DURING THIS MONTH of giving thanks, the Minneapolis Institute of Arts extends its heartfelt gratitude to the community it serves. You visit us in person and online, you support us through your memberships and contributions, you vote to sustain the arts in Minnesota, and you are thoroughly enjoying “The Louvre and the Masterpiece,” now on view in Target Galleries through January 10, 2010. We are pleased to be able to bring to you this exhibition of master works from one of the world’s greatest art museums and are grateful to US Bank, our presenting sponsor, in addition to all of our other generous exhibition sponsors, for making it possible.

We are thankful, too, that we have been able to carefully budget our income and expenses in order to continue to maintain our free general admission policy. We are part of this community, as you are part of our museum, and we’re very proud to have such a strong community connection. You can view our 2008–09 Annual Report in December to get the details about the MIA’s fiscal year from July 1, 2008, to June 30, 2009.

One of our favorite ways of connecting with our community is through our annual Day of the Dead ofrenda project created in conjunction with El Colegio, an urban-based magnet school in Minneapolis that integrates research-based teaching strategies with Latino culture and traditions. Students from the school have been working hard to create their own ofrendas (shrines) and have made videos of their efforts, which are posted in an ongoing blog. I am grateful to Joe Horse Capture, associate curator in the department of African, Oceanic, and Native American Art, for leading this important initiative. Click here to meet the students and learn about their very personal tributes to their departed relatives and friends.

We give thanks to you for supporting your museum in so many different ways.

Kaywin Feldman
Director and President