Featured Stories

Revelers do the brew at Dangerous Man, courtesy Dangerous Man Brewing

Twin Cities Brew Boom Taps Into Placemaking, Entrepreneurship, Neighborhood Synergies

Brian Martucci Wednesday, May 07, 2014

Since the passage of the Surly Bill 2012, craft-beer entrepreneurs have rapidly opened breweries with taprooms in neighborhoods throughout Minneapolis and St. Paul. All are doing their part to turn neighborhoods into top-of-mind destinations.

Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development

Central Avenue, Midway, Saint Anthony Park, Lake Street, Southwest, Downtown/Lowertown, Warehouse/North Loop, Northeast

Photo by Phillip Hussong RedWire Creative for JXTA, courtesy of JXTA

JXTA + North Minneapolis Youth = Community and Futures

Sheila Regan Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Since 2010, JXTA has been providing paid opportunities for young people to gain skills in art and design. These youth make an hourly wage, between minimum wage and $10 per hour, while being trained in areas like graphic design and contemporary art.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Design, diversity, Talent Dividend

North Side

Marking alleys, courtesy Andy Sturdevant

Alley Activation: Pathways to Urban Revitalization

Eric Peterson Wednesday, April 23, 2014

From Seattle to Washington D.C., alleys are being reinvented as people-friendly spaces. Often perceived as dirty and dangerous, alleys are moving beyond garbage and garages to become havens for pedestrians, public art and small business.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration

Central Avenue, Phillips, University, Cedar - Riverside/West Bank, Downtown, Lake Street, Southwest, North Side, Uptown/Lyn Lake, Seward, Nokomis, Longfellow, Calhoun - Isles, Powderhorn

Call and Answer Project, courtesy Walker Art Center

St. Paul City Artist Amanda Lovelee Inspires Joyful Connections

Brian Martucci Wednesday, April 23, 2014

The second in our series on Twin Cities artists who build community: Amanda Lovelee, a St. Paul City Artist in Residence, uses big tables, wildflowers, square dancing and love stories to convert people to the power of interpersonal connection through public art.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, diversity

Calhoun - Isles, Downtown/Lowertown, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown

The young women of Little Mekong, courtesy Little Mekong

Cultural Districts + LRT Stops: A Guide to the Central Corridor's Arts and Culture Hotspots

Jay Walljasper Wednesday, April 16, 2014

The Central Corridor is becoming the Twin Cities' new cultural hotspot showcasing local diversity, bringing communities closer together, and boosting economic opportunities.

Arts and Culture, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Nightlife, Shopping, Strong Local Economy, Transit Oriented Development, Transportation

Union Park, University, Midway, Cedar - Riverside/West Bank, Saint Anthony Park, Downtown/Lowertown, Thomas - Dale/Frogtown

Creative CityMaking: Minneapolis' Model for Diversity in Placemaking

Brian Martucci Wednesday, April 16, 2014

Creative CityMaking, Intermedia Arts’ bold placemaking, problem-solving collaboration with the City of Minneapolis, recently received a three-year grant that promises to deepen the initiative’s reach in previously unimaginable ways.

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

University, North Side, Uptown/Lyn Lake

Heidi Skoog, maker of Serious Jam, Courtesy Kern Nickerson

Cooking Up Entrepreneurship in Twin Cities Incubator Kitchens

Anne Jin Soo Preston Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Incubator or community kitchens have been gaining momentum in the Twin Cities, bringing together food entrepreneurs, ingredients, and innovation.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, diversity, Entrepreneurship, Shopping, Strong Local Economy

Como Park, Phillips, Midway, Lake Street, North Side, Seward, Powderhorn

Mural created on Broad Avenue during its revitalization, courtesy Andrew Breig

What Smart Cities Can Learn From Memphis: Lean Urbanism

Richard J. Alley Wednesday, April 09, 2014

The City of Memphis is on the rise thanks to a growing startup community, investments in bike lanes, a burgeoning arts district, and people moving back to the city. Through it all, the city has listened to its residents and embraced "lean urbanism."

Yes, Sherlock and Watson, courtesy Rewire.

How Rewire--and Benedict Cumberbatch--Are Enticing Millennials to Twin Cities Public Television

Brian Martucci Wednesday, April 09, 2014

Rewire is ambitious “cross-platform” initiative innovated by TPT to speak directly to Millennials—and bridge and reinvigorate TPT’s programming.

Arts and Culture, Central Corridor, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Leadership, Emerging Technologies, Emerging Technology

Downtown/Lowertown

Saint Paul Artist Oskar Ly: An Organizer and Ambassador for Hmong Arts

Nicole Rupersburg Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Issue Media Group (The Line's parent company) has launched Creative Exchange, a national online platform for storytelling and resource sharing around creativity and community. Saint Paul artist/organizer Oskar Ly was featured in the first issue.

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

Midway, Downtown/Lowertown

A new bus stop on the future Nicollet Mall? courtesy James Corner Field Operations

Third Time's a Charm? Another Redesign for Minneapolis' Nicollet Mall

Frank Edgerton Martin Wednesday, March 19, 2014

James Corner, who re-imagined New York City's wildly popular urban destination, the High Line, is the latest to re-envision Nicollet Mall's potential as a vital, urban public space.

Design, Transit Oriented Development

Downtown

Club E: Networking Group Supports Twin Cities' Startups

Julie Kendrick Wednesday, March 12, 2014

From beer sampling to wearable tech to Pecha Kucha, Club Entrepreneur is cultivating new business relationships and startups by supporting Twin Cities' innovators with actionable content and connections.

Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership, Entrepreneurship, Strong Local Economy

Downtown

Virajita Singh and the transportation group.

Design Thinking at the U of M: Organizing Collaborations Around Social Issues

Jennifer Gilhoi Wednesday, March 12, 2014

How groups at the University of Minnesota are using design thinking as the creative approach to explore new ways of working and collaborating.

Coordination/Collaboration, Design, diversity, Higher Education, Strong Local Economy

University

One of Vorderbruggen's "Starcatcher" windows

Joan Vorderbruggen: Reawakening Empty Storefronts to Their Community Potential

Ann Klefstad Wednesday, March 05, 2014

The first article in a new series on Twin Cities artists who build community, activate space, engage viewers, and stimulate interaction or dialogue with their work, and how their creative placemaking helps reveal and enhance community identity.

Arts and Culture, Coordination/Collaboration, Creative Economy, Creative Leadership

Downtown, Powderhorn