Great American Think-Off Asks Philosophical Questions
Cultural Center Hosts 26th Annual Great Debate

The Cultural Center in New York Mills brings four essay-contest finalists to the cozy town of armchair philosophy for the 26th Annual Great American Think-Off this June.

The debate is Saturday, June 9 at 7:00 p.m. in the James W. Mann Center for Performing Arts at the New York Mills School, with a free reception to follow at the Center.

During the debate, the four finalists argue their side of the question, “Which plays a larger role in shaping one’s life: success or failure?” Two finalists assert that success plays a larger role in shaping one’s life and two finalists proffer that failure does. The debaters are (in alphabetical order): Tonya Abari of Nashville, TN; Anthony Berryhill of Austin, TX; Mark Bland of Virginia Beach, VA; and Rudy San Miguel of New Orleans, LA. Bland and San Miguel argue for success while Abari and Berryhill argue for failure as the larger role-player in one’s life.

Tickets to see the debate are $12 in advance, $15 at the door, and $5 for students. All audience members get to vote in the contest to decide who is named America’s Greatest Thinker for 2018 and whether it is success or failure which shapes one’s life the most.

The Think-Off Weekend is jump-started with the Think-Off Kick-Off party at the Barn park shelter in the New York Mills Sculpture Park on Friday, June 8 from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Attendees can meet the finalists and crack open their weekend for free at this party! Live music is by Andra Suchy. Food is available to purchase and a cash bar is available.

For more information please call the Cultural Center at (218) 385-3339, visit the Center’s website at www.kulcher.org, or buy tickets at www.thinkoff2018.brownpapertickets.com.

About the Great American Think-Off:

Now in its 26th year, the Great American Think-Off is an exhibition of civil disagreement between powerful ideas being explored by everyday people. Designed to bring philosophy down from the ivory towers of academia and make it accessible for all, the contest has received national acclaim including coverage by C-SPAN, the New York Times, and The Today Show.

The Cultural Center, located in the rural farm and manufacturing town of New York Mills, Minnesota, sponsors this annual philosophy contest and encourages people of all ages and backgrounds to participate. The Cultural Center is a rural hub for creativity, community vitality, and lifelong learning in the arts. Since our incorporation in 1990, we have been passionate about connecting people to artists and rich cultural experiences in rural Minnesota, celebrating the local and being a window to the world.

To get a better sense of the Think-Off, find details, historical information, and a list of the past 25 years of questions and winners on the event website: www.think-off.org.