Butterfly mural is celebrated 

Achieve Services will celebrate its new butterfly murals at Blaine’s Northtown Mall Burlington Court, Door Five, at11 a.m.-1 p.m. Friday, June 23. The ribbon cutting and celebration spotlight murals created by artists with disabilities. The event is free and open to the public. 

Visitors can meet the artists and take photos in front of Achieve’s beautiful butterfly wing murals. Achieve Services’ house band, Dance at Your Own Risk, will perform. 
Achieve Services is a Blaine nonprofit organization serving adults with disabilities. Over the past few months, Achieve artists designed and painted five huge butterfly murals at the mall. The artists chose and provided ideas on the designs, colors and names of the butterflies. 

Each butterfly mural is unique in its height, making it accessible for people of all different heights to take photos in front of its wings. Two of the butterfly designs are wheelchair accessible. 

“It has been an honor and a privilege working on one of the largest collaborative art projects that’s ever been done in Anoka County,” said Joe Loskota, Achieve Program supervisor. He and his wife Tierza led the art project and helped bring participants to the mall to paint the butterflies. “We have had 40 artists with disabilities and 20 art facilitators that have helped make this project a resounding success.”. 

The ribbon cutting will be held at 12:05 p.m. Dance at Your Own Risk will perform from 12:15 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. FFI: www.achieveservices.org/achievewings 

Raise a Glass 

Friends of PACER Center host Raise a Glass, a toast to Pacer, at 5-8 p.m. Thu, June 22 at Nine Mile Brewing, 9555 James Ave. S., Suite 290, Bloomington. Celebrate summer and PACER’s work on behalf of children and young adults with disabilities and their families at a casual, open house-style event. Guests of all ages are welcome for games, snacks, a food truck, and of course, beer. Advance ticket price is $25 and includes one drink, and $10 ticket price for non-drinker and under 21, includes one N/A beverage. Children 10 and under are free. Ticket prices increase after June 15. FF: www.pacer.org 

All golf scramble 

The 2023 Tee It Up FORE All Golf Scramble is Fri, June 23 at Blackberry Ridge Golf Course in Sartell. It is am annual fundraiser for thArc Minnesota Midstate Region and ARISE. ARISE (A Recreational Inclusion Support Endeavor) provides support for children with disabilities so they can access community recreation and leisure activities with their peers. ARISE works with families to determine the needs of each child and to personalize services. FFI; Anne Redetzke, 320-316-3497,  [email protected]  

Post your event online 

Access Press would like to move more of its event listings online, and that is possible with our redesigned website. There is a word limit and we ask that those posting information include event costs as well as accommodations. Are ASL and AD offered? Is there companion seating? A quiet room? Fidgets? 

Accommodations are much more than a ramp for many of us. That kind of information can help someone decide where or not to attend an event. 

To post an event, go to www.accesspress.org, click the resources tab at top right, and go to the post an event line. 

Consider that a small web or print ad can also generate interest in an upcoming event. For questions about ads, email [email protected] 

Access Press reserved the right to reject events if they do not meet our guidelines. Call the editor at 651-644-2133 ext. one or email [email protected] with events questions. 

Open Flow Forum 

The Artists with Disabilities Alliance meets via Zoom 7-9 p.m. the first Thu of the month. Upcoming dates are June 8 and July 6. Virtually join artists with disabilities and supporters to share visual art, writing, music, theater and artistic efforts or disability concerns. Facilitators are Tara Innmon, Kip Shane and Springboard for the Arts. The gatherings are fully accessible. Anyone needing special accommodations should contact Andy Sturdevant at host organization Springboard for the Arts. Funding is available for access needs. FFI: 651-294-0907, [email protected]  

Resources to Enjoy!  

The Enjoy listings are for arts events as well as banquets, fundraisers and fun events by and for disability services organizations. Schedules may be subject to change. Some venues still may have mask and vaccine requirements. Please check with a venue or organization before making plans. 

The Minnesota Access Alliance (MNAA) provides an Accessible Arts & Culture Calendar for arts patrons who use accessibility accommodations such as audio description, captioning, ASL interpreting and sensory-friendly accommodations. Link to more details at https://calendar.mnaccess.org. Be sure to check the listing or venue to find out its COVID-19 protocol and if an advance reservation is needed for the accessibility  
service. 

Accessible events can be submitted to the MNAA Calendar (and MinnesotaPlaylist.com). A list of other venues follows the event listings. 

To receive a free monthly events calendar: email [email protected] and/or [email protected]. Ask for the entire events list or specific lists for ASL interpreting, captioning, audio description, sensory-friendly accommodations or disability-related topics. 

For other accessibility resources or upcoming webinars presented by MNAA, sign up for emails at https://mnaccess.org 

Glaze Haze at Interact 

Interact Gallery hosts Glaze Haze, through June 14. The exhibition features sculptures, planters and masks by 26 artists, created in Interact’s ceramics studio. See the exhibit by appointment. Ask about accessibility and COVID protocols. The gallery is at 755 Prior Ave, N, Suite 002D (lower level), St. Paul. FFI: 651-756-1246