Contact: Michele Peters
651-296-0308
michele.peters@state.mn.us

ST. PAUL, MN (Sept. 18, 2007) Explore Minnesota Tourism and The Rake magazine are teaming up to promote the growing arts scene in Minnesota. In addition to the new Guthrie Theater and a new wing at the Minneapolis Institute of Arts, there’s a new marine museum in Winona, and new performances and venues across the state.

“There is so much going on right now in Minnesota’s burgeoning arts scene,” said John Edman, director, Explore Minnesota Tourism. “We are excited to help promote arts events and the Minnesota regions that inspire them all across the state.”

The campaign, called “autumn arts” was kicked off with advertising in newspapers across the state and will continue with the publication of The Rake’s 10,000 Arts, a new quarterly supplement to The Rake, in October. The promotion will feature 35 identified art performances and festivals scheduled from September 29 - November 4 across the state.

More information about arts in Minnesota is available at: www.exploreminnesota.com/arts.

About Explore Minnesota Tourism

Explore Minnesota Tourism is the state’s tourism promotion office. This agency pursues an entrepreneurial approach, leveraging the state’s tourism investment with increased involvement by the private sector. A council of representatives from the state’s tourism industry connects Explore Minnesota Tourism more strongly with tourism businesses and organizations.

Tourism is a $10 billion industry in Minnesota, a key sector of the state’s economy. The leisure and hospitality industry, a major provider of tourism services, employs over 230,000 Minnesotans, and employment in this sector is projected to grow by over 19 percent this decade.

About The Rake magazine

The Rake is Minnesota’s award-winning literary, arts, and humor magazine that is published monthly. With controlled, audited circulation of 60,000, The Rake is distributed in over 600 locations throughout the Twin Cities metropolitan area. The magazine debuted in March 2002 and now employs a full-time staff of 20 and boasts an impressive list of part-time contributors. The Rake’s website is www.rakemag.com, and their events calendar includes the Explore Minnesota Tourism autumn arts venues.

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