More Than a Name on a Map
Northeast Minneapolis Arts District is accessible, tangible, and connected.
When you think of an arts district, do you think of a row of galleries, museums, and theaters? Maybe images of art shows, performances, and thriving studios come to mind. Sans the presence of a museum, the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District comprises is comprised of a square mile encompassing not only theaters, studios, and galleries but also includes over 1,200 working artists.
Many of these artists also live within an easy walk, bike ride, or drive of their studios. This centralized community of creatives is vibrant with neighborly outings, group gatherings (gallery opening anyone?), and plenty of welcomed happenstance. This connectivity and pride for all things NE Arts District has led to consecutive wins, and a 3rd place, in USA Today’s 10Best Reader’s Choice Travel Awards.
More than just a name on a map, the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District is a board-driven, 501c3 nonprofit organization that first and foremost champions the work of NE artists. How do they do that? Glad you asked! Here’s Here’re just some of what the ways they support artists:
· Sponsoring candidate forums and issue discussions.
· Create a yearly art calendar and publish monthly e-newsletters, making Northeast residents more conversant in the language of art as integral to everyday life.
· Organizing major art exhibits at MSP airport, bringing attention to the arts throughout Minneapolis and the Arts District.
· Diligently working on institutionalizing the Arts District, essential for the stability and longevity of any art community. The city of Minneapolis designated the district in 2003 and to translate translating that into various kinds of support is paramount to the success for of the arts community.
· In odd-numbered years, Vision Awards are bestowed on artists and community supporters.
· Ensuring that artists benefit from the artistic environment that they’ve helped to create by working with developers and government to find balance in their objectives.
· Bridging different perspectives by developing practical and visible engagements such as the “Arts Insight” monthly article in the Northeaster.
“We see this square mile as a sprawling campus. Artists can find space, supplies, inspiration, and collaborators within easy distance, and feed each other’s creative sparks.” says Josh Blanc, Northeast Minneapolis Arts District Board Chair. “The more we work together to enhance the arts-friendly and community-friendly uses, …the more concentrated we become, creating more fertile ground for generating new ideas and expression.”
Three ways to connect with Northeast arts year-round!
1.) Take art classes/workshops to fuel your creative spark. Find artists who teach here: https://northeastminneapolisartsdistrict.org/resources-placeholder/teaching-artists-2/
2.) Tourist in your own town: See “tourist tips” on northeastminneapolisartsdistrict.org for public murals, sculptures, and other tour ideas. See www.nemaa.org for Art-A-Whirl® third weekend in May and sign up for an e-newsletter of arts activities all over the metro. Visit the following studio buildings on these special days: California and Casket Arts buildings on Second Saturdays 11 a.m.-4 p.m., Northrup King Building on First Thursdays 5-9 p.m. and every Saturday Noon-4 p.m.
3.) Be business/art aware: Care about how the neighborhood works. Arts district leaders believe artists and community members are thinking along similar lines when it comes to development. Many residents have strong perspectives about faceless chain businesses and argue over tall new cookie-cutter apartment buildings, where they should go and what they should look like, and so do artists. Keep your mind open to how your neighborhood contributes to a creative life.