Who We Are
Mission
The Great Northern celebrates our cold, creative winters through ten days of diverse programming that invigorate mind and body. In an era of changing climate that threatens our signature season, we seek to create community, inspire action, and share the resilient spirit of the North with the world.
Vision
Our winters produce creativity born from restraint, and inspire a distinctive festival platform. Each year, The Great Northern galvanizes the Twin Cities, drawing 200,000 visitors, sparking national attention. Covering past festivals, Food & Wine declared: “It’s snowing and 10 degrees outside and there’s never been a better time to head to Minnesota.” Departures agreed: “Minnesota does cold better than anywhere else.”
Led by Jovan C. Speller Rebollar, Executive Director, and Kate Nordstrum, Chief Programming Officer, The Great Northern includes world premiere performances, food events, site specific art, panels and speakers, films, regional craft, commissioned writing, storytelling, partnerships with local and national institutions, and outdoor activations. Founding partners City of Lakes Loppet, Saint Paul Winter Carnival and U.S. Pond Hockey Championships host their legacy events as part of The Great Northern each year.
While The Great Northern involves joy and celebration, it also highlights an existential threat to winter: climate change. There is no place on earth unaffected by warming weather. In our own region, we are already seeing some of our most beloved traditions diminished and our environment compromised. In celebrating winter, The Great Northern is also a call to action. To that end, we’ve expanded the festival’s impact by presenting a broad range of programming focused on climate change. We remain committed to exploring the richness of our winter art scene and highlighting diverse perspectives on how we, as a community, embrace winter.
Leadership
KATE NORDSTRUM, Chief Programming Officer, has led festival curation and programming for The Great Northern since December 2019. The “innovative impresario” (Pioneer Press) and “storied matchmaker” (Minneapolis Star Tribune) is respected worldwide. Named “Best Independent Producer” by the Star Tribune, Nordstrum’s current/recent projects include copresentations and partnerships with the Walker Art Center, Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, National Gallery of Art, Cincinnati Symphony, MASS MoCA, On Being with Krista Tippett, Baryshnikov Arts Center, LA Philharmonic, Palm Springs Art Museum, Bedroom Community, New Amsterdam Records, Symphony Space, Ecstatic Music Festival, and American Swedish Institute. Nordstrum has been widely praised for her programmatic vision and catholic tastes, with media outlets describing her as “the most adventurous music curator in town” (MinnPost), “a presenter of rare initiative” (Star Tribune), and “Twin Cities’ curatorial powerhouse with international pull” (Minnesota Public Radio). Her work in the field of performing arts planning and communications is extensive.
JOVAN C. SPELLER REBOLLAR, Executive Director, has had a dedicated career in nonprofit arts administration for more than 15 years. Her work has impacted broad communities throughout New York, Washington, D.C., and Minnesota. Her expertise spans development and fundraising, grant-making, education, entrepreneurship, and nonprofit management. Outside of the workforce she is both a supporter and practitioner of the arts. Her vast experience allows her to understand and negotiate relationships that achieve and sustain successful organizations. Whether in business, art, or as a hobby permaculturist, she is most passionate about creating harmonious ecosystems that generate abundance and sustainability. She is equally committed to the growth of opportunities for creative entrepreneurs and the advancement of the arts as a necessary cultural movement, essential to community health.
Staff
Nina Graham
Director of Development
Jasa McKenzie
Festival Producer
Board of Directors
Eric Dayton, Board President
Askov Finlayson
Maxine Bédat
New Standard Institute
Jothsna Harris
Change Narrative LLC
Carson Kipfer
Entrepreneur
Claire Wilson
Loppet Foundation
Founding Partners
Since 1886, the Saint Paul Winter Carnival has brought family-friendly events and community pride to Saint Paul and the Twin Cities metro area. Through city-wide special events, The Saint Paul Winter Carnival attracts over 250,000 visitors a year and has an approximately $2–$3 million dollar economic impact to the city of Saint Paul and the State of Minnesota.
Established in 2006, the U.S. Pond Hockey Championships have given hockey enthusiasts a premier opportunity to experience hockey the way nature intended. Uniquely Minnesotan, this winter tradition is one of the most exciting events of the season with over 2,300 adult players and more than 20,000 spectators over the three day event. Since its inception, the tournament has received one billion media impressions including features on ESPN, NBC’s Today’s Show, USA Today, Sports Illustrated, Good Morning America and many others.
The City of Lakes Loppet Winter Festival includes festivities for skiers, bikers, skijorers, and snowshoers of all ages and abilities, in addition to events for the biggest fans of the season. Events like Captain Ken’s Kubb Tournament, the Southwest Journal Snow Sculpture Contest, and the Star Tribune Skate Ski Loppet provide unique ways to enjoy a true Minnesotan winter. And the Luminary Loppet is guaranteed to be the most magical night of the year.
