As we reflect on 2024, we’re featuring some of our Arts & Culture coverage published last year. We hope you all have a wonderful New Year in 2025!


For nearly three decades, the educational nonprofit WE WIN Institute has been serving youth in Minneapolis out of rented spaces. But that era is coming to a close — on November 19, 2024, WE WIN held a groundbreaking event for their new building in Minneapolis’ Bryn Mawr neighborhood. Unicorn Riot was there to document the historic occasion and interview a board member, an organization partner and a former-student-turned-staff. Read the full story, watch video of the groundbreaking ceremony and see the highlight video below.

Minneapolis Youth-Serving Org WE WIN Institute Groundbreaks a New Home

Minneapolis Youth-Serving Org WE WIN Institute Groundbreaks a New Home [Vimeo, YouTube]

Last July, Titilayo Bediako, the founder and Executive Director of WE WIN Institute, invited award-winning illustrator and educator from Philadelphia, E.B. Lewis, to speak in Minneapolis. Lewis has taught for nearly four decades, has illustrated over 70 books for children, and has art galleries in France.


During his visit, Lewis gave an hour-long presentation to a packed audience and sat down with Unicorn Riot to speak about his path to becoming one of the most important contemporary American watercolorists. “I’m documenting and making statements about our society, social injustice.” Watch the presentation and full interview in the article link and see a highlight of the interview in the video below.

EB Lewis: Award-Winning Illustrator Discusses His Role as an Artist

EB Lewis: Award-Winning Illustrator Discusses His Role as an Artist [Vimeo, YouTube]

One of the schools that Lewis had taught at, University of the Arts in Philadelphia, suddenly closed this past year sending the entire community scrambling. Its accreditation was also pulled amid claims that a multi-million dollar budget gap had suddenly emerged. Unicorn Riot heard from students who assembled on June 4 to read demands.

Students Denounce Sudden Closure of University of the Arts in Philadelphia

Students Denounce Sudden Closure of University of the Arts in Philadelphia [Vimeo, YouTube]

On the topic of art and artists, UR published a feature on Gord Hill, a renowned artist and writer and his presentation on resistance art history.

a man holding a flag in front of a crowd of people

In case you missed it, UR spotlit the traveling #NoKidsInPrison art installation while it was in Minneapolis last October. We were given a tour of the installation by a youth fellow at the Legal Rights Center and heard from artists and creators.

Community Youth Curate No Kids in Prison Exhibit

Community Youth Curate #NoKidsInPrison Exhibit [Vimeo, YouTube]

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