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generated by performances, exhibits, concerts and other arts events, and local earnings from area artists. It estimated Benton, Sherburne, Stearns and Wright
<br />county artists, as well as non-profit arts and cultural organizations, generated 545.8 million dollars. Cass, Crow Wing, Morrison and Todd counties generated
<br />nearly $1.2 million.
<br />"Tourism is one of Minnesota's top industries," LeCuyer said, "and the arts play a critical role in that"
<br />HONORING HISTORY
<br />The two-story mural in downtown Crosby stretches up the outside wall of the popular Iron Range Eatery and anchors a plaza that used to be a vacant lot. A local
<br />group sought help from the Minnesota Design Team—a volunteer group of architects, city planners and tourism experts that consults with communities across the
<br />state—and turned the comer spot into a welcoming gathering place with benches, flowers, a dog run, a bike repair station and interpretive panels about the
<br />town's history.
<br />Crosby and Ironton boomed in the early 1900s when they were part of Minnesota's third (and smallest) Iron Range, but the modest towns fell on tough times by
<br />the 1980s when open pit mines closed. The towns hit their revival in the mid -2000s, when former mining land became a state recreational area. Mine pits were
<br />filled with spring -fed water. And woods covered the steep hillsides, making the area a mecca for silent sports that include biking on the paved Cuyuna Lakes State
<br />Trail, paddling, fishing and diving in the lakes, and popular mountain bike trails that are set to be expanded.
<br />Cuyuna Brewing Company, a cafe/bike shop and the Iron Range Eatery now share Main Street with antique shops and other local businesses. Camper cabins
<br />(including one with a mural created by Minneapolis-based illustrator and muralist Adam Turman) opened in the past two years, and the town was featured in an
<br />August 2018 Outside magazine cover story on "America's Smartest Towns."
<br />"We have gained recognition worldwide for the mountain bike trails we have," Sova said.
<br />Other Central Minnesota towns have turned to nature, history and their geographic location to inspire artwork and create a sense of place.
<br />In Monticello, at the bustling intersection of Minnesota Highway 25 and Broadway Avenue, two shiny silver swan sculptures by Elk River -based metal artist Sue
<br />Seeger represent the city's popularity as a winter destination for thousands of trumpeter swans that gather on open stretches of the Mississippi River. Above the
<br />statues, regional photographer Chris Lommel's portrait of Lake Maria at sunrise was printed on hundreds of tiles that attach loosely to the building. A breeze riffles
<br />the kinetic display, making the muml-sized photo look like it's shimmering. Up to 35,000 people drive past it each day.
<br />In Elk River, visitors to the Nature Explore Center and Handke Center early childhood program can explore a replicated eagle's nest and admire a sculpture of
<br />running deer. It provides families with a playful, interactive and educational outdoor spot, while also tempting them to see the real eagle's nest and wildlife at the
<br />Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge about 18 miles away.
<br />Artists in Buffalo in Wright County painted different themes on a parade of giant fiberglass buffalo that dot the downtown, which hugs a picturesque lakeshore. In
<br />Delano, volunteers have been working since 2017 to create a meditative labyrinth that is inspired by an ancient labyrinth at France's Chartres Cathedral near
<br />Paris. It encourages people to wander its paths and linger longer than it takes to eat an ice cream cone at the popular Peppermint Twist across the road. The
<br />labyrinth officially opens in September.
<br />And in Sauk Centre, artist Roger Reinardy has been painting his hometown for the past few years. Vibrant arched murals in downtown depict local history with
<br />native tribes, early pioneers and world wars. He also created a scene with veterans on the town's American Legion, a portrait of famed hometown author Sinclair
<br />Lewis on the Palmer House hotel, and a whimsical view of a conductor and musical notes on the curved 86 -year-old bandshell, where people gather weekly for
<br />free concerts along the Sauk Lake shore.
<br />"Art can transform a whole town," LeCuyer said, citing Sauk Centre and how art has enlivened its physical appearance and increased hometown pride. "It's such
<br />an exciting time"
<br />Funding for projects often comes from a combination of sources, such as Minnesota's Legacy Amendment, which was passed in 2008 to devote a portion of state
<br />sales tax to funding for arts and culture. Regional arts councils, community fundraising, beautification programs and local grants—including targeted community
<br />Partner Funds hosted by the Initiative Foundation—can help finance art projects or match funds. Those projects, in turn, can draw visitors who spend money on
<br />food, entertainment and even lodging.
<br />Painting Progress
<br />Communities that invest in visual arts projects, festivals and art fairs, performance venues and creative spaces and studios such as Brainerd's Franklin Arts
<br />Center, strengthen the local economy, said Theresa Sweetland, executive director at Forecast, a St. Paul -based consulting company that supports public art
<br />projects across the nation.
<br />"We want to help people make positive changes in their communities through arts," she said.
<br />Sweetland advises arts supporters to work with city and regional planners and look for ways to incorporate art into existing projects. That could be anything from
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