2025

2025 at Tofte Lake Center was a year filled with creativity, community, and connection. We kicked off the season with our annual Alumni Work Weekend, bringing alumni together to tend the land and celebrate the start of summer. From there, the lake welcomed an inspiring array of artists and organizations: Emerging artists from all over the country, McKnight dancers and choreographers celebrating 15 years of retreats, and the April Sellers Dance Collective marking their 25th anniversary. Families came together for our Family Artist Residency, Minnesota-based creatives gathered for the BIPOC Artist Residency, and artists from across disciplines and the country joined us for several weeks of Individual Artist Residencies. We deepened community ties through the Catalyst Arts Black Artist Family Retreat and welcomed the Happy Hour Book Club in honor of beloved former board chair Bernadette Christiansen. Octopus Theatricals returned for their third retreat, while the Bois Forte Band of Chippewa gathered for their first time at TLC. Along the way, our Board of Directors returned for their annual retreat, grounding TLC’s mission and future. A summer highlight was opening our doors to the community for our third annual Day at the Lake, featuring workshops and performances by local Ely artists.