(light music) - Vesterheim Commons was designed with the idea of creating a new front door for Vesterheim, a distinctive space that really said to visitors as they came to our campus saying, here's where you start your visit.

Let me tell you a little bit about how this building was designed.

We entered into a relationship with a company called Snohetta, and Snohetta is a company who has its roots in Norway.

It's a space that also meets a number of needs for us.

It creates a public space where we can hold a number of different events, large and small.

It has a exhibition gallery like the one we're seated in here today.

And also it has a digital production space that allows us to reach out to an audience that's really a global audience now for us.

We are poised for a lot of new and exciting programs here.

We have a very vibrant folk art school where you can connect with us either in person taking classes or if distance is a problem.

You can also connect with us online.

- I learned this skill here at Vesterheim at the Folk Art School.

I learned from both an American carver and a Norwegian carver.

There's something for everyone.

Baking, weaving, Norwegian language, woodworking, rosemaling, jewelry making, just everything.

- Being at Vesterheim has helped me learn about my ancestors and when I do this weaving, I feel closer and connected to them that I think is very important.

I know where it came from.

(soft music) - We have a very dynamic tours to Norway program where we take folks over to Norway on trips that are very specific to some of the folk arts and some of the heritage of Norway.

- I was a Lutheran pastor for over 35 years and retired and started volunteering.

And then when I heard that they were looking to hire a tourist to Norway coordinator, I put my application in 'cause I've led four tours to Norway before.

So the fact that I have connections now all over Norway and those are deepening and it's kind of given me a second life.

(bright folk music) - We also have a wide range of dynamic exhibits that happen here at the museum that cover a lot of different topics and they change quite frequently.

So if it's been a number of years since you've been to Vesterheim, I think it's worth making another visit here because it's a lot different than you may have remembered from several years ago.

Vesterheim has a very special relationship with Norway's government.

I think a highlight of this relationship with the government of Norway that's coming up with our dedication is Norway's foreign minister, as well as Norway's ambassador coming here to Vesterheim and to Decorah to help to open Vesterheim Commons.

(bright folk music continues) I think another part of the immigrant story that's important to remember is, although we focus on the Norwegian immigrant story here, there are threads in our storyline here at Vesterheim that apply to many different immigrant groups.

The challenges of assimilating to a new culture, determining what parts of your culture remain and what begins to fall away with each passing generation.

Those are universal stories, whether you come from Norway, whether you come from Zimbabwe, whether you come from Ireland, whether you come from Mexico, those all are storylines that apply to all of us.

(light music) (upbeat music continues) (upbeat music continues) - [Narrator] "Postcards" is made possible by the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund and the citizens of Minnesota.

Additional support provided by Margaret A. Cargill Philanthropies.

Mark and Margaret Yackel-Juleen, on behalf of Shalom Hill Farms, a retreat and conference center in a prairie setting near Windom, Minnesota.

On the web at shalomhillfarm.org.

Alexandria, Minnesota, a year-round destination with hundreds of lakes, trails and attractions for memorable vacations and events.

More information at explorealex.com.

The Lake Region Arts Council's arts calendar, an arts and cultural heritage funded digital calendar showcasing upcoming art events and opportunities for artists in West Central Minnesota.

On the web at lrac4calendar.org.

Playing today's new music, plus your favorite hits, 96.7 KRAM, online at 967kram.com.

(upbeat music)