USA TODAY RECOGNIZES NORTHEAST MINNEAPOLIS ARTS DISTRICT
AS BEST ARTS DISTRICT IN AMERICA

March 4, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Minneapolis, MN USA Today recognized the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District as the best arts district in America. In February, a USA Today panel of judges selected the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District as a top 20 finalist. In an online poll conducted over the past three weeks, readers, American travelers and arts patrons selected the thriving NE Arts District #1 over districts in Boston, Baltimore, Dallas and other cities.

This is a wonderful affirmation of the cultural vitality of Northeast Minneapolis. There is no arts district in the country that offers such a rich combination of accomplished artists, unique studio spaces and diverse urban neighborhoods, said Alejandra Pelinka, Executive Director of the Northeast Minneapolis Arts Association (NEMAA). Pelinka was the driving force behind Wintertide, a very successful juried art show earlier this year.

This unique congregation of arts-focused activity should be recognized for its cultural and economic contributions to the neighborhood, city and region, said Brenda Kayzar, President of the Board of NEMAA.It is wonderful that this recognition comes as NEMAA and the northeast arts community gear up for the 20^th year of Art-A-Whirl®, an open studio event the third weekend every May, she added. Immediate Past Board President Carmen Gutierrez-Bolger, herself an accomplished artist, stressed that the area has seen a great deal of positive momentum over the past several years. We are committed to taking our artists to an even greater place in the years to come, and look forward to continuing to support the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District.

Current NEMAA Board Vice President and former City Council Member Paul Ostrow authored the Citys formal designation of the district in 2003. We have come a very long way, Ostrow said. The artists in Northeast have transformed our community and have put Minneapolis on the map as a hotbed of visual artists that the whole country has come to admire and appreciate.

For more information please contact:

• Alejandra Pelinka (Executive Director): ale@nemaa.org (O) 612-788-1679; (C) 952-221-6791
• Brenda Kayzar (NEMAA President): kayzar@umn.edu (O) 612-625-0229; (C) 612-730- 7913
• Paul Ostrow (NEMAA Vice President): paulostrow@hotmail.com; (C) 612-239-861