A heart-felt thank you goes to the artists and supporters who donate the amazing artwork and items to the auction! Also, special thanks to Viking Chairman Torstein Hagen and Karine Hagen, Senior Vice President, for donating the Viking Cruise and for their ongoing commitment to sharing Norwegian culture with the world.

Proceeds from the auction benefit Vesterheim’s Folk Art School, which has provided classes since 1967 in fiber arts, woodworking, painting, cooking, jewelry, blacksmithing, knifemaking, and more. At the Folk Art School, students and instructors create a community of learning and experience the joy of making something by hand.

The folk-art experience at Vesterheim doesn’t end with classes. Artists develop their skills to enter pieces in an annual judged competition, The National Norwegian-American Folk Art Exhibition. Pieces in the exhibition are awarded Blue, Red, and White Ribbons representing points that accumulate over successive years toward a Gold Medal. Many of the pieces in Benefit Auction are donated by Vesterheim Gold Medalists and exhibition ribbon winners.