NDDC receives grant for Riverwalk sculpture

The Northfield Downtown Development Corporation is pleased to announce it has been selected for a 2020 Arts & Cultural Heritage grant through the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC).  The award, in the amount of $6,750, will fund the purchase, repair, and installation of a sculpture at the west entrance to the Riverwalk (219 Water Street, just north of Basil’s Pizza).

The sculpture (pictured below) is titled “Threshold” and is the work of Northfield native and St. Olaf College graduate, Kris Swanson.  Until recently the sculpture resided on the St. Olaf campus and will soon provide a welcoming invitation for visitors to enter and enjoy Northfield’s Riverwalk.

This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.  This specific project is a part of a larger City-approved plan to add art elements within the downtown Arts Corridor. The Arts Corridor concept was an outcome of community meetings beginning in 2013 with the goal of providing a city gateway that is attractive, inviting and a better representation of the city and its value of the arts.  A collaborative subcommittee of the Northfield Arts and Culture Commission, including NDDC representatives and Northfield community members, has since been working to implement various projects within the Arts Corridor. The 2020 action plan of this ACC subcommittee identified the priority of adding a sculpture at this unique, barren site.

Check back for more updates throughout the summer as the sculpture is installed and a dedication event is organized!

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