Art lovers will find a virtual paradise in Mineral Point. Many communities have art galleries, Mineral Point has artists – nearly 20 of them own and operate studios in the downtown business and arts district. Potters, weavers, glass artists, painters, photographers, sculptors, and woodworkers work here and lend a unique quality to this small Wisconsin community. Today on any given day, you may find pottery kilns fired up, wood chips flying from carvers knives, red hot glass furnaces and so much more.

Mineral Point has been recognized as an artist magnet for decades. The details that led these artists to Mineral Point vary, but a common thread seems to weave them together …. a sense of belonging to a place where creativity is the very fabric of our being. In the 1930’s Edgar Hellum and Bob Neal came with a determination that became a legacy of building restoration and renovation, and artists soon followed. The beginning of the current art community is often credited to Max and Eva Fernekes who moved to Mineral Point in 1940. They were the first in recent history to make their living solely from their artworks and they inspired many artists who came later. Harry Nohr was postmaster in Mineral Point. Upon his retirement he began turning wooden bowls and continued until his death to produce strikingly beautiful bowls which earned him a reputation as one of the nation's outstanding craftsmen.

Mineral Point artists host Gallery Night four times each year - the first Saturdays in April, June, August and December. New art work is featured for each event, with doors open from 5-9pm. Stroll the streets, visit the artists, stay for dinner,

An exciting new venture in Mineral Point is The Shake Rag Alley Center for the Arts. Hands-on workshops with talented instructors are offered throughout the year to people of all ages. It is truly a unique opportunity to experience the world of art in a magical and historical setting.

Each fall, during the third weekend in October, Mineral Point, along with Dodgeville, Spring Green and Baraboo, is a picturesque setting with some of Wisconsin's most colorful "natural resources". Artists open their studio doors and demonstrate their craft for visitors on the Fall Art Tour. Now in its 12th season, the Fall Art Tour celebrates the work and lifestyles of some of Wisconsin's best-known artists, working in unique studios - an historic brewery, restored downtown buildings, and an old schoolhouse just to name a few. Maps and tour information are available at the Mineral Point tour headquarters, Chamber office, or any participating gallery.