The Minnesotan of the Year in the Arts is recognized at the Annual Membership Meeting in May for an outstanding contribution in the fields of Painting, Sculpture, Writing, Music, Theater, Arts Administration or Arts Philanthropy. The recipient must have made a lasting contribution nationally or internationally in his or her field. The ‘arts philanthropy’ category includes those who are not necessarily artists, but have made a significant contribution to the arts as a volunteer, philanthropist, or visionary. The first year for the award was 1981.