Roundtable Project all about legacy

by Katherine Boyce

The Northeast Minneapolis Arts District is raising funds for a new initiative to capture the stories of many generations who have been part of establishing the local arts ecosystem. 

The program—the Arts District Roundtable Project—will bring diverse, multi-generational arts leaders together in conversation about the past, present and future legacy of the visual arts in Minneapolis. The history of the visual arts in Minneapolis and the Arts District, much of which has never been written down, is at risk of being lost as generations age. This project will ensure that stories old and new are shared and cataloged, equipping the next generation with the context to advocate for a thriving arts ecosystem long into the future. 

A donor appeals campaign is underway to raise funds for the project, with an eventual goal of raising $25,000. Some of the funds will go toward establishing an Arts District Welcome Center in a new space in the Timber & Tie building at 900 14th Ave. NE. 

Some of the funding will be targeted at hosting and recording “Roundtable Discussions.” These discussions will explore historical case studies alongside the current arts landscape; the first one will discuss the rise and fall of the 1980s gallery district downtown, tracing the trajectory of where artists and galleries went after its dispersal, including the migration to Northeast Minneapolis. Funds raised will go toward documenting this collective history online, in published articles and potentially in a podcast or eventual book. 

The Northeast Minneapolis community has long been a vital part of the arts ecosystem, not only in the Arts District but across the Twin Cities. Learn more about this project to champion that legacy and donate to the project at https://northeastminneapolisartsdistrict.org/support/donate/.