A group of experimental Minnesota artists in the 1970s, frustrated with the established art scene, successfully pitched the Minneapolis Institute of Art (Mia) to create the Minnesota Artists Exhibition Program (MAEP). Launched in 1975, MAEP gave artists direct control over curating a dedicated gallery within the museum, selecting their peers for exhibitions. Fifty years later, the program remains active, with artists chosen through an open call and an advisory committee, and has featured influential figures like Phyllis Wiener, Judy Onofrio, and George Morrison.
MAEP matters because it represents a rare, enduring model of artist-led curation inside a major museum, born from a broader grassroots movement for artist agency in the 1970s that included collectives like the Women's Art Registry of Minnesota (WARM). The program has fostered a vibrant local arts community, giving artists the confidence to create ambitious work and maintaining a space free from curatorial fashion or political constraints. Its longevity demonstrates how institutional partnerships can empower artists and strengthen regional art ecosystems.