Featured Stories

January Arts and Culture: Feet on the Ground, Eyes Toward the Sky

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, January 10, 2017

We begin a new year with our feet on the ground, quite literally, with must-see dance performances, as well as talks by local authors on local history, and the unparalleled stargazing offered by the winter sky.

Arts and Culture, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Entrepreneurship

Como Park, University, Midway, Downtown, Downtown/Lowertown

Rain as a Resource: St. Paul Innovates Shared, Sustainable Stormwater Management

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, December 06, 2016

The City of St. Paul and its partners are utilizing an innovative method of managing stormwater to restore natural water systems, incorporate green infrastructure into sustainable communities and improve the urban ecosystem.

Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, Emerging Technology, Regionalism, Sustainability, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

Union Park, University, Macalester - Groveland, Midway, Saint Anthony Park, West Seventh, Highland Park, Downtown/Lowertown, Summit Hill and Crocus Hill, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown, Summit - University

A Good Thing for St. Paul: A Pilot ADU Project Along the Green Line Invites Creative Possibilities

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, November 15, 2016

The St. Paul City Council has voted to allow ADUs from Emerald to Lexington avenues along University, a pilot project that will bring creative possibilities for density, affordable housing and multi-generational living to the Central Corridor.

Affordable Housing, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, Strong Local Economy, Sustainability, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

Union Park, University, Midway, Saint Anthony Park

Microloans Help Artists Build Sustainable Careers

Colleen Powers Tuesday, November 08, 2016

Microloans help artists bridge the gaps between other sources of funding. Springboard for the Arts is currently testing a microloan model and has partnered with Kiva, a microlending platform that funds small businesses around the world.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Philanthropy, Strong Local Economy, Talent Dividend

Downtown/Lowertown

November Arts and Culture: Holiday Markets (and Makers) Galore

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, November 08, 2016

For MSP makers, this month is among the busiest of the year as they sell their wares at holiday markets, boutiques and pop-ups happening at a crazy pace. But you can also tour a renovated machine shed and enjoy open art studios before the big freeze.

Arts and Culture, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Design, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Shopping, Strong Local Economy

Riverfront/Mill District, Midway, Downtown, Saint Anthony Park, Lake Street, Southwest, Uptown/Lyn Lake, Northeast

Dark Matter Made Visible: Artists Illuminate Breaking Ground "Idea Lab"

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, October 18, 2016

During Artspace’s Breaking Ground “Idea Lab” October 14-15 in MSP, artists were identified as visionaries and leaders who bring the dark matter of communities--history, memory, relationships--to light through art and creative processes.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Philanthropy, Regionalism, Strong Local Economy

Riverfront/Mill District, Downtown, North Side, Downtown/Lowertown, Northeast

October Arts and Culture: Stars, Skin(s) and St. Paul Art Crawl 25

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, October 11, 2016

With autumn in MSP comes "the season," meaning so many art exhibitions, performances, parties and festivals that you could attend several events every evening. Here are our must-do's.

Arts and Culture, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Transit Oriented Development

Como Park, University, Midway, Saint Anthony Park, Uptown/Lyn Lake, Downtown/Lowertown, Northeast

Lars Christiansen, Friendly Streets director, and organizer Darius Gray at a temporary parklet

Friendly Streets: Bottom-Up St. Paul Project Changes the Way People Look at Their City

Jay Walljasper Tuesday, September 27, 2016

The Friendly Streets Initiative, which grew out of a group of volunteers working with various neighborhood organizations to make biking and walking safer in the Hamline-Midway neighborhood, is now changing communities throughout MSP.

Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Philanthropy, Sustainability, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

Midway, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown

River Balcony Prototyping Festival, with Craft Beer Overlook, Previews "St. Paul's High Line"

Brian Martucci Tuesday, September 20, 2016

Music, art, craft beer: Earlier this month, MSP'ers enjoyed a tantalizing glimpse of the (possible) future for a 1.5-mile stretch of St. Paul riverfront during the River Balcony Prototyping Festival.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Nightlife, Philanthropy, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development

West Seventh, Downtown/Lowertown

Practitioners and Partners: Artspace Evolves Breaking Ground Into "Idea Lab" That Celebrates Artists

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, September 13, 2016

Artspace’s annual Breaking Ground event evolves this year from one dynamic evening of speakers and performances to an immersive, two-day “idea lab” on Friday, October 14 and Saturday, October 15 in Minneapolis and St. Paul.

Affordable Housing, Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife, Philanthropy, Strong Local Economy

Riverfront/Mill District, Downtown, Downtown/Lowertown, Warehouse/North Loop, Northeast

September Arts and Culture: Grand Openings, Helmet Art and Community Gardens

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, September 13, 2016

A new independent bookstore! A second ReStore store! Plus a community garden celebration and an art exhibit and fashion show featuring motorcycle helmets highlight September arts and culture.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife, Shopping

Riverfront/Mill District, Downtown/Lowertown, Powderhorn, Northeast

Designers: The New and Expanded Edition

Thomas Fisher Tuesday, August 23, 2016

In the coming years, communities, businesses and nonprofits will increasingly look to architects for design solutions that extend well beyond buildings.

Arts and Culture, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design

Four Craft Coffee Roasters Building Buzz in MSP

Brian Martucci Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Who are the local players behind MSP’s craft coffee scene? These four local roasters are undeniably at the movement’s fore, sparking a revolution in how we talk about roasting and experience tasting.

Arts and Culture, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Shopping, Sustainability

Midway, Saint Anthony Park, Uptown/Lyn Lake, Highland Park, Northeast

So Artists Can Celebrate Themselves: Artspace's Remarkable Work with Cultural Communities

Camille LeFevre Tuesday, August 09, 2016

Artspace enjoys a long history of working with culturally distinct groups in the development of affordable artist live/work housing and community spaces. From El Barrio in NY to Honolulu, HI, these projects allow artists to celebrate themselves.