American Swedish Institute

ASI IS A PLACE TO SHARE SWEDISH EXPERIENCES OF CULTURE, MIGRATION, THE ENVIRONMENT AND THE ARTS.

EXHIBITIONS: ASI HOSTED FIVE MAJOR EXHIBITS IN FY2022 AND FOUR SECONDARY EXHIBITS. ASI'S EXHIBITS RANGE IN THEMES FROM SWEDISH AND NORDIC ARTS, CRAFT HISTORY, AND CONTEMPORARY LIFE, OFTEN DEVELOPED IN CONJUNCTION WITH LOCAL PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS AND ARTISTS AS WELL AS THE SWEDISH EMBASSY AND NORDIC HERITAGE MUSEUMS. ONE OF THE MAJOR EXHIBIT EXPERIENCES IS THE 33-ROOM TURNBLAD MANSION AND ITS ANNUAL NORDIC HOLIDAY DISPLAYS REPRESENTING DISPLAYS FOR THE FIVE NORDIC COUNTRIES BY LOCAL ARTISTS AND ORGANIZATIONS. VISITOR AND VOLUNTEER SERVICES: THIS UNIT OVERSEES MUSEUM ADMISSION FUNCTIONS, CUSTOMER SERVICE, PROGRAM REGISTRATION AND GROUP TOURS. ADDITIONALLY, THIS UNIT RECRUITS, TRAINS AND MANAGES A LARGE COHORT OF VOLUNTEERS. IN FY 2022, APPROXIMATELY 150 INDIVIDUALS VOLUNTEERED THROUGHOUT THE ORGANIZATION. COLLECTIONS: ASI MAINTAINS MATERIAL COLLECTIONS, LIBRARY, AND ARCHIVES COLLECTIONS. THE GOAL OF ASI'S COLLECTIONS IS TO REFLECT THE CULTURES OF SWEDEN AND SWEDISH AMERICA AND TO PROVIDE RESOURCES FOR RESEARCH FOR ASI STAFF, SCHOLARS, AND THE PUBLIC.

THE AMERICAN SWEDISH INSTITUTE CREATES AND PRESENTS EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES FOR LIFE-LONG LEARNING. PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS ARE DEVELOPED USING AN AUDIENCE DRIVEN PROCESS; MATCHING MISSION AND STRATEGIC GOALS TO INTERESTS AND BEHAVIORS OF OUR AUDIENCES. ASI IS ONE OF FIVE HUB ORGANIZATIONS IDENTIFIED BY THE SWEDISH EMBASSY TO PARTNER ON CULTURAL AND BUSINESS PROGRAMS AND EVENTS. PROGRAMS: ADULT PROGRAMS INCLUDE SWEDISH AND FINNISH LANGUAGE CLASSES; HANDCRAFT, FOODWAYS, FOLK ART, AND CULTURE WORKSHOPS; AS WELL AS LECTURES, TOURS, EXHIBIT OPENINGS, CONCERTS, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. YOUTH AND FAMILY PROGRAMS OFFER ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS THROUGH COLLEGE STUDENTS. PROGRAMS INCLUDE SVENSKA SKOLAN SWEDISH LANGUAGE CLASSES FOR CHILDREN AND YOUTH, CRAFT WORKSHOPS FOR YOUTH, SEASONAL YOUTH AND FAMILY ACTIVITIES, COMMUNITY PROGRAMS (AT ASI AND OUTREACH IN SCHOOLS), AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS AND CAMPS. ASI ALSO INCORPORATES CHILDREN/FAMILY ACTIVITIES FOR ALL MAJOR EXHIBITS. PROGRAMS ARE OFFERED ON-SITE AND IN-PERSON AS WELL AS THROUGH VIRTUAL MEDIA.

CULTURAL ENTERPRISES INCLUDE THREE UNITS: RETAIL THROUGH THE ON-SITE MUSEUM STORE AND ITS E-COMMERCE SITE; FOOD SERVICE AT FIKA CAF AND SLATE&STONE CATERING; AND FACILITY RENTALS FOR PRIVATE EVENTS. THE MUSEUM STORE AND FIKA CAF ARE LOCATED IN THE NELSON CULTURAL CENTER AND ARE MUSEUM ENHANCING VISITOR AMENITIES. RETAIL SELLS TRADITIONAL AND MODERN NORDIC ITEMS RELATING TO THE MISSION OF ASI AND MUSEUM, PROGRAMS, AND EXHIBITS. FIKA CAFE FEATURES NEW NORDIC CUISINE AS WELL AS TRADITIONAL SWEDISH MENU ITEMS. THE FACILITIES RENTAL UNIT COORDINATES SPACE RENTALS IN THE NELSON CULTURAL CENTER, THE TURNBLAD MANSION AS WELL AS OUTDOOR SPACES FOR THOSE DESIRING A PRIVATE GROUP EXPERIENCE AT ASI.