Central Square Inc.

Mick Sterling Presents, From the King; For the King: The Gospel According to Elvis
2023-12-10 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
On Sunday, December 10th at 3 pm, Central Square will host the holiday matinée, “Mick Sterling Presents, From the King, For the King: The Gospel According to Elvis.” This show will celebrate Elvis’s early gospel songs and features several of his early ’60s gospel songs and a few ’50s hits. No glitz or jumpsuits; it is a unique homage to early Elvis and his passion for gospel music.

This performance is generously sponsored by Toms Market of Glenwood!

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on the day of the show, children 12 and under are admitted for free with the presence of an adult ticketholder, student tickets are $10 and educator tickets are $15. To purchase tickets, call (320) 634–0400 or click here

Video sample:
https://youtu.be/olbjsIZbmgo

Suncatcher-Making Class
2023-11-16 17:30 - 20:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Cheryl Larson will instruct her Suncatcher-Making Class on Thursday, November 16th, from 5:30–8:00pm. In this class, attendees will learn the basics of wire wrapping, a useful skill needed for jewelry crafting, and bring home their own beaded suncatcher. When placed in a window, sunlight travels through these unique suncatchers and projects beautiful patterns of rainbow light throughout the room.
Class registration costs $25, all supplies are included, and all are welcome! Scholarships are available for our classes; call (320) 634–0400 for details.
Limited spots available. Register here.

The Great DuBois | Masters of Variety
2023-11-11 19:00 - 21:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Thank you for your patience as we worked to reschedule this previously postponed performance. We are SO excited to host The Great DuBois for their fast-paced, high energy circus show for all ages…showcasing incredible feats of juggling, hula hoops, unicycle, aerial, circus stunts, contortion, magic and audience interaction all wrapped up in a blanket of comedy. Simply put…the most unique 2-person circus show you will ever see!
This event is generously sponsored by American Solutions for Business.

Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on the day of the event and are on sale at centralsquare.org. Kids 12 and under are admitted for free with the presence of a paid adult. Students are admitted for $10 and educators for $15. Call (320) 634–0400 or email info@centralsquare.org for more details.
*Veterans Day Special*
In honor of Veterans Day, all U.S. veterans will be admitted to this performance for $15. Simply show your military I.D. at the ticket booth on the evening of the show to receive this discount. Thank you for your service!​
To purchase tickets, call (320) 634–0400 or click here

Opening Gallery Reception | Danielle Lien's Photography
2023-11-11 17:30 - 19:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
We are delighted to introduce our next exhibiting gallery artist—Danielle Lien!
Lien is a multi-talented local artist who will exhibit her photography in the Art in the Square Gallery for an eight-week exhibition this November and December. Her captivating work features subjects that range from Minnesota’s seasonal beauty and wildlife to rustic scenes of vintage automobiles.
We invite you to join Lien for her opening gallery reception on Saturday, November 11th, from 5:30–7pm, before The Great DuBois performance begins. There will be light hors d’oeuvres and wine tastings from the award-winning local winery, Rolling Forks Vineyards, available. This event is free of charge and open to all!
We hope to see you there!
Rolling Forks Vineyards has generously sponsored this event. We thank them for their ongoing support.

George Maurer Group | Jazz Quintet
2023-10-14 19:00 - 21:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Saturday, October 14th at 7pm, the George Mauer Quintet, sponsored by FAST Global Solutions.
“This show is guaranteed to be a good time. There’s music and banter, storytelling, and jokes. The music, much of it written and arranged by Maurer and other band members, ranges from bop to pop, jazz to blues, gospel to musical theater, ballet to settings for poems by Rainer Maria Rilke. Some tunes are serious and moving; some are silly, laugh-out-loud playful. Best advice: Expect the unexpected and enjoy.”
Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 on the day of the event. Kids 12 and under are admitted for free with the presence of a paid adult, students are admitted for $10, and educators for $15.
To purchase tickets, call (320) 634–0400 or click here
Call (320) 634–0400 or email info@centralsquare.org for more details.
*Special Gallery Announcement*
Don’t forget to visit the 2nd floor art gallery before the George Maurer Group performance begins, from 5:30–7pm, for an opening gallery reception of our October exhibition, the MAHS Student Soundwalk!
This is a collaborative exhibit brought to you by MAHS students and Central Square! Refreshments will be available, and all are welcome to this free gallery event. Special thanks to our gallery sponsor, Rolling Forks Vineyards for providing their award-winning wine selection at our events.

Opening Gallery Reception: MAHS Student Soundwalk
2023-10-14 17:30 - 20:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
We are thrilled to collaborate with Minnewaska Area Schools this fall to bring the community a unique and immersive gallery exhibit brought to you by Glenwood area high school students. Student works will feature all types of artistic mediums, with one unifying theme, they must each have an audible component that corresponds with their piece. This could be any sound—a poem read aloud, a song, nature sounds, etc.
These sounds will be accessed through a mobile device, so bring your cellphone! You may also bring earbuds or headphones for a more immersive experience.
Please join us on Saturday, October 14th, from 5:30–7pm, for this exhibit’s opening gallery reception–before the George Maurer Group performance begins. More details on this exciting new exhibit coming soon.
Local winery, Rolling Forks Vineyards, has generously sponsored our gallery events.

Beginner Alcohol Ink Class
2023-10-12 17:30 - 20:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Additional class added by popular demand!
Let Cheryl Larson be your guide into the world of alcohol ink art. With her help, you’ll learn the basics, techniques, and how colors work together in this unique artform. All supplies included. Registration is $25 and scholarships are available. Call Central Square at (320) 634–0400 for details. Register by visiting the Central Square office or our online Box Office here: https://ticketpeak.co/centralsquare
This class will be held on the second floor of Central Square in the art studio—suite 209.
We hope to see you there! Click here to register.
IS THE CLASS FULL? If this class is full, please contact our team at (320) 634–0400 or info@centralsquare.org, and we will add you to a wait list for Cheryl’s next Alcohol Ink class!

Children's Theater Workshop
2023-10-10 15:15 - 16:45 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Have fun learning the basics of theater performing with Art and Drama instructor, Marit Salveson! For kids, grades 1–6. Cost is $35, for all five sessions on Oct 10th, 12th, 17th, 24th, and 26th, after school until 4:45pm. Snacks and transportation available from Minnewaska Area Schools to Central Square!
Buses will bring students from Glenwood Elementary and Minnewaska to Central Square. Parents/guardians will need to pick up children at Central Square at 4:45pm.
Workshop size is limited, so sign up today!
Sign up by calling the Minnewaska Activities Office at (320) 239–1305.
Brought to you by Minnewaska Area Schools and Central Square.

Open Mic Night
2023-09-28 19:00 - 21:00, 2023-08-24 19:00 - 21:00, 2023-07-27 19:00 - 21:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Event Details:
Open Mic Night Returns!
Please join us in our newest endeavor—Open Mic Night at Central Square!
At these events we will create a safe space for all to share openly, inspire each other, and support one another in mutually respectful ways. Our philosophy, is based upon the transformative power of art and writing that allows us to express, explore, reveal, understand ourselves as well as each other creativity and storytelling. Feel free to come and simply listen. Whether or not you are ready to share your own creative work or voice, we hope to inspire you with empathy, to think deeply, feel passionately, embrace vulnerability, and find your creative spark!
Don’t underestimate the potential of an authentic, warm, community like ours to give you an outlet you’ll cherish and come back to again and again. We welcome all kinds of art and oration, and all we ask is that you maintain respect for all in order to keep our space secure and safe.
Your donations are welcome! Donations enable us to provide fun, free events like Open Mic Night!
Walk-ins for this event are welcome, but if you would like to register in advance, click here to fill out a quick registration form.

Guidelines for Open Mic at Central Square:

Each participant has 5–10 minutes to share their work. Speakers are limited to 5 minutes, while musical performances are given 10 minutes. Practice reading, reciting, or playing before the show to check the length of your material. Please be respectful of time so everyone gets a turn. (we’ll use a timer and gently let you know if you are going over your time)
If they wish, each participant will have the option of a 5-minute feedback period for the piece they read. We will use the raise hand option to call on those who would like to offer feedback. Feedback will be limited to one minute per person. A note for those providing feedback, focus on what you liked and what’s working. Our goal is to make this a positive experience for all.
If you don’t want to participate, but you’d still like to watch – that’s completely okay! All are welcome. All genres of work are welcome: poetry, prose, short stories, excerpts from longer pieces of writing, musical instrument, song etc. Please share content warnings for anything that could be triggering, so that folks can prepare themselves however they need to. We ask that your content remain family friendly.

Tips:
Come prepared
Either have your poem/song/spoken word printed out or very well memorized. We recommend that you rehearse it out loud once a day for two or three days prior to the event. As you read, pay attention to the overall tone of the piece so you can convey its emotions, and to points that require a pause or change in pitch. If it helps, underline words or mark up the piece so you can remember these inflections and use a timer to check whether the reading/song/performance fits the allocated time slot.
Pro tip: Practice reading a poem like you would practice performing a song. If you plan on reading from a phone or tablet, know your zoom/scroll functions so you don’t accidently lose your place while you are reading.
Speak into the Mic
Don’t be timid about moving the mic around if you need to. Glance down at what you are reading from, rather than staring at it, so you can look up at the audience and speak into the microphone.
The introduction
There will be a host present to MC the event. Acknowledge them when they introduce you. Then briefly introduce yourself, elaborate on what you are performing, if necessary, then get down to it.
Pro tip: Take a few sentences to describe and give context to your piece. And always state the title.
Maintain a slow, steady pace
It’s understandable if you’re so nervous about your performance that you’ll want to rush through it. But the faster you read/perform, the more likely your audience will have difficulty following what you say. So once your turn comes, make every effort to pace yourself. Focus on one sentence or line at a time, and read each one slowly, carefully, and with just enough projection so you can hear each word. This will ensure your voice is loud and clear enough for your audience to understand you and to enjoy not just your reading, but also the quality of your writing.
Don’t judge yourself or your performance too harshly .
Nobody will think poorly of you if your performance isn’t perfect. It’s human to feel embarrassed if you stutter, mispronounce a word, or briefly lose your place. But it’s also human to make mistakes, period. Ask a group of performers if they’ve flubbed up during a performance, and all of them will likely say “yes” (I know I have!). So, if you stumble during yours, don’t dwell on it. Just smile and keep going.
Commend yourself for your bravery
One of the most frequent comments performers hear about open mic performances is, “You’re so brave!” And it’s true—it takes a LOT of courage to stand up and share your work. But as I said in Tip #4, no one in the audience will criticize you for your performance. They’re going to be there to enjoy the evening, support one another, and share their own work. So, turn your focus to your growth. Think of this event as an opportunity to try something new (and a teeny bit scary) and connect with other members of your community. Once your performance is over, congratulate yourself on a job well done—because you deserve it!

Beginner Alcohol Ink Class
2023-09-21 17:30 - 20:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Let Cheryl Larson be your guide into the world of alcohol ink. With her help, you’ll learn the basics, techniques, and how colors work together in this unique artform. All supplies included. Registration is $25 and scholarships are available. Call Central Square at (320) 634–0400 for details. Register by visiting the Central Square office or our online Box Office here: https://ticketpeak.co/centralsquare
This class will be held on the second floor of Central Square in the art studio—suite 209.
We hope to see you there!

Willow Brae & Special Guest—Michael Bissonette!
2023-09-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Join us for Willow Brae, along with guest percussionist, Michael Bissonnette, this Saturday, September 16th, at 7pm, at Central Square!
Willow Brae is the duo of Andrea Stern, Celtic harpist and multi-instrumentalist Laura MacKenzie on traditional wind instruments and voice. Together they bring to life the airs, dance tunes and songs of the Irish and Scottish countrysides, conveying the warm resonance of traditional music and song as well as the spark and excitement of dynamic dance tunes. The duo features a unique and wide array of seldom-heard instruments both plucked and wind-powered. Throughout their performances, Laura and Andrea provide fascinating historical and cultural information about the instruments and their music, all delivered with humor and skill.
To purchase tickets, call (320) 634–0400 or click here
This event is generously sponsored by American Diversity.
Beverage service will be provided by Rolling Forks Vineyards
***National Day of Service***
GFWC Potpourri Club will be gathering food donations in the Central Square lobby for the National Day of Service from 6 to 7 pm on Saturday, September 16th, just before the Willow Brae performance. Please join them in supporting local families in need by contributing non-perishable food items!

Sultans of String
2023-09-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
This multi-award-winning, 3x Juno-nominated and Billboard charting band creates “energetic and exciting music from a band with talent to burn!” (Maverick, UK). For more than a decade, Sultans of String have thrilled audiences with their genre-hopping passport of Celtic reels, Flamenco, Django-jazz, Arabic, Cuban and South Asian rhythms. The group celebrates musical fusion and human creativity with warmth and virtuosity, with world rhythms that excite audiences to their feet!

To purchase tickets, call (320) 634–0400 or click here

2023 Art Adventures: Fun in the Park! Outdoor Art Activities (9–11yr. old class)
2023-08-24 13:00 - 15:00 | Barsness Park, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Welcome to Art Adventures! Register your child in our classes and Carson Thorson, our licensed art instructor, will guide them in exploring the magic of art and nurture their creativity and imagination.
Join us for a fun class outdoors at the park. Students will participate in several art activities, including plein-air landscape painting, chalk art, nature-resist paintings, texture rubbings, and a color scavenger hunt.
Art Adventures classes will take place every Wednesday (aside from the final class, which will be on a Thursday) starting July 5th and ending August 24th. Class times will go from 10am to 12pm for kids aged 6 to 8, and 1 to 3pm for kids aged 9 to 11.
Location: Room 209 at Central Square, 105 2nd Avenue Northeast Glenwood, MN 56334.
Registration: Register by calling (320)634–0400 or emailing info@centralsquare.org
Cost: $15 Per Class Per Student or All 8 Classes for $100
Central Square has need-based scholarships available. Call 320-634-0400 or email info@centralsquare.org for details.
Visit our website’s “Education” page for a full schedule and class details.

2023 Art Adventures: Fun in the Park! Outdoor Art Activities (6–8yr. old class)
2023-08-24 10:00 - 12:00 | Barsness Park, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Welcome to Art Adventures! Register your child in our classes and Carson Thorson, our licensed art instructor, will guide them in exploring the magic of art and nurture their creativity and imagination.
Join us for a fun class outdoors at the park. Students will participate in several art activities, including plein-air landscape painting, chalk art, nature-resist paintings, texture rubbings, and a color scavenger hunt.
Art Adventures classes will take place every Wednesday (aside from the last class, which will be on a Thursday) starting July 5th and ending August 24th. Class times will go from 10am to 12pm for kids aged 6 to 8, and 1 to 3pm for kids aged 9 to 11.
Location: Barsness Park in Glenwood, MN
Registration: Register by calling (320)634–0400 or emailing info@centralsquare.org
Cost: $15 Per Class Per Student or All 8 Classes for $100
Central Square has need-based scholarships available. Call 320-634-0400 or email info@centralsquare.org for details.
Visit our website’s “Education” page for a full schedule and class details.

Art Adventures: (Joint class with Week 6) Painting Clay Bird Eyes and Creating Nature Journals (9–11yr. old class)
2023-08-16 13:00 - 15:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Welcome to Art Adventures! Register your child in our classes and Carson Thorson, our licensed art instructor, will guide them in exploring the magic of art and nurture their creativity and imagination.
This class will be a continuation of Week 6, and students will paint their dried Clay Bird Eyes and attach the painted glass eye. For the rest of the class session students will create their own Nature Journals, with sections for painting, sketching, and other fun activities to do outside. (Will be used if students choose to attend the Week 8 Outdoors Class)
Art Adventures classes will take place every Wednesday (aside from the final class, which will be on a Thursday) starting July 5th and ending August 24th. Class times will go from 10am to 12pm for kids aged 6 to 8, and 1 to 3pm for kids aged 9 to 11.
Location: Room 209 at Central Square, 105 2nd Avenue Northeast Glenwood, MN 56334.
Registration: Register by calling (320)634–0400 or emailing info@centralsquare.org
Cost: $15 Per Class Per Student or All 8 Classes for $100
Central Square has need-based scholarships available. Call 320-634-0400 or email info@centralsquare.org for details.
Visit our website’s “Education” page for a full schedule and class details.

Art Adventures: (Joint class with Week 6) Painting Clay Fish and Creating Nature Journals (6–8yr. old class)
2023-08-16 10:00 - 12:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Welcome to Art Adventures! Register your child in our classes and Carson Thorson, our licensed art instructor, will guide them in exploring the magic of art and nurture their creativity and imagination.
This class will be a continuation of Week 6, and students will paint their dried Clay Fish and do the final assembly into mobiles or wind chimes. For the rest of the class session students will create their own Nature Journals, with sections for painting, sketching, and other fun activities to do outside. (Will be used if students choose to attend the Week 8 Outdoors Class)
Art Adventures classes will take place every Wednesday (aside from the final class, which will be on a Thursday) starting July 5th and ending August 24th. Class times will go from 10am to 12pm for kids aged 6 to 8, and 1 to 3pm for kids aged 9 to 11.
Location: Room 209 at Central Square, 105 2nd Avenue Northeast Glenwood, MN 56334.
Registration: Register by calling (320)634–0400 or emailing info@centralsquare.org
Cost: $15 Per Class Per Student or All 8 Classes for $100
Central Square has need-based scholarships available. Call 320-634-0400 or email info@centralsquare.org for details.
Visit our website’s “Education” page for a full schedule and class details.

Art Adventures: Creating Bird Eyes with Clay (9–11yr. old class)
2023-08-09 13:00 - 15:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Welcome to Art Adventures! Register your child in our classes and Carson Thorson, our licensed art instructor, will guide them in exploring the magic of art and nurture their creativity and imagination.
In this class, students will learn about and practice drawing different birds’ heads and eyes, studying shape and texture. Students will then create a unique bird eye sculpture, using a flat glass piece and watercolors to make the eye itself, and then use air dry clay to shape the feathers around their eye base.
Art Adventures classes will take place every Wednesday (aside from the final class, which will be on a Thursday) starting July 5th and ending August 24th. Class times will go from 10am to 12pm for kids aged 6 to 8, and 1 to 3pm for kids aged 9 to 11.
Location: Room 209 at Central Square, 105 2nd Avenue Northeast Glenwood, MN 56334.
Registration: Register by calling (320)634–0400 or emailing info@centralsquare.org
Cost: $15 Per Class Per Student or All 8 Classes for $100
Central Square has need-based scholarships available. Call 320-634-0400 or email info@centralsquare.org for details.
Visit our website’s “Education” page for a full schedule and class details.

Art Adventures: Colorful Clay Fish (6–8yr. old class)
2023-08-09 10:00 - 12:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Welcome to Art Adventures! Register your child in our classes and Carson Thorson, our licensed art instructor, will guide them in exploring the magic of art and nurture their creativity and imagination.
Students will use air dry clay to create a variety of fun clay fish and will have the option to later assemble their fish into a wind chime or a hanging mobile. Students will learn about local fish species and can design their fish to match real-life species or come up with their own whimsical designs!
Art Adventures classes will take place every Wednesday (aside from the final class, which will be on a Thursday) starting July 5th and ending August 24th. Class times will go from 10am to 12pm for kids aged 6 to 8, and 1 to 3pm for kids aged 9 to 11.
Location: Room 209 at Central Square, 105 2nd Avenue Northeast Glenwood, MN 56334.
Registration: Register by calling (320)634–0400 or emailing info@centralsquare.org
Cost: $15 Per Class Per Student or All 8 Classes for $100
Central Square has need-based scholarships available. Call 320-634-0400 or email info@centralsquare.org for details.
Visit our website’s “Education” page for a full schedule and class details.

Art Adventures: Creating Comics (9–11yr. old class)
2023-08-02 13:00 - 15:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Welcome to Art Adventures! Register your child in our classes and Carson Thorson, our licensed art instructor, will guide them in exploring the magic of art and nurture their creativity and imagination.
In this class, students will learn about creating comics. We will talk about what makes a good story, how to take inspiration from your own life, and how to do various comic-related drawing activities. Students will then create their very own short comic, drawing on an experience they’ve had in their community!
Art Adventures classes will take place every Wednesday (aside from the final class, which will be on a Thursday) starting July 5th and ending August 24th. Class times will go from 10am to 12pm for kids aged 6 to 8, and 1 to 3pm for kids aged 9 to 11.
Location: Room 209 at Central Square, 105 2nd Avenue Northeast Glenwood, MN 56334.
Registration: Register by calling (320)634–0400 or emailing info@centralsquare.org
Cost: $15 Per Class Per Student or All 8 Classes for $100
Central Square has need-based scholarships available. Call 320-634-0400 or email info@centralsquare.org for details.
Visit our website’s “Education” page for a full schedule and class details.

Art Adventures: Nature Collages in the Style of Eric Carle (6–8yr. old class)
2023-08-02 10:00 - 12:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Welcome to Art Adventures! Register your child in our classes and Carson Thorson, our licensed art instructor, will guide them in exploring the magic of art and nurture their creativity and imagination.
Students will look at artwork by author and illustrator Eric Carle, then design their very own nature-inspired artwork inspired by him. We will use crayons, watercolors, and cut paper to create fun and colorful collages about their favorite things to see outside!
Art Adventures classes will take place every Wednesday (aside from the final class, which will be on a Thursday) starting July 5th and ending August 24th. Class times will go from 10am to 12pm for kids aged 6 to 8, and 1 to 3pm for kids aged 9 to 11.
Location: Room 209 at Central Square, 105 2nd Avenue Northeast Glenwood, MN 56334.
Registration: Register by calling (320)634–0400 or emailing info@centralsquare.org
Cost: $15 Per Class Per Student or All 8 Classes for $100
Central Square has need-based scholarships available. Call 320-634-0400 or email info@centralsquare.org for details.
Visit our website’s “Education” page for a full schedule and class details.

Art Adventures: Weaving a Basket Nest for Clay Birds (9–11yr. old class)
2023-07-26 13:00 - 15:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Welcome to Art Adventures! Register your child in our classes and Carson Thorson, our licensed art instructor, will guide them in exploring the magic of art and nurture their creativity and imagination.
In this class, students will create a small bird out of air-dry clay and some small clay eggs. Then, students will learn simple basket-weaving techniques to create a nest for their little bird.
Art Adventures classes will take place every Wednesday (aside from the final class, which will be on a Thursday) starting July 5th and ending August 24th. Class times will go from 10am to 12pm for kids aged 6 to 8, and 1 to 3pm for kids aged 9 to 11.
Location: Room 209 at Central Square, 105 2nd Avenue Northeast Glenwood, MN 56334.
Registration: Register by calling (320)634–0400 or emailing info@centralsquare.org
Cost: $15 Per Class Per Student or All 8 Classes for $100
Central Square has need-based scholarships available. Call 320-634-0400 or email info@centralsquare.org for details.
Visit our website’s “Education” page for a full schedule and class details.

Art Adventures: Weaving Animal Looms (6–8yr. old class)
2023-07-26 10:00 - 12:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Welcome to Art Adventures! Register your child in our classes and Carson Thorson, our licensed art instructor, will guide them in exploring the magic of art and nurture their creativity and imagination.
In this class, students will create cardboard looms in the shapes of different animals. They will then learn about simple weaving techniques, and use yarn to create an adorable woven animal!
Art Adventures classes will take place every Wednesday (aside from the final class, which will be on a Thursday) starting July 5th and ending August 24th. Class times will go from 10am to 12pm for kids aged 6 to 8, and 1 to 3pm for kids aged 9 to 11.
Location: Room 209 at Central Square, 105 2nd Avenue Northeast Glenwood, MN 56334.
Registration: Register by calling (320)634–0400 or emailing info@centralsquare.org
Cost: $15 Per Class Per Student or All 8 Classes for $100
Central Square has need-based scholarships available. Call 320-634-0400 or email info@centralsquare.org for details.
Visit our website’s “Education” page for a full schedule and class details.

Art Adventures: Interactive Art - Seasons Agamograph (9–11yr. old class)
2023-07-19 13:00 - 15:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Welcome to Art Adventures! Register your child in our classes and Carson Thorson, our licensed art instructor, will guide them in exploring the magic of art and nurture their creativity and imagination.
In this class, we will explore all of the seasons Minnesota experiences and learn about weather patterns. Students will also learn about movement in art, and how to create interactive artwork! Students will then create an agamograph, depicting two of their favorite seasons. Agamographs are two pieces of artwork, measured, cut, and then reassembled so they can be viewed from multiple angles!
Art Adventures classes will take place every Wednesday starting July 5th and ending August 23rd. Class times will go from 10am to 12pm for kids aged 6 to 8, and 1 to 3pm for kids aged 9 to 11.
Location: Room 209 at Central Square, 105 2nd Avenue Northeast Glenwood, MN 56334.
Registration: Register by calling (320)634–0400 or emailing info@centralsquare.org
Cost: $15 Per Class Per Student or All 8 Classes for $100
Central Square has need-based scholarships available. Call 320-634-0400 or email info@centralsquare.org for details.
Visit our website’s “Education” page for a full schedule and class details.

Art Adventures: Colorful Animal Collages in the Style of Norval Morrisseau (6–8yr. old class)
2023-07-19 10:00 - 12:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Welcome to Art Adventures! Register your child in our classes and Carson Thorson, our licensed art instructor, will guide them in exploring the magic of art and nurture their creativity and imagination.
In this class, students will learn about artist Norval Morrisseau and his colorful animal artworks! They will then practice breaking down complex shapes into smaller pieces to hone their drawing skills. Students will choose an animal to make into a colorful, shape filled collage.
Art Adventures classes will take place every Wednesday starting July 5th and ending August 23rd. Class times will go from 10am to 12pm for kids aged 6 to 8, and 1 to 3pm for kids aged 9 to 11.
Location: Room 209 at Central Square, 105 2nd Avenue Northeast Glenwood, MN 56334.
Registration: Register by calling (320)634–0400 or emailing info@centralsquare.org
Cost: $15 Per Class Per Student or All 8 Classes for $100
Central Square has need-based scholarships available. Call 320-634-0400 or email info@centralsquare.org for details.
Visit our website’s “Education” page for a full schedule and class details.

Opening Gallery Reception & Artist Talk | Nancy X. Valentine
2023-07-15 12:00 - 15:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
We are proud to announce our newest gallery exhibition, featuring the “Audacity” series: The Audacity to be Asian in Rural America: we owe you no apologies by artist Nancy XiáoRong Valentine.
Join us for Valentine’s opening reception this Saturday, July 15th, from 12pm to 3pm, during our July Music on the Lawn event. Valentine will also lead an artist talk from 12:30–1pm where she will speak about her powerful paintings and answer questions about her work.

Created in response to the injustice faced by Asian Americans during the COVID-19 pandemic, Valentine’s series consists of 12 watercolor and Chinese ink scroll paintings on rice paper that offer a visually compelling narrative of the Hao family’s immigrant experience in rural West Central Minnesota. The Hao family is Valentine’s maternal side of her family.

Each painting depicts a different animal from the Chinese Zodiac, symbolizing various aspects of the family’s immigrant experience and cultural heritage. The intricate watercolor and Chinese ink techniques employed by Valentine bring these stories to life, inviting viewers to explore and empathize with the challenges, triumphs, and resilience of the Hao family.

We hope you will join us in celebrating Valentine’s work and story at Central Square!

2nd Annual Music on the Lawn - Summer Music Series
2023-07-15 11:30 - 15:00, 2023-06-17 11:30 - 15:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Our summer music series is the perfect blend of music, community, and the outdoors! Join us for year 2 of our Music on the Lawn singer/songwriter music showcase this June, July, and August.
This live outdoor mini music series is a celebration of talented musicians who combine instruction, music, and storytelling into their shows. You can enjoy delicious concessions and festive activities such as face painting, cornhole, and craft making, and a diverse lineup of accomplished musicians, led by Minnesota’s own Charlie Roth.

Each event includes a pre-concert workshop, The Songwriter’s Circle, an interactive hour-long session for aspiring musicians and songwriters to improve their lyrics and test their songs in a supportive group. The workshops are engaging, dynamic sessions that serve participants with varied interests and goals. The Songwriting Circle is designed to stimulate and motivate creative spirit without requiring any music theory knowledge or instrumental skills.

These events are a wonderful way to spend quality time with family and friends in the summer air, and the best part is that entrance is free! Bring the whole family, lay out a blanket, and enjoy some great tunes.

Lineup:
Morning Bird
June 17th at 1pm
https://morningbirdsings.com

Humbletown
July 15th at 1pm
https://humbletownband.com

The Weary Ramblers
August 19th at 1pm
https://www.wearyramblers.com

Open Mic Night
2023-06-22 19:00 - 21:00 | Central Square Inc., 105 2nd Avenue Northeast, Glenwood, MN, 56334, United States
Event Details:
Open Mic Night Returns!
Please join us in our newest endeavor—Open Mic Night at Central Square!
At these events we will create a safe space for all to share openly, inspire each other, and support one another in mutually respectful ways. Our philosophy, is based upon the transformative power of art and writing that allows us to express, explore, reveal, understand ourselves as well as each other creativity and storytelling. Feel free to come and simply listen. Whether or not you are ready to share your own creative work or voice, we hope to inspire you with empathy, to think deeply, feel passionately, embrace vulnerability, and find your creative spark!
Don’t underestimate the potential of an authentic, warm, community like ours to give you an outlet you’ll cherish and come back to again and again. We welcome all kinds of art and oration, and all we ask is that you maintain respect for all in order to keep our space secure and safe.
Your donations are welcome! Donations enable us to provide fun, free events like Open Mic Night!
Walk-ins for this event are welcome, but if you would like to register in advance, click here to fill out a quick registration form.

***Guidelines for Open Mic at Central Square***

Each participant has 5–10 minutes to share their work. Speakers are limited to 5 minutes, while musical performances are given 10 minutes. Practice reading, reciting, or playing before the show to check the length of your material. Please be respectful of time so everyone gets a turn. (we’ll use a timer and gently let you know if you are going over your time)
If they wish, each participant will have the option of a 5-minute feedback period for the piece they read. We will use the raise hand option to call on those who would like to offer feedback. Feedback will be limited to one minute per person. A note for those providing feedback, focus on what you liked and what’s working. Our goal is to make this a positive experience for all.
If you don’t want to participate, but you’d still like to watch – that’s completely okay! All are welcome. All genres of work are welcome: poetry, prose, short stories, excerpts from longer pieces of writing, musical instrument, song etc. Please share content warnings for anything that could be triggering, so that folks can prepare themselves however they need to. We ask that your content remain family friendly.

***Tips***
Come prepared
Either have your poem/song/spoken word printed out or very well memorized. We recommend that you rehearse it out loud once a day for two or three days prior to the event. As you read, pay attention to the overall tone of the piece so you can convey its emotions, and to points that require a pause or change in pitch. If it helps, underline words or mark up the piece so you can remember these inflections and use a timer to check whether the reading/song/performance fits the allocated time slot.
Pro tip: Practice reading a poem like you would practice performing a song. If you plan on reading from a phone or tablet, know your zoom/scroll functions so you don’t accidently lose your place while you are reading.
Speak into the Mic
Don’t be timid about moving the mic around if you need to. Glance down at what you are reading from, rather than staring at it, so you can look up at the audience and speak into the microphone.
The introduction
There will be a host present to MC the event. Acknowledge them when they introduce you. Then briefly introduce yourself, elaborate on what you are performing, if necessary, then get down to it.
Pro tip: Take a few sentences to describe and give context to your piece. And always state the title.
Maintain a slow, steady pace
It’s understandable if you’re so nervous about your performance that you’ll want to rush through it. But the faster you read/perform, the more likely your audience will have difficulty following what you say. So once your turn comes, make every effort to pace yourself. Focus on one sentence or line at a time, and read each one slowly, carefully, and with just enough projection so you can hear each word. This will ensure your voice is loud and clear enough for your audience to understand you and to enjoy not just your reading, but also the quality of your writing.
Don’t judge yourself or your performance too harshly .
Nobody will think poorly of you if your performance isn’t perfect. It’s human to feel embarrassed if you stutter, mispronounce a word, or briefly lose your place. But it’s also human to make mistakes, period. Ask a group of performers if they’ve flubbed up during a performance, and all of them will likely say “yes” (I know I have!). So, if you stumble during yours, don’t dwell on it. Just smile and keep going.
Commend yourself for your bravery
One of the most frequent comments performers hear about open mic performances is, “You’re so brave!” And it’s true—it takes a LOT of courage to stand up and share your work. But as I said in Tip #4, no one in the audience will criticize you for your performance. They’re going to be there to enjoy the evening, support one another, and share their own work. So, turn your focus to your growth. Think of this event as an opportunity to try something new (and a teeny bit scary) and connect with other members of your community. Once your performance is over, congratulate yourself on a job well done—because you deserve it!
