Duluth Summer Festival of the Arts records

The Duluth Summer Festival of the Arts (DSFA) was planned as an ongoing annual festival program, intended to establish the Duluth area as a major national summer arts center. The DSFA was a consortium of arts and education organizations operating under the auspices of the University of Minnesota, Continuing Education in the Arts. The DSFA had two primary emphases: public exhibition and performance events, and residency and instructional programs. Organizations, corporations and individuals supported the DSFA: Upper Great Lakes Regional Commission, City of Duluth, MN State Arts Board, University of Minnesota, Jerome Foundation, International Multifoods, Duluth Ballet, Duluth Art Institute, College of St. Scholastica, Duluth Public Schools, WSCD-FM (MN public Radio), Duluth Superior Symphony Orchestra, A.M. Chishom Museum, Duluth Playhouse, Park Point Invitational Art Fair, Tweed Museum of Art, St. Louis County Heritage and Arts Center, Fiber Handcrafters Guild, University of Wisconsin Superior, and WDTH-FM (KUMD Radio).

The DSFA began operating in March, 1979, through a community based board of directors, Phillip Coffman, chair. Coffman, with DSFA Director, Dale Huffington, initiated planning and research for the project in August, 1978. Additional staff were Gloria Brush, assistant director, Karen Griffith, community coordinator, and Nancy Knutson, secretary.