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Just a short drive from Minneapolis, Mankato is a thriving arts community with quality theater, music, dance, and visual arts programs. Applaud a rousing theater production, peruse a gallery full of artwork by popular local artists or reconnect under the stars at an outdoor concert.

CityArt Walking Sculpture Tour

See and enjoy art out in the open with CityArt in Mankato’s City Center. Enjoy the CityArt Walking Sculpture Tour with sculptures from artists around the world in mediums ranging from bronze to cast iron to up-cycled materials. You can even vote for your favorite sculpture or participate in a scavenger hunt.

Silo Art

The newest and fastest growing attraction in the area is Silo Art in Old Town on the historic Ardent Mills silos. One of the largest canvases in the region was completed by international artist, Guido van Helten. This mural tells a story of the history, diversity, and inclusion of Greater Mankato. It literally can’t be missed and leaves visitors and residents in awe of its sheer size and perfect picture-like images.

CityArt On the Go

Discover art in unexpected places with CityArt On the Go as infrastructure becomes art! The traffic signal boxes in City Center Mankato have been transformed through murals by local artists, providing unexpected sights for pedestrians and drivers to enjoy.

CityArt Public Art Tour

Public art can be found throughout the City Center in the form of sculptures, murals, monuments, and other elements of interest. Some public art is acquired for the community through the Walking Sculpture Tour; other pieces are commissioned for specific locations.

No matter where you are in the City Center, art is close by!

Mankato Poetry

The Mankato Poetry Walk & Ride is a public art project that brings poetry to biking and walking trails throughout Mankato and North Mankato, Minnesota. New poems are selected yearly from work submitted by community members of all ages living in Minnesota. The poems are installed on individual signs along the trails to be enjoyed by residents and visitors alike throughout the year.

Museums

If you are interested in history, literature or just having fun, you’ll find Mankato’s museum to be worth a visit. The Blue Earth County Historical Society operates the History Center Museum, Research Center, and gift shop as well as the Historic R.D. Hubbard House in Mankato. The Betsy-Tacy House brings the classic books of Maud Hart Lovelace to life as you get a glimpse into the past. Be sure to visit the Children’s Museum of Southern Minnesota where you’ll find the perfect combination of Southern Minnesota’s rich culture in a hands-on, interactive learning environment.

Theater, Theater, Theater

The Mankato area offers a variety of options for the theater lover. Minnesota State University, Mankato Theatre and Dance has several performances every year. More than 35,000 patrons witness, support, and enjoy the department’s offerings each year, ranking it in the nation’s top one percent of colleges in theater attendance. Other area colleges including Bethany Lutheran College in Mankato and Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter have excellent theater programs. If you want a unique theater experience, The Merely Players Community Theatre brings art to the community through its theatrical performances year-round. The Merely Players also offer special performances at local establishments. The Mankato Playhouse is Mankato’s newest theatre featuring high quality musical theater performances and Broadway Teen Workshops. Better yet, this is a dinner theater offering delicious meals and drinks in a fun atmosphere.

Music & Dance

Enjoy musical and dance performances throughout the year in Mankato. Catch a performance of the Mankato Ballet or Dance Conservatory of Southern Minnesota. Experience the power of music at a concert by the Mankato

Symphony Orchestra or Minnesota Valley Chorale.

Galleries

Mankato is a regional hub for art and culture. You will find art out in the open on our City Center streets and in several established galleries. Take a moment to visit one of Mankato’s art galleries including the Historic Carnegie Art Center, the 410 Project, and Twin Rivers Council for the Arts.

Murals

Take a stroll along Riverfront Drive, by Reconciliation Park, and you will find the Mni Mural (“mni” means “water” in the Dakota language) on a 500-foot section of the flood wall along the Minnesota River. The mural illustrates what the river looked like before settlement and incorporates images of fish native to the Minnesota River. The mural helps highlight the flood wall stretching from the Depot to Reconciliation Park, drawing attention to the trail system access. The mural “Kites” incorporates abstract color and beauty to its surroundings. Patterns of bright, bold colors dance across the Riverfront Drive retaining wall. Many businesses in the City Center of Mankato and North Mankato are adding new murals each year.