Brookings Arts Council

09/04/2026

We’re saying a big, heartfelt thank you to our Executive Director, Rachel Funk, as she steps down from her role at the Brookings Arts Council.

Since 2022, Rachel has poured so much time, creativity and care into the BAC and into the Brookings community. From teaching classes and curating galleries to planning events and finding new ways to keep the arts accessible and welcoming, she has helped make the BAC the fun, creative, inclusive place that it is today.

We’re so grateful for everything Rachel has brought to this organization and for the many ways she’s helped it grow and thrive over the past few years. We’ll definitely miss her, but we’re excited to see what she’s up to next!

Thank you, Rachel, for everything you’ve done for the BAC. 💛

The good news is, we don’t have to say goodbye just yet! Rachel will be with us through the end of September as we begin the transition into this next chapter for the BAC.

We’ll be looking for our next Executive Director soon, so stay tuned for more details about the position!

09/04/2026

We have a few spots left in one of our most popular classes-- Stained Glass! Learn the basics of stained glass with this charming quilt square suncatcher project! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll be guided through the process of cutting glass, grinding edges, foiling, and soldering to bring your pieces to life.

It’s a challenging but fun and rewarding introduction to stained glass, great for beginners and those looking to try something new.

https://www.hisawyer.com/brookings-arts-council/schedules/activity-set/2012169?source=camps

09/04/2026

Unwind and get creative with an acrylic Paint & Sip class! Participants will be guided step-by-step through creating a fabulous fall landscape painting while enjoying a relaxed, social atmosphere.

No prior painting experience is necessary, just come ready to have fun and explore your creativity. 🎨
Class Requirements
One drink included in price, restrictions may apply
We suggest arriving 15 minutes prior to class start time to get your drink order in

- September 22
- Cottonwood Coffee
- Painting TBD!

Unwind and get creative with an acrylic Paint & Sip class! Participants will be guided step-by-step through creating a finished painting while enjoying a relaxed, social atmosphere. No prior painting experience is necessary, just come ready to have fun and explore your cre...

09/03/2026

Due to enrollment numbers, we've merged several of the upcoming stained glass workshops into one class, now on Saturday, September 12!

We hope you can join us for this festive project (that will hopefully usher in a slight temperature drop!) next weekend.

Sat, Sep 12, 2026
12:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
524 4th St., Brookings Arts Council
Instructors: Laurel Wengler and Ginny Weeks

Capacity: 8 students

Learn the basics of stained glass with this charming quilt square suncatcher project! In this hands-on workshop, you’ll be guided through the process of cutting glass, grinding edges, foiling, and soldering to bring your pieces to life.

https://www.hisawyer.com/brookings-arts-council/schedules/activity-set/2012169?day=2026-09-12&view=cal&source=camps

09/01/2026

✨ A Curious Point of View: Textile Art in Contemporary Abstraction ✨

We’re so excited to have Sue Kaihoi in the gallery this fall! Sue transforms repurposed wool, linen, canvas, cotton, and other collected textiles into colorful, unexpected abstract works. Old blankets, worn garments, scraps, seams, stains, and even holes all find their way into the work, bringing little pieces of their past along with them.

There’s so much to notice in these pieces. Familiar textures and patterns might bring back a memory, but their unexpected richness and combinations make you stop and look at them in a totally different way.

Come get curious with us, chat with Sue, and celebrate the final show of the year! ✨

A Curious Point of View: Textile Art in Contemporary Abstraction
📅 September 17–October 24, 2026
🎉 Artist Reception: September 17, 5:30–7:30pm

P.S. And! This is our final artist show of the year before we dive headfirst into prepping for the Festival of Trees! So come enjoy one last gallery opening with us before the trees take over until 2027. 😉🎄

08/04/2026

We're already looking ahead to fall and getting the next round of classes on the calendar! Here's a peek at a few things we've got coming up:

🏺 Independent Ceramic Study
August 30 | 2-5pm

🏺 Ceramic Wall Pockets
August 7 | 6-8pm

🌌 Perseids Paint & Sip at Wooden Legs Brewing Company
August 7 | 7:30-9pm

✨ Stained Glass Quilt Squares
September 13 | 12-4:30pm
September 14 | 4-8:30pm
September 15 | 4-8:30pm
September 16 | 12-4:30pm

The Stained Glass Quilt Squares classes are all the same class, just offered at different times, so pick the date and time that works best for you!

More classes and workshops are on the way. Is there anything you're hoping to see us offer this fall? Let us know! 👀

brookingsartscouncil.org/classes

08/01/2026

We've still got a little summer left to enjoy! ☀️

We're squeezing every last bit of creativity out of it with two more youth art camps this August:

🏺 Ceramics Youth Camp with Shelby Meyer | August 3-6
📖 Collage & Art Journaling Youth Camp with Eileen Binkley | August 10-13
⏰ Both camps run 10am-12pm

A few spots are still available, so there's still time to get one more creative summer adventure in before school starts!

brookingsartscouncil.org/classes

07/31/2026

🌌🎨 Get hyped for the Perseids meteor shower with a Paint & Sip at Wooden Legs!

Join us Thursday, August 6 for a laid-back night of painting, drinks, and hanging out. We'll be painting a colorful night sky filled with shooting stars and tree silhouettes, just in time to get you in the mood for catching the Perseids! ☄️

Erik will walk you through the painting step-by-step, so no experience is needed. Your registration includes one drink, and we'd recommend getting there a little early to order before painting starts at 7:30.

Bring a friend, grab a drink, and come paint with us! 🍻✨

https://www.hisawyer.com/brookings-arts-council/schedules/activity-set/1830779?day=2026-08-06&view=cal&source=camps&fbclid=IwY2xjawTXPRFwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMU9mTm9GMFhTeTlWOHZxbjBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEe7gE7PV42LJslNLqTtDpunEkKZDdjr8f55FLnTZfcnLQcxV57W4Pu6vfvu9g_aem_Ki2NPVvFk39TKrkPVEWJuA

07/29/2026

If you haven't made it in to see Ping He's show yet, now's the time! 👀

The exhibition comes down August 9, so there's not much time left to check it out. It's a really cool show with some seriously beautiful work, and definitely one you don't want to miss!

brookingsartscouncil.org/ping-he