BRAINERD — The Crossing Arts Alliance came together in 2000 and has connected people to the arts in the Brainerd area ever since.
Executive Director Jennifer Jacquot-DeVries joined the KAXE Morning Show recently to share information about a celebration event and reflect on what it means to be an arts organization that serves its community.
Brainerd was the location of the first railroad crossing over the Mississippi River, and that's how Crossing Arts got its name.
"We take that to mean the crossing is how we each sort of take steps on this bridge of mutual collective understanding, connect coming together, getting to know each other, learning how we're the same and how we're different," Jacquot-DeVries said.
The organization will celebrate 25 years at an event from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, May 8, at Passport, formerly known as Sage on Laurel, in downtown Brainerd. Refreshments, door prizes, and an hour-long slideshow in the background are included. RSVPs are appreciated at crossingarts.org.
Crossing Arts is currently showing an exhibit by Sam Zimmerman called "Walking the Shores." Zimmerman will be at a reception from 5-7 p.m. Friday, May 16, at Crossing Arts.
Jacquot-DeVries shared the importance of having a vibrant arts scene in a community. She said, "Creating art is just a really healthy and joyful thing that we really hope that more people will come to us and find opportunities to be creative and just sit down and relax."
How have the arts impacted your community? Let us know!