2019 Annual Report final

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Table of Contents Mission, Vision, Values 1 A Message from Bruce Karstadt 2 A Message from Barbara Glaser 3 Exhibitions and Arts and Cultural Programs 4 Bruce Karstadt Awarded Honorary Doctorate from Sweden’s Lund University 5 Exhibitions — A Deeper Understanding 6 American Swedish Institute Collections 7 Our Neighborhood 8 Cultural Programming 9 See Yourself at ASI 10 ASI Clubs, Affi liates and Partners — FY 2019 11-12 Annual Donor List — FY 2019 13-15 Life Members 15-16 Heritage Society Members 17 Volunteer Recognition — FY 2019 18 ASI at a Glance 19 Sources of Funds and Expenditures for Core Mission Support and Capital Projects 19 Board of Trustees (FY 2019) OFFICERS Barbara Linell Glaser, Ed.D, Chair Brad Engdahl, Vice Chair Russ Michaletz, Treasurer Herbert ‘Ted’ Johnson, Secretary TRUSTEES Dr. Maggi Adamek Dr. Philip Anderson Bruce Karstadt, President & CEO Peggy Korsmo-Kennon, Chief Operating Offi cer Scott Pollock, Director of Experience, Collections & Programs* Erik Sorensen, Director of Finance* Lori Doehne, Director of Administration & Finance* Aimee Richcreek Baxter Karl Benson Michael Bjornberg Dr. David Carlson Terri Carlson Mary Dee Hicks Diane Hofstede Joe Hognander Management & Lead Staff Christiana Stolpestad, Director of Engagement Naomi Crocker, Executive & Consular Services Coordinator Karen Nelson, Communications & Marketing Manager Ingrid Nyholm-Lange, Director of Experience* Photo credits include: Jon Dahlin, Karen Nelson, Andrea Rugg COVER: The Vikings Begin, Andrea Rugg Laurie L. Holmquist Laurie Jacobi Alexander Källebo Dr. John Litell Elizabeth Olson Linda Wallenberg Includes any Trustee who served during all or a portion of FY 2019 Nate Adelmann, Facilities Manager* Mike Palmer, Facilities Manager* Rick Sellen, Retail Manager Whitney Winslow, Human Resources Manager *held position for portion of fi scal year Erik Johansson Tour Mission The American Swedish Institute is a gathering place for all people to share experiences around themes of culture, migration, the environment and the arts, informed by enduring links to Sweden. Vision The American Swedish Institute will be a leading museum and cultural center of international reputation which invites all people to gather to connect their pasts to their shared future, to understand their heritage in relation to others, and to discover their role as neighbors and global citizens. Vibrant, ongoing ties to Sweden will illuminate and inspire all these endeavors. Values Crayfish Party Kids at the Castle The American Swedish Institute is commited to the following principles: Stewardship: We embrace the legacy of Stewardship given to us in the Turnblad Mansion, our collections and our diverse community. Hospitality: We invest in our role as a welcoming place for all people and develop authentic relationships with communities local, national and international. Learning: We create transformational learning experiences by providing a platform for refl ection, participation, collaboration and the exchange of ideas. Innovation: We create beautiful spaces, innovative programs and outstanding services, in the entrepreneurial spirit of Swan J. Turnblad. Sustainability: We incorporate values of social responsibility into our programs, facilities and operations that sustain the well-being of our organization, community and the environment. 1
Glancing backward, the American Swedish Institute (ASI) and the communities that we serve could never have anticipated the worldwide changes we’ve encountered these past months as we now share this Report to the Community for FY2019 (October 1, 2018 – September 30, 2019). Perhaps, however, we were a little prescient in dedicating the year to a series of exhibitions and programs exploring the concept of Shift, in which we hoped to cause our audiences to explore certain topics and themes through a different focus and lens. Little did we understand at that time what major shifts were ahead of us. Our 2018-19 year began with our annual Christmas exhibition, with a theme of Handmade Holidays (November 10, 2018 – January 13, 2019). Always one of our most popular attractions, the decorated holiday Mansion and programs like the Julmarknad market and celebration are an important time for generations of families to build memories and traditions. Then 2019 ushered in Imagine: Surreal Photography by Erik Johansson (January 26 – April 28), a remarkable exhibition organized by Sweden’s Natural History Museum that was later named one of Minnesota’s top arts events of the year by MinnPost’s Artscape. Coinciding with Imagine was perhaps one of our most physically impressive and functional(!) installations ever. Refl ect: Solar Egg by Bigert and Bergström (March 6 – April 28) literally landed in our outdoor courtyard. Created by Swedish artists Matts Bigert and Lars Bergström, it was a remarkable 5-meter-tall, egg-shaped structure sheathed in stainless golden mirror that both refl ected the surroundings and functioned as working sauna. Originally designed as a thought-provoking response to the challenges facing Kiruna, Sweden, a city which physically moved to allow mining — an industry vital to its economy — to continue, Solar Egg offered opportunities to refl ect and discuss the future, sustainable development and environmental issues. In a year full of excellence, an undeniable highlight was the fi ve-month residency of The Vikings Begin (May 17 – October 27) which became one of ASI’s all-time most successful and well-attended exhibitions. It originated at Museum Gustavianum at Uppsala University and showcased many original artifacts from area boat graves from pre-Viking society (550 to 800 CE). Based upon recent scholarship of a university team led by Distinguished Professor of Archaeology Neil Price, the exhibition dazzled visitors with 1,500 year-old objects and haunting helmets and swords. Wee Thee Vikings in our Family Gallery sparked the imaginations of young folk through productive play. These exhibitions in turn generated many related programs including the successful Vikings University Day with lectures by world-renowned scholars. Cocktails at the Castle and the new series of Summer Lawn Parties, which variously featured Vikings re-enactors, along with live music and cult classic Viking fi lms. Our classrooms and studios were bustling throughout the year thanks to an array of stimulating classes and workshops for all generations in our language programs, as well as Nordic Craft ( slöjd) and Nordic Table programs. Classes ranged in topics from spoon carving, wet felting, paper quilling, making birch bark star ornaments and baking Swedish ostkaka (a type of cheesecake). In refl ecting on 2019, I’m pleased to say that our campus was fi lled by people of all ages and backgrounds, who gathered together for exhibitions, classes, programs or shared meals, as detailed in this report. This report is being released in June 2020 in the midst of a global pandemic crisis, which has been followed by a devastating period of civil unrest triggered by the killing of George Floyd. Our community has been severely damaged. Lives, livelihoods, essential services and cultural and educational resources have been lost or compromised in ways that affect us all, now and well into the future. Although our campus (as of mid-June) remains closed to the public, we are pushing through these enormous challenges to fi nd ways to serve and benefi t those who have come to depend upon ASI for so much. ASI is a resilient organization and we intend to continue to be a safe and welcoming gathering place for people of diverse heritages to hear and honor each other’s experiences, stories and traditions. All of our work, past, present and future, is made possible only by the many contributions of our members, donors and volunteers — and with the inspired leadership of a deeply invested Board and creative staff. Your generosity makes much possible and enables us to work with assurance that we can continue to make a deep impact upon our community. Tack så hemskt mycket! Bruce Karstadt, President / CEO American Swedish Institute A Message from Bruce Karstadt, ASI President / CEO Imagine: Surreal Photography by Erik Johansson 2
Page 1: SHIFT Report to the Community FY 20
Page 5 and 6: Exhibitions and Arts and Cultural P
Page 7 and 8: Exhibitions — A Deeper Understand
Page 9 and 10: Our Neighborhood The American Swedi
Page 11 and 12: See Yourself at ASI! Neighborhood O
Page 13 and 14: ASI Clubs, Affiliates and Partners
Page 15 and 16: Annual Donor List — FY 2019 (cont
Page 17 and 18: Life Members (cont.) Caroline Gusta
Page 19 and 20: Volunteer Recognition FY 2019 The A
Page 21: “One of my favorite places in Min

2019 Annual Report final

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