In-Gallery Conversation: Winter Festivities

Winter Festivities is the latest theme in the in-gallery conversation series at the Minneapolis Institute of Art, running from December 3 through December 31, 2026. It's a look at how cultures around the world celebrate the season of rebirth and renewal, and it's part of a year-round cycle of themed explorations. Earlier this year, the museum did Pride in June, The Art of Portraits in August, Fashion and Identity in Art in October, and Celebrating Native American Art in November.

These aren't formal tours. When you arrive, you pick up a map at the Info Desk with pins marking the artworks that fit the theme, and Mia guides are stationed in the galleries to help you find them. From there, you spend an hour looking closely, asking questions, and talking about the art on the walls. It's a low-pressure way to spend some time with the collection, and you don't need to register in advance.

The conversations happen Thursdays through Sundays, from 1 PM to 3 PM, and each session lasts an hour. You can drop in on any of those days throughout December, so you don't have to rush to catch it on a specific date. The whole thing is free, and it's held in the General Mills Lobby at the museum, 2400 Third Avenue South in Minneapolis.