Programs & Classes / Outreach

Residencies

Let the Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts bring your classroom or school project to life using the magic of the arts.  MCA has a talented and experienced team of inspiring teaching artists who can bring dance, music, theatre or visual art to you.  We have worked with physical education instructors on dance units and with english teachers to bring literature to life. Want to take a little field trip? Students will never forget a workshop at MCA’s home, the state-of-the-art Valencia Arts Center. Residencies can range from a one day workshop to weekly classes that end with a cumulative project. Due to COVID-19 on-site residencies are not possible, but click here to learn about virtual opportunities. 

We have partnered with many different local youth serving groups including WSU Children’s Center, Winona Family YMCA, Kid’s First Community Center, Cochrane-Fountain City 4-H, Winhawks Dance Team, and Riverway Learning Community. Some one-day and on-going workshops we have provided include tap dancing, create a commercial, African Drumming, Irish dancing, Gyotaku (Japanese) fish printing, stain glass techniques, acting and more. If you would like to arrange an MCA residency or for more information please contact Jamie at:  507-453-5501 or jschwaba@smumn.edu.

Read about a few of our residencies:

Music education program with Riverway Learning Community

Theatre program at Kids First Community Center

Art Gallery

Throughout the academic year different schools and organizations display works of their student artists. Galleria Valencia is open during the center’s office hours and while classes are in session. Stop by and enjoy the featured talents of local youth artists.

We still gallery space open for this year.  If you are an art teacher and would like to see your school’s artwork featured at MCA please contact Megan at: 507-453-5500 or mca@smumn.edu for details.  View the current Galleria Valencia Schedule.

Read about school exhibits at MCA:

Winona Area Public Schools Art Exhibit

Riverway Learning Community Art Exhibit

Live Performances

Each year MCA offers a variety of live performances including Dance Concerts, Music Division and Jazz Combos Concerts, Theatrical performances and more. Many of these performances are free and open to the public.  Other performances including our annual Spring Dance Concert and biennial production of classic ballet, The Nutcracker  hold special abridged daytime matinees at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota’s Page Theatre, designed for groups of young audience members and are offered at the discounted rate of only $5 per performance.  For information about matinee performances please visit the Page Theatre.