Sanctuary stories
News, Stories, Updates and Musings from the Minnesota Songwriter Sanctuary
Reading List: Art as Medicine
One of our favorite rooms at the Sanctuary is the library. Tucked away from the studio, it’s filled with books on music, recording, songwriting, and the creative process. In this series, we share some of our recommendations — the books that challenge us and inspire us. One favorite is Art as Medicine: Creating a Therapy of the Imagination. Shaun McNiff, a major voice in expressive arts therapy, makes a powerful case that creativity is not a luxury or decoration; it is one way human beings process grief, change, identity, and healing. Art as Medicine treats imagination as an active force, something we can work with through images, stories, performance, and creative practice. That idea speaks directly to our mission at MSS. Whether someone is writing their first song, preserving a family story, exploring their musical heritage, or finding words for something hard to say, the creative process itself can become a form of repair and self-care.”
In Our Nature: Rush River County Park
Just a couple minutes southwest of Henderson, Rush River County Park offers 285 acres of wooded hills, open countryside, river crossings, and approximately 12.5 miles of trails. A regional favorite for horseback riding, the park also welcomes visitors for hiking, birdwatching, swimming, picnicking, primitive camping, and family time at its playground and picnic shelter. With designated horse areas and a peaceful, rustic setting, Rush River is one of the area’s best places to slow down and experience the natural beauty of the Minnesota River Valley (it is also home to the infamous Wolf Tree). Rumor has it a bunch or horse-riding honky tonkin' hillbillies are riding into the valley for a trail-riding campfire-singing music festival at Rush River on August 15th... but you didn't hear it from us!
IN THE NEWS: Backroads 2026 Tour Recap
A heartfelt thank-you to the Henderson Independent for its thoughtful follow-up coverage of the Backroads MN 2026 tour stop in Henderson. Small-town journalists like Beth Cornish play an essential role in reporting on civic and cultural events, documenting local history, celebrating community life, and making sure rural stories are seen and remembered. We are deeply grateful for her work and for the newspaper’s continued support.
Reading List: How to Write ONE Song
One of our favorite rooms at the Sanctuary is the library. Tucked away from the studio, it’s filled with books on music, recording, songwriting, and the creative process. In this series, we’ll be sharing some of our recommendations — the books that challenge us and inspire us. One favorite is How to Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy, a thoughtful and approachable guide that breaks songwriting down into simple exercises, habits, and moments of discovery. Rather than treating creativity as a mysterious gift reserved for a select few, Tweedy reminds readers that songs are built through curiosity, presence, and practice. That idea closely reflects our philosophy at the Minnesota Songwriter Sanctuary: every artist deserves the time, space, tools, and encouragement needed to find their voice and bring a song into the world.
