River Arts Alliance

Commonweal Theatre Presents King Lear
2025-10-09 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-10-11 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-10-12 13:30 - 16:00, 2025-10-16 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-10-18 19:30 - 22:00 (America/Chicago) | Commonweal Theatre, 208 Parkway Ave. N, Lanesboro, MN, United States
Preview Dates
Saturday, Sept 13 | 7:30-9:30 pm
Sunday, Sept 14 | 1:30-3:30 pm
Thurs-Fri, Sept 18, 19 | 7:30-9:30 pm
Full Run Dates Listed on RAA Event Page
Commonweal Theatre Company
208 Parkway Ave N, Lanesboro, MN
commonwealtheatre.org

Join the Commonweal Theatre Company for William Shakespeare’s legendary classic, King Lear. From one of the greatest writers of all time comes the ultimate family drama. As age overtakes Lear, he divides his kingdom amongst his daughters. Misjudging their loyalty, he finds himself stripped of all that defined him. Learn more.

Frozen River Film Festival Celebrates 20 Years with New Film Series
2025-10-10 - 2025-10-17, 2025-10-11 - 2025-10-18, 2025-10-12 - 2025-10-19, 2025-10-13 - 2025-10-20, 2025-10-14 - 2025-10-21, 2025-10-15 - 2025-10-22, 2025-10-16 - 2025-10-23, 2025-10-17 - 2025-10-24 and 1 more date
frff.eventive.org
This year the Frozen River Film Festival (FRFF) will be celebrating 20 years of bringing documentary films and filmmakers to Winona. The festival begins Sunday, February 9, (You can still get home in time to watch the Super Bowl!) and runs through Sunday, February 16. This year’s event will feature the World Premiere of FRFF’s self-produced documentary, Beneath the Ice: The Frozen River Film Festival Story. Learn more.

Theatre du Mississippi Presents Virtual Playwriting Workshop: Autobiographical Writing
2025-10-10 11:00 - 13:00
Virtual Workshop
June 20, July 18, Aug 15, Sept 12, Oct 10
Cost: Sliding Scale One-Time Payment of $15-75
theatredumiss.org
Discover the power of personal storytelling through the art of autobiographical writing with playwright Kelsey Rain. In this hands-on workshop, playwrights and actors will craft a rough draft of a monologue or script inspired by a significant event from their own lives or the lives of their family members. Learn more.

Commonweal Theatre Presents Lone Star Spirits
2025-10-10 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-10-11 13:30 - 16:00, 2025-10-13 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-10-17 19:30 - 22:00, 2025-10-18 13:30 - 16:00
Commonweal Theatre Company
208 Parkway Ave N, Lanesboro, MN
commonwealtheatre.org

Join the Commonweal Theatre Company for Josh Tobiessen’s small-town comedy, Lone Star Spirits. A trip home gets wildly out of hand when Marley introduces her fiancé to her estranged father. Learn more.

Moving Beyond Bars
2025-10-11
Rochester, MN – Rochester Art Center is proud to present Moving Beyond Bars, an immersive exhibition featuring monumental artworks and personal writings created by incarcerated women at the Florida Women’s Prison in Ocala, FL, and incarcerated men at the South Dakota State Penitentiary (Sioux Falls) and Mike Durfee State Prison (Springfield, SD).
Developed through residencies supported by the National Endowment for the Arts (2023–2024 and 2024–2025), the exhibition is led by Minneapolis-based dance/theater director Suzanne Costello and visual artist Ariadne Albright. At the request of incarcerated participants, this work has since toured to more than a dozen locations across tribal and rural South Dakota communities and most recently was presented at the Institute of Contemporary Art/ Miami in August.
Through large-scale murals, written reflections, video documentation, and an original soundscape, Moving Beyond Bars highlights the power of creative expression as a pathway for reclaiming identity and preparing for reentry into society. The exhibition invites visitors to engage deeply with the lived experiences, resilience, and humanity of incarcerated individuals.
Moving Beyond Bars began in 2022 as a program designed by Costello and has since been presented in prison and reentry environments across the U.S. Over the course of 2-3 week immersive residencies, Costello and Albright guide participants through group discussions, writing exercises, visual art practices and movement explorations that evolve into visual artworks and group performances presented at the conclusion. This process affirms each participant’s lived experience, making space for healing, expression, and transformation.
Contributors to the exhibition range in age from their 20s to their 70s, represent diverse cultural backgrounds including Native nations, and have prison sentences spanning from a few years to life without parole. Some participants had never engaged with art before, while others drew upon deep cultural traditions. For all, the program offered a rare and powerful opportunity to rediscover their essential selves.
Exhibition Details
Title: Moving Beyond Bars
Venue: Rochester Art Center
Dates: October 11, 2025 – February 8, 2026
Admission: $8 Adults, $5 Seniors & Military, FREE for ages 21 & Under
Request a Group Tour at: https://www.rochesterartcenter.org/group-tours
Website: https://www.rochesterartcenter.org/exhibition/moving-beyond-bars

Call to Artists: Between the Bluffs Plein Air
2025-10-11 09:00 - 12:00, 2025-10-17 18:00 - 21:00, 2025-10-18 11:00 - 2025-10-19 16:00, 2025-10-18 18:00 - 21:00
Demonstrations: Sat. Oct 11 9 – Noon
Show: Oct 17, 18, 19
Betweenthebluffs.com
Colleen Shore is a member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.

Frozen River Film Festival Presents: Independent Gothic Horror Screening A One-Night Descent into the Dark
2025-10-11 19:00 - 21:00 | 251 Main Street Winona, MN 55987 The Historic Masonic Temple, 251 Main Street, Winona, MN, 55987, United States
Saturday, October 11th
Doors at 6:15pm | Film at 7:00 pm | The ARC
255 Main Street Winona, MN 55987
Tickets | $10 General Admission |$8 for FRFF members | Free for Winona Students
Screening at 7:00 PM | Doors open at 6:15 PM
Step into the shadows with a chilling showcase of seven short films that explore the many faces of horror—from eerie Gothic tales to psychological dread, supernatural terror, and darkly comic frights. This one-night-only event brings together a diverse lineup of independent voices pushing the boundaries of the genre. Following the screenings, join a thought-provoking talkback with the Managing Director of the Frozen River Film Festival and filmmaker Curtis Matzke, as they discuss the craft of making horror films, the unique challenges of the genre, and the evolving landscape of independent filmmaking.
Concessions and merchandise will be available for purchase to round out this movie experience!
We will also have FRFF swag available for purchase and other engaging activities!
This activity is made possible by the voters of Minnesota through a grant from the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council thanks to a legislative appropriation from the arts & cultural heritage fund.
Frozen River Film Festival is an organizational member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.

Exhibition of Recent Drawings " Beneath the Fields" by Lois Peterson
2025-10-13 14:00 - 17:00
Sept 3rd- Nov 5th 2025
Artist Reception: Saturday, Oct. 11, 4–5:30 p.m.
Artist Draw-In: Monday, Oct. 13, 2-5 p.m. in the Gallery
Viterbo Fine Arts Gallery
Third Floor
LaCrosse, WI
By creating large-scale detailed drawings of dormant prairie plants and fallen tree segments, their essential role in our ecosystem is both recognized and documented. While working on this series, I found myself mourning their decline. Drawing and restoring land helped me better understand my past and present. Living in a rural area paired with a personal family history of engagement with farming practices gave me a perspective on environmental issues and the need for collective efforts in restoration.
Read more: http://www.viterbo.edu/university-gallery

Frozen River Film Festival Announces Their First 48/5 Reel River Rush Contest
2025-10-17 17:00 - 2025-10-19 17:00
Frozen River Film Festival is hosting our first ever 48/5 filmmaking contest!
Friday-Sunday, October 17th-19th
Registration is open now | Registration Fee is $35 per team
20 teams max for contest | Visit frff.org/485-reel-river-rush to register
Grab your friends, family, and your imagination! NO experience needed. NO professional equipment required! Use your phone for recording and your computer for editing! Join us for an epic weekend of storytelling, laughter, and creativity as you take on the challenge of making your own 5-minute short film in just 48 hours!
Whether you’ve never touched a camera or you’re a TikTok pro, this is your chance to try filmmaking in a totally fun, low-pressure environment. Think of it like a movie-making adventure! Perfect for all ages, skill levels, and creative brains!
Here’s the deal:
You’ll form a team (or go solo if you’re feeling bold!
You’ll have 48 hours to dream up, shoot, and edit a short film
We’ll provide the a line of dialogue to include, and genre to film as!
At the end, your film will be screened Sunday, October 19th at 6pm!
All ages are welcome | There is no age restriction to this event.
Event Details:

Name: 48/5 Reel River Rush Contest

Kick Off Date: October 17th 5pm – Zoom and asynchronous option available

Location: The ARC

Address: 255 Main Street Winona, MN 55987

Submission Deadline: October 19th 5pm

Location: The ARC

Address: 255 Main Street Winona, MN 55987

Grand Screening of Films: October 19th 6pm

Location: The ARC

Address: 255 Main Street Winona, MN 55987

There are three trophies and one cash prize:

Best use of Dialogue

Best use of Genre

Judges’ Favorite

$200 cash prize for audience favorite!

Learn more at frff.org/485-reel-river-rush!

River Rock Mandala Painting
2025-10-18 13:00 - 15:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E. 5th St., Winona
Saturday, October 18 | 1:00-3:00pm
Winona Arts Center at 228 E 5th Street
Cost: $25/members $30/non-members
Contact: Jen at jsbenson50@gmail.com for registration
Join us on Saturday October 18 from 1pm to 3pm for a meditative, creative experience painting River Rock Mandalas with Cheri Bunker! Learn simple dotting techniques to create beautiful, symmetrical mandala designs on natural river rocks. Perfect for all skill levels! All Materials Provided. No Experience needed. Class Fee $25 for Members and $30 for non-Members. Scholarships for classes are available as needed. *Mandala painting kits (includes tools and three bottles of paint) will be available after class for purchase for $10 so you can continue your creative journey with future projects. For more information and to register contact Jen at jsbenson50@gmail.com. For more information about the Winona Arts Center offerings, please visit winonaarts.org
Winona Arts Center is an organizational member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.

Concert: The Everett Smithson Band
2025-10-18 19:00 - 21:00 | Winona Arts Center, 228 E. 5th St., Winona
Saturday, October 18
Concert 7:00-9:00
Doors open at 6:00 for coffeehouse & gallery
Cost: $20/adv $25/door
Winona Arts Center (228 E 5th St)

Come join us for some Cajun fun on Saturday October 18 . Tickets are $20/advance & $25/door and are available at Eventbrite and Music Mart (115 East 3rd Street). Music Mart accepts cash, check or credit cards/no fees.

The Everett Smithson band plays an incredible mix of Creole, Zydeco, & Blues with talented players, Everett Smithson on harp & vocals, Kathy Smithson on accordions & washboard, Phil Schmid on guitar & Jeremy Johnson on guitar, Victor Span on drums, and Bill Black on the stand up base. They have played with many famous bands over the years and continue to delight audiences with their original tunes as well as tunes by musicians of many genres. Along with our regular coffeehouse offerings, some special Cajun treats will be available as well as a cash bar for wine, beer & Sangria.
Contact: Debi debiniebuhr@gmail.com

This concert is made possible with support from Affinity Plus Credit Union, Dahl Toyota, & Merchants Bank.

Winona Arts Center is an organizational member of the River Arts Alliance. To learn more about the benefits of membership, please visit: riverartsalliance.org/membership/.
