Northrop Holiday Season of Fullness

The holiday season, to me, is all about fullness. Fullness of the belly (so much food!), fullness of heart (thanks to good family and friends), fullness of calendar (too many parties and gatherings to count), fullness of warmth (inside and out, folks), and fullness of thankfulness. I am thankful for many things, including Northrop. I work for an organization whose mission is full of values I strongly support, with these three at the top of my list:

1.) Breadth of world-class programming. It all starts with the programming. Northrop isn’t afraid to be bold and innovative in programmatic choices, yet our programming also shows respect and awe to the historical and classic. And no matter what we’re presenting, it’s always full of world-class artists.

2.) Giving back to the community. Northrop’s events are filled out with extensive community outreach and access programs. I can easily get behind any organization that gives back to its community, and gives the experience of performing arts to people who otherwise wouldn’t be able to attend. At Northrop, we do this through a variety of ways, including a diversity of community partnerships, free engagement opportunities in relation to our events (such as our Performance Previews and post-performance discussions for Northrop Dance events downtown and at The O’Shaughnessy, G.I.R.L. Initiative classroom visits for Women of Substance events, master classes for the local dance community, and more), and our Access ticket program, where we give hundreds of tickets to each show to underserved communities through organizations such as Project Success.

3.) Dedication of the staff. You may not see as much behind-the-scenes as I do, as a staff member at Northrop myself. But let me assure you: Northrop is chock-full of hard-working, inspiring, and creative staff members, working countless hours to bring you the standard of excellence we are known for. I am thankful that I get to work next to these individuals.

What are you thankful for this holiday season? What arts programming in the Twin Cities leaves you feeling full and content?

*Image credit: Megan Kiecker