Classes & Programs
MCA Online
At this time the doors to the Valencia Arts Center, our brick and mortar home are closed due to the Coronavirus outbreak. However our dedicated staff and faculty are working hard to bring the arts, routine, and community right into your living room (kitchen, bedroom, or garage). We hope that until we can meet again in-person that you will join us online. Click on the tabs below to explore our current programs and resources. Click on the tabs below to explore our current programs and resources.
MCA Online May Classes
Partnership Programs: (+registration through the partner organization, *registration through MCA)
Tuesday 10-10:30am & Friday 4-4:30pm, April 28 & May 1,- Movement & Musical Storytime: Storytime in partnership with Caledonia Public Library+
Wednesday, April 29, 3-4pm- Musical Storytime: Storytime in partnership with Lewiston-Altura Early Childhood*
Friday, May 1, 3-4pm- Virtual Adaptive Class: class in partnership with Home & Community Options+
Register Now:
June Online Camps & Classes
Online Private Music Lessons
We are excited to announce that we have shifted to offering private music lessons online and we are now accepting online registration for new students for most instruments. Now is the time to finally spend a little time with that piano that's been sadly sitting quietly in the corner or guitar that has been collecting dust in your basement!
As with in-person lessons you may purchase lessons in a 4, 8, or 12 lesson package (ranging from $17-$19 per 30 minute lesson). We will be happy to shift lessons to in-person lessons once we can safely do so. No fees are paid until we connect you with an instructor. Learn more about MCA private lessons and instructors.
What you need need at your house to have a successful online lesson:
- your instrument
- a device with a camera and microphone (internal microphone should be fine unless you need to be far away from your device to be at your instrument.
- optional: headphones or external speaker
- a wired connection (most reliable) or a strong wireless signal (around 1.5 Mbps for upload speed). A 4G connection traditionally works as well.
National Tap Dance Day Virtual Celebration
In honor of National Tap Dance Day, join MCA instructor Christine Martin, among others on May 31st at 6:30pm as we celebrate this historic event. Our virtual celebration from home will include dancing the Shim Sham Shimmy on screen together, a mini Tap jam with improvisation, and Tap trivia with prizes! The program will be run through Zoom and the website Kahoot will be used for the trivia section.
This class is celebration is free, however if you are find value in this program, our MCA Moments and want to help ensure MCA is able to continue to offer engaging programming during these challenging times and beyond, please consider making a donation if you are able.
Click here to learn more about the Shim Sham (including video instruction) and National Tap Dance Day.
Click here to register now!
Art in a Box for Ages 55+
MCA is so excited to be continuing to offer unique programs geared towards adults ages 55+. During this home based class, each participant will get a package of supplies to create with over the 8-week period as well as guided lesson plans. However, unlike other DIY (Do-it-Yourself) art kids, students be sending and receiving postcards from other area residents and receiving check-ins by the instructor. Registrations can expect to learn new artistic techniques, be encouraged to set aside time to be creative, and feel more connected to others during this challenging time. Please see the description below for class details.
Art in a Box: Playful Postcards
Day/Dates: Self-paced weekly project, June 1- July 18
Ages: 55+
Cost: $22 (includes all art supplies including dual tip markers, colored pencils, postcards, stamps and more, & Winona Delivery or pick-up)*
Instructor: B. Haupt
Partnership with Caledonia Public Library for Houston County Residents
Virtual Arts for All Houston County Residents
Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts is excited to announce NEW virtual programming for both youth and adults in collaboration with Caledonia Public Library and Mainspring in June. Due to COVID-19, this collaborative group had to cancel in-person creative classes previously scheduled for spring and summer 2020. However, thanks to the dedication of funders and partners, we are excited to bring virtual creative and cultural classes to you at home! All of these events are FREE to Houston County residents, but registration is required.
This project is made possible with money from Minnesota’s Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the people of Minnesota for Library Legacy activities.
With beautiful bluffs, owls, and barn quilts, what’s not to love about Houston County? Now is your chance to create mini-pictures of your favorite spots and features of your home. You will learn how to play with color, blending, and design during this one-of-a-kind class.
Pre-packaged materials for this class will be provided for free, thanks to our funders. Once registered, you will receive an email with details for curbside pick-up or delivery. Each registered participant will also receive access to a series of short adult mindful stretching and chair yoga videos created by Mainspring to enjoy at home.
Do you love to paint, draw, & sculpt? Youth ages 5-10 are invited to flex their creativity muscles while creating and connecting with others virtually. Each week you will explore new artistic materials and concepts. This session will focus on explorations with oil pastels and drawing techniques. Each participant will receive their very own home art kit including oil pastels, an artist pencil, special paper and more.
Pre-packed materials for this class will be provided for free, thanks to our funders. Once registered, you will receive an email with details for curbside pick-up or delivery. Registrants also receive a series of short downloadable youth yoga classes and Houston County Activity Book created by Mainspring.
Virtual Performances
Don't miss viewing these special premiere's in real time on both our MCA Facebook Page or You Tube Channel.
May 29, 6:30pm: MCA Music Division Concert
June 5th: The Show Must Go Online- Virtual Musical featuring 18 Winona area youth.
MCA Moments & Dance Stay Strong Videos
We have created two playlist to help you and your family get through COVID-19 and even come out stronger and smarter.
MCA Moments- are music, theatre, dance, and visual arts activities that will fill your creative tool box full of arts tips, tricks, and boredom busters.
Dancers Stay Strong- Since you can't get to the studio, we are bringing dance to you... here we are sharing dance combinations, movement games and conditioning exercises to help you burn off energy stay strong and learn.
Exclusive MCA Community Facebook Page
This group is for current (within 1 year) MCA students and their families. During the COVID-19 outbreak we plan to use this group to help us share and create together and inspire each other on a daily basis.
Weekly Art Challenge
Each week during these challenging times, we want to help inspire you and your family to carve out a little time to create a little visual art with a weekly theme. All you need to do is use your imagination and the materials you have at home to create something and send us a photo of just your art (either message our Facebook Page or email: mca@smumn.edu) by 6pm Saturday of that week.We will post everyone's creations at the same time and even have a fan favorite vote off over the weekend! There will be a youth and adult division for voting, so all ages are encouraged to participate.
Each week's challenge will be listed on our private MCA Students & Families 2020 Facebook Page.
Request to Join the Facebook Page
Help MCA in Style
Help show your support for Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts and the arts by purchasing a t-shirt for only $18 by June 19th to help keep us all connected and aware of the important role of the arts during challenging time! Shirts will feature Twyla Tharp’s quote “Art is the only way to run away without leaving home”. Proceeds will help MCA serve our community with important arts enriching activities during the COVID-19 Pandemic and on the other side.
First Ever Virtual Music Division Concert
Join us tonight (May 29,2020) at 6:30pm as we celebrate our first ever Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts (MCA) virtual Music Division Concert. Due to the Coronavirus pandemic we are not able to gather person, but as you are about to witness, that has not stopped our community form continuing to learn and grow as artists. Special Thanks to the instructors and families who continue to support these talented and resilient musicians on their musical journey!
3 Unique Virtual Arts Summer Camps
We are excited to announce that in addition to weekly classes during the month of June we have three unique week long camps in June to help keep kids active, creative and connected. All three of these camps come with an at-home pack with art supplies and or props to hopefully keep kids entertained even beyond the virtual meetings.
MCA Community of Creators during COVID-19
This gallery showcases just a taste of what our MCA artist community of all ages has been doing and creating during COVID-19. If you are a member of the MCA community, don’t forget to share your photos with mca@smumn.edu to help us highlight the amazing creativity and resiliency that we have.
It’s time to Shim Sham!!!
In honor of National Tap Dance Day, join MCA instructor Christine Martin, among others, as we celebrate this historic event on Sunday, May 31st at 6:30 pm. Our virtual celebration from home will include dancing the Shim Sham Shimmy on screen together, a mini Tap jam with improvisation, and Tap trivia with prizes!
Creative Aging Art in a Box Class
MCA is so excited to be continuing to offer unique programs geared towards adults ages 55+. During this home based class, each participant will get a package of supplies to create with over the 8-week period as well as guided lesson plans. However, unlike other DIY (Do-it-Yourself) art kits, students be sending and receiving postcards from other area residents and receiving check-ins by the instructor. Registrations can expect to learn new artistic techniques, be encouraged to set aside time to be creative, and feel more connected to others during this challenging time. Please see the description below for class details.
LOCATION & CONTACT
Minnesota Conservatory for the Arts
1164 West Howard (10th) Street
Winona, MN 55987
Phone: 507-453-5500
Fax: 507-453-5507
E-Mail: mca@smumn.edu
HOURS
All in-person MCA programs and performances are cancelled through May 8, 2020 in a response to the COVID-19 Pandemic. Phone calls and emails will be responded to during this time.
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a Minnesota State Arts Board Operating Support grant, thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts and cultural heritage fund.
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