Obama Foundation Fellow to Moderate Great American Think-Off

The Cultural Center in New York Mills announces Ashley Hanson as the moderator of debate among armchair philosophers 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 reception to follow at the Center.

As a social practice theater artist, community organizer, and advocate for arts in rural areas, Ashley Hanson currently serves as the director of the Small Town CAIR (City Artist in Residence) program in Granite Falls, MN. She co-founded PlaceBase Productions, which creates original musical productions celebrating small town life, and founded the Department of Public Transformation, a national arts collective which supports rural-based artists. Hanson, a recently-named 2018 Obama Foundation Fellow, believes strongly in the power of people, places, and play.

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?” and Hanson directs those arguments and fields questions from the Think-Off committee and the live audience.

Tickets to see the debate are $12 in advance, $15 at the door, and $5 for students. Anyone who joins the audience gets to vote to decide who is 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 to 10 p.m. Attendees can meet the finalists and kick off their weekend for free at this party! Food is available to purchase and a cash bar is available. Live music is by Andra Suchy trio.

Andra Suchy, Stephen Murray, and Dan Neale are all long-standing  contributors to the Twin Cities music scene and beyond. From “A Prairie Home Companion” to touring abroad, they have run the gamut. Now they join forces to bring a sophisticated but relatable approach to both cover songs and originals for your enjoyment.

Preceding the Kick-Off Party, the Otter Tail County Historical Society sponsors a tour of historic downtown New York Mills on Friday, June 8 at 6:00 p.m. The tour begins in front of the Cultural Center and costs $5.

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. For more information about the history tour, contact the Otter Tail County Historical Society at (218) 736-6038.

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.