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Mission & Values

About / Mission & Values

Our Mission

The American Swedish Institute is a gathering place for all people to explore diverse experiences of migration, identity, belonging and the environment through arts and culture, informed by enduring links to Sweden.

Our Vision

The American Swedish Institute will be a leading museum and cultural center that invites all people to connect their pasts to their shared future, to understand their heritage in relation to others and to discover their role as neighbors and global citizens. Vibrant, ongoing ties to Sweden will illuminate and inspire all these endeavors.

Our Values

Stewardship

We embrace the legacy of stewardship given to us in the Turnblad Mansion, Nelson Cultural Center, and our collections.

Hospitality

We invest in our role as a welcoming and joyful place for all people and foster authentic relationships with communities local, national, and international.

Learning

We offer transformational, varied learning experiences by providing platforms for reflection, participation, collaboration, and the exchange of ideas.

Difference

We honor variation and interconnections among cultures and histories, engaging with the complexities, creativity, and consequences of their interactions.

Innovation

We create innovative programs, collaborations, and experiences that embrace beautiful design and encourage new ways of thinking.

Sustainability

We embody our social and environmental responsibilities through programs, facilities, and operations that sustain the well-being of our organization, communities, and the natural world.

Acknowledgement of the Dakota People

Welcome to the American Swedish Institute. We wish to acknowledge the Dakota peoples, on whose land we meet, and to thank them for their ongoing care of the land, and acknowledge their connections to this community and the richness of their culture. In this spirit and in recognition of the growing diversity of our neighborhood, we thank you for coming here and for being a part of the American Swedish Institute’s mission to serve as a gathering place for ALL people.