It's actually kind of fun to amaze coastal dwellers who hold to the myth of Flyover Country with the richness and variety of the arts in this chilly metropolis between the prairie and the woods. Our artistic scene, which some call an "ecosystem," is, in fact, more diverse than most. While many regional cities claim big institutions--ballet companies, major museums, theaters for Broadway touring shows--and many have small galleries, tiny black-box theaters, and grass-roots arts organizations--our towns have art on these levels plus a third, intermediate level: the big but not overgrown arts organization, often dedicated to helping artists develop their careers as well as make their art. Combine this with an envied tradition of corporate and foundation arts funding, and you see why many artists fly into, not over, metro Minnesota.