Art Beat

Today on Art Beat we're diving into the La Crosse art scene with the Executive Director of the Rivoli Arts District, Teddy Eck. The recently opened Rivoli Arts District has been creating programs and opening spaces for artists to create. They're doing all of this right in the heart of Downtown La Crosse, WI in the Historic Rivoli Theater. I’m Annika Bakkum-Ekern saying, sit back, relax and enjoy as we talk all things Rivoli today on Art Beat.

Original air date: 3/31/26 

Art Beat is produced on the campus of Winona State University and is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Today on Art Beat, join us as we take you inside the 2025 International Digital Media Arts Association Conference and Exhibition. Or if you're in the know, it's iDMAA for short! The conference took place on the campus of Winona State University from October 9th to October 12th, 2025, and discussed how folk media is preserved, created, and presented in the digital age.
Though the conference has passed, we hope this taste of exploration into creation gives you an appetite for media made by everyday people like you and me.
This week’s episode is all about sound practices as activism. Now, what could I possibly mean by that? Don’t ask me! Ask the expert on this topic, Anna Nacher (Nah-ker). Or should I say, Professor Nah-ker? She is an associate professor of digital culture and cultural studies at the Institute of Audiovisual Arts at Yah-gee-ah-lonian University. Simply put, she knows her stuff.
Professor Nah-ker has traveled all the way from Krakow, Poland, to fill us in on how sound and silence can become activism. So grab your popcorn, or, if you are listening in the car, turn on your heated seat. Either way, get cozy! This is “Sound Practices as Activism."
Original air date: 5/05/26

Art Beat is written and produced by KQAL on the campus of Winona State University and is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Today on Art Beat we get an inside look at the 2025 iDMAa (international digital media arts association) Conference and Exhibition which took place from October 9th to October 12th, 2025, on the campus of Winona State University. IDMAa explores and celebrates the creation of many types of media made by people from around the world. This year's exhibition focuses on folk media in the digital age. 

This week on Art Beat we hear from UnderAcademy College Probationary Provost, Mark Marino. UnderAcademy College describes itself as “an unaccredited undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate anti-degree institution.” The institution states that it’s primary mission is “to remain open, marginal, and unaccredited.”

According to founder and President, “UnderAcademy is not anti-academic, it is under — like under the influence of the academy. And, we are not a university; we are called a college because of its phonological proximity to collage.” 

I’m Bill Stoneberg inviting you to join us as KQAL’s Kristine Osorio takes us behind the curtain with the wizar… er, I mean Probationary Provost of UnderAcademy College, Mark Marino; today, on Art Beat. 

Original Airdate: 4/28/26

Art Beat is produced on the campus of Winona State University and is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Today on Art Beat we get an inside look at the 2025 iDMAa (international digital media arts association) Conference and Exhibition which took place from October 9th to October 12th, 2025, on the campus of Winona State University. IDMAa explores and celebrates the creation of many types of media made by people from around the world. This year's exhibition focuses on folk media in the digital age. 

This week on Art Beat we hear from UnderAcademy College Probationary Provost, Mark Marino. UnderAcademy College describes itself as “an unaccredited undergraduate, graduate and postgraduate anti-degree institution.” The institution states that it’s primary mission is “to remain open, marginal, and unaccredited.”

According to founder and President, “UnderAcademy is not anti-academic, it is under — like under the influence of the academy. And, we are not a university; we are called a college because of its phonological proximity to collage.” 

I’m Bill Stoneberg inviting you to join us as KQAL’s Kristine Osorio takes us behind the curtain with the wizar… er, I mean Probationary Provost of UnderAcademy College, Mark Marino; today, on Art Beat. 

Original Airdate: 04/21/26

Art Beat is produced on the campus of Winona State University and is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Today on Art Beat we get an inside look at the 2025 iDMAa (international digital media arts association) Conference and Exhibition which took place from October 9th to October 12th 2025, on the campus of Winona State University. IDMAa explores and celebrates the creation of many types of media made by people from around the world. This year's exhibition focuses on folk media in the digital age. 

Today, we get a chance to talk with Bea Kupper, Karleigh Johnson and Cassie Kuball about their project  “No budget? No problem!: DIY Television".  Where we got an exclusive screening and discussion on their YouTube series “Theatre Kids”. 

Theater Kids was a passion project put together with available resources in hopes to inspire others to create their own stories. 

I’m [ Kristine Osorio] inviting you to join me as we tune in to “No budget? No problem!: DIY Television,” today, on Art Beat. 

Original Airdate: 4/14/26

Art Beat is produced on the campus of Winona State University and is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Today on Art Beat we get an inside look at the 2025 iDMAa (international digital media arts association) Conference and Exhibition which took place from October 9th to October 12th 2025, on the campus of Winona State University. IDMAa explores and celebrates the creation of many types of media made by people from around the world. This year's exhibition focuses on folk media in the digital age. 

This week on Art Beat we get a chance to talk with Professor Kathryn Hannahan from Winona State University. Professor Bettina Fabos from the University of Northern Iowa and Issac Campbell an artist specialized in Wheat Paste Murals about their topic "An Introduction to Fortepan". 

I’m [ Kristine Osorio] inviting you to join me as we explore Fortepan with [ Kathryn Hannahan, Bettina Fabos and Isaac Campbell ] on Art Beat. 

Original Airdate: 12/16/25

Art Beat is produced on the campus of Winona State University and is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Today on Art Beat we get an inside look at the 2025 iDMAa (international digital media arts association) Conference and Exhibition which took place from October 9th to October 12th 2025, on the campus of Winona State University. IDMAa explores and celebrates the creation of many types of media made by people from around the world. This year's exhibition focuses on folk media in the digital age. 

This week on Art Beat we get a chance to talk with Professor Kathryn Hannahan from Winona State University. Professor Bettina Fabos from the University of Northern Iowa and Isaac Campbell an artist specialized in Wheat Paste Murals about their topic "An Introduction to Fortepan". 

I’m Kristine Osorio inviting you to join me as we explore Fortepan with Kathryn Hannahan, Bettina Fabos and Isaac Campbell on Art Beat. 
Original Airdate: 12/09/25

Art Beat is produced on the campus of Winona State University and is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Today on Art Beat we're diving into the Driftless Region with President of Sustainable Driftless, Tim Jacobson. The organization is celebrating the recent release of their third film, "Spirit of the Driftless", which premiered on September 23rd at Viterbo University in La Crosse, WI. We get a behind the scenes look of the film, as well as the happenings of Sustainable Driftless and the mysteries within these hills. I’m Annika Bakkum-Ekern saying, sit back, relax an enjoy as we talk all things Driftless today on Art Beat.

Original air date: 2/25/25

Art Beat is produced on the campus of Winona State University and is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Today on Art Beat we're giving you a look behind the curtain of the Great River Shakespeare Festival that was held on the campus of Winona State University, right here in Winona, MN. The festival's 2025 season features two classic plays, "A Comedy of Errors" and "Romeo and Juliet". Today, we have a conversation with the festival's Props Designer, Karl Gfall. We get his behind the scenes takes about the shows and what it takes to make the magic of theater possible. I’m Annika Bakkum-Ekern saying, sit back, relax an enjoy as we talk all things Shakespeare today on Art Beat.

Original air date: 7/28/25

Art Beat is produced on the campus of Winona State University and is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.

Today on Art Beat we're giving you a look behind the curtain of the Great River Shakespeare Festival that was held on the campus of Winona State University, right here in Winona, MN. The festival's 2025 season features two classic plays, "A Comedy of Errors" and "Romeo and Juliet". Today, we have a conversation with the festival's Artistic Director, Doug Scholz-Carlson. We get his behind the scenes takes about the show, and a better understanding of the language that makes these classic works of literature so special. I’m Annika Bakkum-Ekern saying, sit back, relax an enjoy as we talk all things Shakespeare today on Art Beat.

Original air date: 08/05/25

Art Beat is produced on the campus of Winona State University and is made possible by a grant from the Minnesota Arts and Cultural Heritage Fund.