About the MAEP

The Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP) is a curatorial initiative at Mia dedicated to exhibiting and supporting artists living and working in the state. Founded in 1975 as a yearlong partnership between the museum and regional artists, the MAEP has become a unique, ongoing relationship.

Over the past five decades, the MAEP has been a platform for artists to explore a wide range of topics and artistic styles. Events like MCAD@Mia, the MAEP Loading Dock concert series, and the MAEP Artist Talks have expanded artists’ opportunities to engage new audiences. Hosting more than 200 exhibitions, the program has featured notable artists, including Kinji Akagawa, Ta-Coumba Aiken, Harriet Bart, Leslie Barlow, Andrea Carlson, Jim Denomie, Alison Hiltner, Frank Gaard, Ruthann Godollei, Nicole Havekost, Jonathan Herrera Soto, Alexa Horochowski, Seitu Jones, Warren MacKenzie, George Morrison, Dougie Padilla, Alec Soth, Xavier Tavera, JoAnn Verberg, and Tetsuya Yamada.

As the program celebrates its 50th anniversary, the MAEP remains committed to providing a platform for Minnesota’s diverse arts communities.

Supervisor of the MAEP

Nicole E. Soukup, the program’s supervisor, supports regional artists interested in applying to the program and works closely with the program’s Advisory Committee and Mia’s staff to administer it. Reporting to the Global Contemporary Art Department, Soukup links regional artists and the museum’s contemporary program.