It’s something you hear all the time: Minneapolis has a great arts scene. We have the Walker, the MIA, the Guthrie, etc etc etc. I mean jeepers, we’ve produced plenty of cult classics ^[1], blockbusters ^[2], and blockbusters that maybe should have only been cult classics ^[3]. Honestly: Kevin Sorbo. Need I say more?

But you know what, I still tend to forget exactly how world-class our arts scene is. So, I’m damn giddy about the latest news from France: MIA to host Louvre collection ^[4].

62 pieces from the Louvre are coming to Minneapolis next year. Some of these pieces have never been in North America before. That’s pretty exciting. But that’s not even what does it for me. It’s the fact that, according to MIA director Kaywin Feldman,

“Part of what convinced the director of the Louvre to work with Minneapolis was the incredible collection that we have, which he knew about, and the generosity of the MIA in lending out our masterpieces to museums in Europe… And he felt it was time for Europe to return the favor to Minneapolis.”

Whoa. Since when does the Louvre owe us anything?

All I have to say is this: Way to go, Twin Cities. You are awesome.

(Oh, and they’re also going to Atlanta. But who cares about that?)