Our Mission.
The mission of Irish Arts Minnesota is to support the continuation of the traditional arts of Ireland and promote Irish culture within the broader community.
Our Vision.
The vision of Irish Arts Minnesota is to celebrate Irish-American culture, forge connections with other cultural communities, and instill an appreciation for the history and heritage of Ireland for generations to come.
Celebrate Irish Culture
Irish Arts Minnesota is a non-profit cultural arts organization that promotes the practice and performance of the traditional arts of Ireland. Since our founding in 1982, we have worked with organizations, individuals, and community groups in Minnesota to support their participation in the rich Irish traditions of music, song, dance, storytelling, theater, language, and crafts.
We believe the arts are a powerful way to celebrate Irish-American culture, forge connections with other communities, and instill an appreciation for the history and heritage of Ireland for generations to come.
Our work focuses on organizing events that provide opportunities for Irish artists and groups to perform and share the culture. Our annual St. Patrick’s Day Celebration has taken place in downtown St. Paul, MN, for more than 40 years. Each year at our Honors event, we recognize an individual that has made significant contributions to the Irish arts community. Profits and proceeds from our events help sustain our programs like Educational Grants for local artists and performers.
We support artists with funding through programs like our Educational and Cross-Cultural Challenge Grants that enable artists and performers to further their crafts. Our programs, like the Decade of Dance Award, also encourage continued study by recognizing youth and adults who commit significant time to study the traditional arts of Ireland.
Irish Arts Minnesota curates information about local performers, artists, organizations, and merchants, in our events calendar, monthly newsletter, and resource guide.
We make it easier to find and support people committed to keeping our traditions alive.
Traditional Arts of Ireland
There are many artists and art forms inspired by the culture and history of Ireland, and we appreciate all of them for their part in the future of Irish culture. Our focus as an organization is on the traditional arts of Ireland rooted in the indigenous language, music, song, and dance of the region.
These traditional arts include:
- Music
- Dance
- Storytelling
- Theater
- Architecture
- Visual arts and crafts
- Folk-custom and beliefs
We also support Gaelic language studies and modern art in which the subject matter focuses on Ireland’s customs, history, and people.
Our Organization
Irish Arts Minnesota (IAM) is a 501(c)(3) charitable non-profit organization. We’re run by a volunteer board and rely on our community of artists, learners, and patrons to help sustain our organization through membership, volunteerism, and support of local Irish organizations. We organize events and performances of Irish music and dance and support local artists with educational grants and exhibition opportunities.
As an organization, we work to be role models and leaders within the local Irish community, focusing on being respectful, inclusive, and fiscally responsible. We are committed to preserving Irish cultural traditions by promoting ongoing education and fostering our traditions’ fun and social elements.