Because the Mighty Mississippi is a muse for so much creativity and cultural expression, FMR's 2018 "An Evening Celebrating the Mississippi River" program celebrated and featured local, acclaimed artists of various media who rely on our Big River as a source of inspiration and rejuvenation, including: 

Jearlyn Steele, vocalist and emcee
Seitu Jones, artist and storyteller (Keynote Sponsor: Andeavor)
Laura Caviani, jazz pianist and composer
Bao Phi, author, poet, and spoken word artist
Gwen Westerman, educator, poet and fiber artist
Sandy Spieler, water lover, artist and activist
Tom Reiter, photographer and documentarian
Mniówe, indigenous Water Bar
Write to the River, compilation of river-inspired prose and poetry