and craft and immerse yourself in our museum exhibitions and collections of Swedish American culture and history. Learn about our variety of art, handcrafts, food, language programs, and more through workshops and events for all ages.

Your experience won’t be complete without browsing our unique items in our museum gift shop and dining at ASI’s award-winning restaurant FIKA Café featuring a seasonally inspired New Nordic menu.

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Experience the first permanent gallery Spotlight exhibition at the CAT, highlighting the beauty and wonder of the handmade.

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The Cafesjian Art Trust Museum (the CAT) is a Twin Cities gem inspiring creativity, curiosity and connection through art.

Featuring one exhibition at a time in our 2000-square-foot gallery space, we offer visitors the chance to encounter outstanding modern and contemporary art on a personal level.

We offer a dynamic range of programs for people at every stage of life. We are free to visit and welcome everyone.

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Handwork: Embodied Material, curated by Minnesota artist Soph Munic, centers MN’s LGBTQIA+ artists in collaboration with Embodied Material, a collective of queer textile artists who engage in study and critical thinking about artwork and identity through textile practices.

Artist Reception: Thursday, November 5, 5:30 – 7 pm.

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Handwork: A Common Thread celebrates the history, breadth, and depth of fiber art practices of Textile Center’s members and guilds.

The only exhibit of its kind in the nation — non-juried and open call until capacity is reached — A Common Thread supports our mission to inspire widespread participation in fiber art and to grow awareness of the central role of fiber arts in community building.

Artist Reception Thursday, August 6, 5:30 – 7 pm.

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Handwork: TWO-SPIRIT STORIES showcases the work of MN’s emerging Two-Spirit Native artists.

In a celebration of traditional and contemporary handwork, these artists are affirming Indigenous and queer identity using themes of ceremony, community, and ancestral tradition. First Peoples Fund Fellow Penny Kagigebi (White Earth Ojibwe) serves as advisor and curator.

Reception: June 4, 5:30 – 7 pm, at Textile Center.

Native Artists pop-up shop: June 4 – 6, 2026.

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This exhibit showcases MN’s Indigenous textile history, highlighting works that recognize, promote, and celebrate distinguished Native artists in MN. As the original “craft” artists of our state, these accomplished artists are constantly evolving traditional practices with contemporary innovations. Delina White (Leech Lake, Ojibwe), a McKnight Fellow, serves as advisor + curator for Mni Sota. Reception: June 4, 5:30 – 7 pm, at Textile Center. Native Artists pop-up shop: June 4 – 6, 2026.

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Handwork: Unbound, curated in partnership with Choice, Inc., Interact Center, and Fresh Eye Arts, showcases fiber artists with disability identities who challenge artistic conventions through non-traditional learning modalities.

The fiber art works selected are profoundly innovative and meaningful as visual autobiographies, through their chosen materials, techniques, and imagery.

Artist reception: March 19, 5 – 7 pm, 2026, at Textile Center.

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