Editing New York Mills, Minnesota (section)

==Arts and economic development==
New York Mills was founded in 1884 by [[Finnish American|Finnish]] immigrants. Major industries include agriculture (row crops, grain and dairy farming), Lund Boat Company fishing boat manufacturers, and a variety of service professions. Tourism is an increasingly important economic factor in the area; [[Otter Tail County]] contains 1,048 of the state's lakes,

[[Image:NYMRCC.jpg|thumb|upright|New York Mills Regional Cultural Center]]

===New York Mills Regional Cultural Center===
Faced with the economic challenges and decreasing population of many rural communities, New York Mills decided to invest in a Regional Arts Center in an attempt to bring tourism to the area. In 1991, the city contributed $35,000 to the Regional Arts Retreat and Cultural Center to convert a downtown mercantile building into a multi-use arts and cultural facility. As a per-capita investment, this expenditure was the equivalent of Minneapolis giving $13.7 million to an arts facility. The center, remodeled through a community-wide volunteer effort, opened in June 1992, as a nonprofit arts organization founded by John Davis. Further renovations include a hardwood maple floor in the main gallery and an outdoor deck completed in 2005. While other communities withered in the face of declining populations and deteriorating main streets, New York Mills has remained stable economically, and the Cultural Center continues to draw people, activity, revenue and national attention.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Cunningham|first1=Laine|title=Culture Rules in New York Mills|url=http://americanprofile.com/articles/new-york-mills-art/|website=American Profile|access-date=July 12, 2017|date=November 19, 2000}}</ref>

====Programs====
* Artist-In-Residence Program
* Education/Outreach programs
* Gallery Exhibits
* “Great American Think-Off” Annual Philosophical Debate
* Literary and Theater Events
* Music Concert Series
* Sculpture Park

====Past exhibiting artists====
* [[Robin Barcus Slonina]]
* Charles Beck
* Betsy Bowen
* Duane & Bambi Goodwin
* Eric Johnson
* Kent Kapplinger
* Maxwell MacKenzie
* David Salmela
* Charvis Harrell