The Northeast Minneapolis Arts District is embarking on a bold new project to delve into the history of the visual arts in Minneapolis. But far from an exercise in nostalgia, the goal of this endeavor is to glean insights from the past that empower current and future generations to advocate for a thriving and resilient ecosystem for the arts in our city.
Program Overview
The key components of the project are:
- Roundtable discussions that convene past and present leaders of the arts in Minneapolis for critical dialogue;
- A published timeline of the visual arts in Minneapolis, distilled from the documentation of the roundtable discussions, alongside other research; and
- A public welcome center equipped with informational maps and an interactive display of the above historical timeline.
There is a keen interest among members of the Arts District board that this history—much of which exists only as an oral history—be preserved and passed down. But the Arts District board fully understands that it has only a sliver of the story and that any genuine attempt to capture the wider history of the visual arts in Minneapolis will need to bring many more people to the table.
That is, quite literally, the plan.
In September of 2023, the Arts District secured access to a space in the Timber & Tie building, which created the opportunity at the heart of this project: a physical gathering place, with a round table in the center. The table, designed by Remo Campopiano and built and painted collaboratively with Jim Gregory and Aribert Munzner respectively, is not only the perfect symbol for the project’s goals but also the physical vehicle to achieve them.
Another aspect of the program will be to open the space as a public welcome center for the Arts District, with regular open hours and informational materials. One wall of the space (see image above) will feature a large map identifying the major buildings and public art landmarks in the geographical Arts District; spanning another wall will be an interactive timeline installation bringing visitors in the history of the Arts District and the visual arts in Minneapolis, as documented through the project.
How to Get Involved
Submit News
We need articles, critiques, and commentaries that impact our arts community. To submit your writing or press release to Arts District News, please send to pressrelease@northeastminneapolisartsdistrict.org.
Advertise
To advertise in Arts District News, please contact advertise@northeastminneapolisartsdistrict.org.
Volunteer
To help with the publication of Arts Insights and/or Arts District News, please contact volunteer@northeastminneapolisartsdistrict.org.