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Best Art Walks In Minnesota

Art walks can encompass annual events or weekend celebrations of art in the community. Many areas of Minnesota hold art walks to help invite and promote the love of art among locals and visitors to the state. Art galleries and outdoor venues may be open year-round for a stroll among the talented works of local artists or visiting exhibitions. Other art walks may take over an entire business district and invite exhibitors to display their works in fun and unusual venues in order to promote local business along with a show of culture. These art walks in Minnesota are worth a visit for those who like to combine a walk with a view of art.

First Friday Art Walk
MacRostie Art Center
405 1st Ave. N.W.
Grand Rapids, MN 55744
(218) 326-2697
www.macrostieartcenter.org

In Grand Rapids, an art walk takes place every month within the downtown area and at the local art gallery. Area businesses welcome musicians and artists to display their works or perform their music on the first Friday of each month. These art walks coincide with the opening of new exhibitions at the MacRostie Art Center and often turn into a celebration and gathering of community. Spend time shopping and supporting local businesses while you browse through art and music performed and created by local talent.

Cherry Spoonbridge
(credit: Lydia Grendahl)

Minneapolis Sculpture Garden
725 Vineland Place
Minneapolis, MN 55403
(612) 375-7600
www.garden.walkerart.org

Take a walk through the park and enjoy the natural beauty of a garden as well as the man-made beauty of art. The Minneapolis Sculpture Garden has been a longstanding fixture in the Twin Cities and a popular tourist attraction for many years. Discover the famous Spoonbridge and Cherry sculpture situated among abstract pieces, lifelike creations and industrial-looking works of art. Inside the park, the greenhouse also contains a fantastic fish sculpture that is always listed as a favorite. Cross the street and tour the Walker Art Museum while you're downtown and make an entire day of this art walk.

Ely Art Walk
1600 E. Sheridan St.
Ely, MN 55731
(218) 365-3404
www.elyartwalk.org

The annual winter festival in Ely, Minnesota includes an art walk each year that runs for 10 days. This year, the art walk will be held from February 5th until the 15th in downtown Ely. Enjoy the ice and snow sculptures of the winter festival and then peruse over 500 works of art on display in local businesses and along the main road. Over 150 local and visiting artists are set to participate in this year's art walk, with a meet and greet planned on Saturday. The winter festival itself is a free family event and the art walk is a favorite part for Minnesota's community of art lovers.

Related: Best Historic Walking Tours In Minnesota

Cherry Spoonbridge
(credit: Lydia Grendahl)

Bemidji Sculpture Walk
1111 Event Center Dr. NE
Bemidji, MN 56619
www.bemidjisculpture.org

Along the river and throughout downtown Bemidji, a sculpture walk has become a permanent fixture in the community. Over 25 sculptures created by well-known artists make for a beautiful and interesting hike through the town of Bemidji. The sculpture walk is free and changes annually, inviting new reasons to go back often. Supported by the community and curated by volunteers, the art walk is a favorite tourist attraction in that area of Minnesota. Each sculpture is carefully chosen and many reflect some aspect of Minnesotan life.

Clear Channel Outdoor ARTwalk
345 Washington St.
St. Paul, MN 55102
(651) 282-3000
www.ordway.org

Each year, downtown St. Paul welcomes the Flint Hills International Children's Festival, supported and organized by the Ordway. The Ordway, a world-famous performing arts venue, focuses on the talents and creativity of children during a month in the spring. Included in the festival is a youth art walk. This year, the art walk will take place from May 2-31, 2015 and will feature over 600 young artists from around the state. All inspired youth are encouraged to submit a piece or two to this non-juried art walk. Walk around local businesses in downtown St. Paul and enjoy the young talent or check out the gallery online.

Related: Best Free Art Activities In Minnesota

Andrea Wodele is a freelance writer who has lived in the Twin Cities for the last 10 years. Her hobbies include exercising, driving kids around, watching Minnesota sports, and reading self-help literature. Examiner.com.

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