St. Paul Art Crawl, MCAD Faculty vs. AI, and Taiko Drum Swing Music

It's Friday, so we kick off today's episode with some Twin Cities Wins – a roundup of good news from around the metro this week. Then, we chat with Harry Gao, an instructor at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, about how the teachers are negotiating for more pay and protections from AI in their work. Artistic Director of TaikoArts Midwest Jennifer Weir also joins the conversation to discuss Swingposium – an immersive performance by TaikoArts Midwest, Theater Mu, and San Jose Taiko that combines taiko, jazz, and swing dance to tell the story of how Japanese Americans maintained morale in WWII internment camps through swing music. Swingposium is showing at CSPS Hall on Oct. 16, 17, and 18.

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Learn more about the topics discussed in today's episode:

Minneapolis school leaders reverse course and decide not to close schools (Star Tribune) 

FuboTV offers Minnesota Wild games to bars and restaurants — for a fee (Pioneer Press)

Guide to the St. Paul Art Crawl 2026 (Visit Saint Paul)  

Art Crawl Map (St. Paul Art Collective) 

A Human-Centered Arts Education (Workday Magazine)

SwingposiumLearn more about the sponsors of this October 16th episode:

Explore Minnesota

Minneapolis Regional Chamber

The Cedar Cultural Center