OUR Mission, Vision & Values

MISSION / We're committed to supporting artists by providing a nurturing experience rooted in nature where artists of all disciplines and backgrounds feel safe to take a break from the "work" of art to play, feel inspired, and be rejuvenated.

VISION / We envision an interconnected world in harmony with nature, where artists are supported and celebrated and where taking a break is recognized as integral to the creative process.

CORE VALUES

  • Man sitting on the dock on the lake during the sunset

    NATURE IS NURTURE

    We believe that nature heals and cares for us. It also encourages our growth and creativity.

  • One of our residents on a float in the lake

    UNPLUGGING IS CONNECTION

    To be fully present to your thoughts and feelings, to other people, and your work, we believe sometimes you have to disconnect from what’s distracting you.

  • Two of our residents playing with a slinky

    PLAY IS WORK

    Doing the work doesn’t have to feel like work. We believe that stepping away to play can inspire your creativity.

  • An array of folders in rainbow colors sitting on a table

    CREATIVITY IS INCLUSIVE

    We believe that honoring and appreciating our differences is the foundation of creative thought and is what connects us.

OUR COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND RACIAL JUSTICE

  • Artists are the meaning-bearers of our culture and should be equitably supported. Therefore, we strive to align our policies and leverage our resources so that all artists have an opportunity to thrive at TLC, particularly those who have been systematically oppressed and therefore underrepresented. We aim to ensure that all artists have equal opportunity to be sustained in their artistic vision, voice, and impact. As Tofte Lake Center strives towards racial equity and inclusion, we seek to eliminate barriers that have prevented the full participation of those who are marginalized in our society. We dedicate ourselves to embodying these values in our interactions and engagement with our broader community, including local vendors, our employees, the community of Ely, and all other constituencies. We aim to address the root causes of these inequities (and not just their manifestations) by eliminating policies, attitudes, and practices that result in continued harm or fail to effectively eliminate harm. 

    Just as importantly, we seek to rejoice in diversity. We all benefit from creating a community in which a wide array of artistic voices can speak. All peoples, their cultures, and their art contribute to the meaning and understanding of our humanity and should be honored and celebrated. Artists, their art, their process, and the experiences they create and support play a unique role in witnessing, demonstrating, and providing inspiration to resolve societal inequity and injustice. Therefore it is our priority to ensure a creative environment and community where every individual feels welcomed, respected, and valued as an artist and a human.

TEAM Tofte

Liz Engelman


FOUNDER & EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Liz Engelman is a dramaturg and the Founder and Executive Director of Tofte Lake Center at Norm's Fish Camp. She is currently splitting her time between Ely, MN, and her home in Minneapolis, MN. Most recently she taught in the Theatre and Dance Department at the University of Texas- Austin. Prior to that, Liz lived on Whidbey Island where she was the Alumnae Relations Coordinator of Hedgebrook, a retreat for women writers.

Liz most recently was the recipient of the 2024 Lessing Award for Lifetime Achievement in Dramaturgy, and has served as the Resident Dramaturg at Mixed Blood Theatre, as the Literary Director of the McCarter Theatre, the Director of New Play Development at ACT Theatre in Seattle, Washington, Literary Manager/Dramaturg at Seattle's Intiman Theatre, and as Assistant Literary Manager at Actors Theatre of Louisville. She has worked on the development of new plays at The Playwrights' Center in Minneapolis, Bay Area Playwrights Festival, ASK Theatre Projects, New York Theatre Workshop, the O'Neill Playwrights Conference, South Coast Rep, Denver Center, and Florida Stage. She has directed new plays at The Illusion Theatre, Mixed Blood Theatre, The Playwrights' Center in Minneapolis, and Carleton College.

She studied dramaturgy and new play development at Brown and Columbia universities, where she received her BA and MFA in theatre and dramaturgy, respectively. Liz is the co-editor with Michael Bigelow Dixon of several collections of plays, a book on playwriting exercises, and of two volumes of monologues with Tori Haring-Smith.

Liz has served as President, Board Chair and is a current board member of LMDA, Literary Managers and Dramaturgs of the Americas. She just ended her terms as a Board Member of the National Theatre Conference (NTC) and serves on the Board of the National New Play Network (NNPN).

“With nature as nurture and a little dose of TLC, my biggest hope is that people leave the lake feeling grounded, inspired, reenergized, recommitted and reconnected — as artists and as humans.”

— Liz Engelman, Executive Director

riley burns

MANAGING DIRECTOR

Riley Burns is a musician, artist, and experienced non-profit administrator. She recently moved to the Twin Cities to join the thriving performing arts community and is proud to call Minnesota home. She has recently served as an admissions director, non-profit consultant, and music educator. She is excited to bring her skills in communications, marketing, fundraising, creative problem-solving, event planning, and leadership to the team at Tofte Lake Center. She brings passion, dedication, creativity, and a collaborative mindset to her work both as an administrator and as an artist. In her free time, Riley can be found relaxing in nature, cooking, noodling on creative projects, and hanging out with her beloved dog, Obi. 

“Nature is a balm that heals and connects us while artists can help spread that healing to the world. I’m ready to roll up my sleeves to nurture and sustain TLC’s mission of supporting artists of all disciplines and backgrounds.”

— Riley Burns, Managing Director

KARINA HERRERa

COMMUNICATIONS & ARTISTIC

PROGRAMS COORDINATOR

Karina Herrera is an artist living in Ely, MN with a passion for all things creative. Her curiosity and desire to take on projects of all sorts has led her to gain experience in copywriting, social media marketing, event coordination, photography, and graphic design. She most recently spent four years working for YMCA Camp du Nord in Ely, doing everything from leading art classes to administrative work. She now uses her skill set to serve the local arts community as the Coordinator for the Ely ArtWalk, and spends time at her home studio, painting and soaking up all the Northwoods has to offer.

“Exploring my own creative process while being emersed in nature has been a remarkably powerful experience, so getting to support the work of other artists in such a nurturing space (with an amazing team!) has been beyond incredible”

— Karina Herrera, TLC Administrative Coordinator & Artist, Ely, MN